Senior Backend Engineer (Python/Django) - Remote

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-friendly

Flexible hours

Health insurance

Paid time off

Professional development budget

Team-building activities

Retirement plan

Home office stipend

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Backend Engineer with strong Python and Django skills to join our remote-first fintech engineering team. You will design, develop, and maintain scalable backend services powering our products, build RESTful APIs, and optimize database performance.

You will collaborate with frontend developers, product managers, and other engineers to deliver reliable, secure systems. The ideal candidate has 5+ years backend experience, solid API design sense, and a track record

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years backend development experience.
• Strong Python/Django expertise.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain backend services using Python and Django.
• Build and manage RESTful APIs for frontend and third-party integrations.
• Develop and optimize database schemas and queries for performance.
• Implement security and data protection measures for user data.
• Write clean, maintainable, well-tested code following best practices.
• Collaborate with frontend developers, product managers, and engineers to implement features.
• Troubleshoot and debug complex backend issues to ensure high availability.
• Participate in code reviews and contribute to architectural decisions.
• Stay updated with emerging backend technologies and best practices.

Skills

Python

Django

REST APIs

PostgreSQL

MongoDB

Docker

Git

Async programming

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Celery

AWS

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a rapidly growing financial technology company, is seeking an experienced Senior Backend Engineer specializing in Python and Django to join their fully remote engineering team. This is a crucial role where you will design, develop, and maintain scalable, high-performance backend services that power our client's innovative financial products. You will be responsible for API development, database design, and ensuring the security and efficiency of our server-side applications. The ideal candidate possesses a strong understanding of backend development principles, a passion for writing clean, efficient code, and a proven track record of building robust applications. You will collaborate closely with frontend developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to deliver exceptional user experiences. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a dynamic fintech environment and grow your career in a remote-first setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain robust and scalable backend services using Python and Django.


• Build and manage RESTful APIs for seamless integration with frontend applications and third-party services.


• Develop and optimize database schemas and queries for performance and efficiency.


• Implement security and data protection measures to ensure the integrity of user data.


• Write clean, maintainable, and well-tested code following best practices.


• Collaborate with frontend developers, product managers, and other engineers to define and implement features.


• Troubleshoot and debug complex backend issues, ensuring high availability and reliability.


• Participate in code reviews and provide constructive feedback to team members.


• Contribute to architectural discussions and technical decision-making.


• Stay current with emerging backend technologies and best practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.


• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in backend development.


• Strong expertise in Python and the Django framework.


• Proficiency in database design and management (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB).


• Experience in building and consuming RESTful APIs.


• Understanding of version control systems, particularly Git.


• Knowledge of asynchronous programming and task queues (e.g., Celery) is a plus.


• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) is desirable.


• Experience with containerization (Docker) is a plus.


• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary package.


• Fully remote work arrangement with flexible working hours.


• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.


• Generous paid time off and company holidays.


• Annual budget for professional development, training, and conferences.


• Opportunity to work on innovative fintech projects.


• Collaborative and supportive remote team culture.


• Retirement savings plan.


• Home office setup allowance.


• Regular virtual team-building activities.