Senior Backend Engineer - SaaS Platform

Placements24; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health benefits

Performance bonuses

Professional development

Generous PTO

Stellenbosch office

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Backend Engineer for on-site work in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, ZA. You will design, implement, and maintain scalable backend services powering a leading SaaS platform.

The role requires deep expertise in Python/Java/Node.js, RESTful APIs, and cloud ecosystems. You will collaborate with product and QA teams to deliver robust features, optimize performance, and ensure security in production and development environments.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of professional backend development experience.
• Strong proficiency in one or more backend languages (Python, Java, Node.js, Go).
• Extensive experience designing RESTful APIs.
• Solid understanding of relational and NoSQL databases.
• Experience with cloud platforms and microservices architecture.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy scalable backend services and APIs.
• Architect robust database solutions (SQL/NoSQL).
• Optimize performance for high availability and low latency.
• Collaborate with frontend, product, and QA teams.
• Implement security best practices to protect data and users.
• Write clean, well-documented code and participate in code reviews.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to architectural decisions.

Skills

Backend development

RESTful APIs

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Code reviews

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Python

Java

Node.js

Go

PostgreSQL

MySQL

MongoDB

Cassandra

AWS

Azure

GCP

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a thriving Software as a Service (SaaS) provider, is looking for a highly motivated Senior Backend Engineer to join their engineering team in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, ZA. This is an on‑site role, offering a fantastic opportunity to work collaboratively within a talented and innovative group. You will be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining the robust backend infrastructure that powers our client's industry‑leading SaaS platform. We are seeking an engineer with extensive experience in building scalable, reliable, and secure server‑side applications. This role is perfect for someone passionate about solving complex technical challenges, optimizing performance, and contributing to the continuous evolution of a high‑demand product. Join a company that values technical excellence, fosters professional growth, and is dedicated to delivering exceptional value to its global customer base.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy scalable and maintainable backend services and APIs using languages like Python, Java, or Node.js.
• Architect and implement robust database solutions (SQL and NoSQL) to support platform functionality.
• Optimize application performance, ensuring high availability and low latency for critical services.
• Collaborate closely with front‑end engineers, product managers, and QA teams to deliver high‑quality features.
• Implement and enforce security best practices to protect sensitive data and user information.
• Write clean, well‑documented, and testable code, adhering to industry standards.
• Participate actively in code reviews, providing constructive feedback and mentoring junior team members.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues in production and development environments.
• Stay informed about emerging technologies and industry trends, and advocate for their adoption where beneficial.
• Contribute to architectural discussions and technical decision‑making processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional backend development experience.
• Strong proficiency in one or more backend programming languages (e.g., Python, Java, Node.js, Go).
• Extensive experience in designing and developing RESTful APIs.
• Solid understanding of relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and/or NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and microservices architecture.
• Familiarity with containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes) is a plus.
• Knowledge of security principles and best practices in backend development.
• Excellent problem‑solving, analytical, and debugging skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, performance bonuses, opportunities for professional development and training, generous paid time off, and a vibrant, collaborative work environment in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, ZA. Be part of a team building the next generation of SaaS solutions.