Senior Backend Software Engineer

KingMakers; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Private health insurance

Retirement & Group Risk

Parking

Laptop provided

Team events

Snacks & coffee

Performance bonuses

Job summary

KingMakers is seeking a Senior Backend Software Engineer to design, build, and evolve platforms powering marketing across KingMakers. You will own critical backend capabilities, including marketing operations, affiliate integrations, event data, and SEO infrastructure, collaborating with marketing and product teams.

You will work primarily on backend systems, with occasional frontend contributions, ensuring robust, scalable services and high reliability in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience with backend focus.
• Proficiency in C# and the .NET ecosystem.
• Experience designing microservices and integrating with APIs.
• Strong knowledge of distributed systems and event-driven architectures.
• Experience with MS SQL Server, MongoDB, Redis.
• Cloud-native apps on Microsoft Azure.
• Hands-on with Docker, Kubernetes, and AKS.
• CI/CD pipelines and Terraform.
• RabbitMQ and Kafka.
• Testing, observability, monitoring, and performance optimisation.
• Secure software development and GDPR/POPIA awareness.
• End-to-end ownership of complex projects.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain scalable backend systems.
• Contribute to architecture and design discussions across services.
• Write clean, secure code with a focus on quality and reliability.
• Identify and resolve performance, scalability, and operational challenges.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of engineering standards and tooling.

Skills

C#

.NET

Microservices

Distributed systems

Azure

CI/CD

Docker

Kubernetes

Event-driven

Data privacy

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

AKS

Terraform

RabbitMQ

Kafka

Google Analytics

Job description

At KingMakers, we’re not here to follow the industry, we’re here to define it.

We are a proudly homegrown African company, building the future of sports and iGaming entertainment across the continent. Since our launch in 2018, we’ve created platforms that connect millions of fans to the excitement they love through our leading brands, BetKing and SuperSportBet.

From Nigeria to South Africa, we’ve rapidly grown into a powerhouse, recognized for raising standards, pushing boundaries, and shaping what’s next in our industry. Our vision is bold: to be the home where Africa plays.

Collaboration, innovation, and fearless execution define our culture. Every decision is purposeful, every interaction impactful, and every product designed to serve our players and partners with excellence.

We move fast, stay curious, and constantly raise the bar. Our mission is to deliver entertainment with integrity, innovation, and impact, because great products can change how entire communities experience play.

As a Senior Backend Software Engineer within the MarTech team, you will play a key role in designing, building, and evolving the platforms and services that power marketing across KingMakers. The MarTech team owns critical business capabilities including marketing operations support, affiliate platforms and integrations, tracking and analytics infrastructure, customer event data, and the technical foundations of SEO across our brands. You’ll work with tools such as Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, Amplitude, and Segment, partnering closely with marketing teams, many of whom are non-technical. While this is primarily a backend role, you may occasionally contribute to front-end work as team priorities evolve.

We’re looking for senior engineers who thrive in high-impact environments, enjoy solving complex distributed systems challenges, and can explain technical concepts clearly and simply to non-technical stakeholders. You’ll be passionate about building robust, maintainable software while supporting the growth of those around you.

Requirements

• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience, with strong backend development expertise and a proven track record at senior level.
• Strong proficiency in C# and the .NET ecosystem.
• Experience designing and building microservices-based applications and integrating with third-party platforms and APIs.
• Strong understanding of distributed systems, domain-driven design, and event-driven architectures, including handling high-volume event or tracking data reliably.
• Experience with relational and NoSQL databases (MS SQL Server, MongoDB, Redis).
• Experience building and operating cloud-native applications, preferably on Microsoft Azure.
• Hands-on experience with Docker, Kubernetes, and AKS.
• Experience working with CI/CD pipelines and Infrastructure as Code (Terraform).
• Experience with messaging and event-streaming technologies such as RabbitMQ and Kafka.
• Strong understanding of testing practices, observability, monitoring, and performance optimisation.
• Strong focus on secure software development and engineering best practices, including responsible handling of customer and marketing data (e.g. GDPR, POPIA).
• Experience delivering complex technical projects and owning solutions end-to-end.

Communication & Stakeholder Management

• Proven experience working directly with non-technical stakeholders, ideally in marketing, commercial, or growth teams.
• Ability to explain technical concepts, constraints, and trade-offs clearly and simply.
• Experience mentoring junior engineers and contributing to a culture of learning and collaboration.
• Ability to work effectively in fast-paced, cross-functional teams.
• Proven ability to balance technical excellence with business outcomes.

Nice to Have

• Some front-end experience (e.g. React or similar) and willingness to contribute to front-end work when the team needs it.
• Hands-on experience with marketing and analytics tools such as Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, Amplitude, or Segment.
• Experience with affiliate marketing platforms, tracking, and attribution.
• Understanding of technical SEO, including site performance and indexing infrastructure.
• Experience within the iGaming or sports betting industry.
• Knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements in gaming environments, including marketing and advertising rules.
• Experience working in high-growth or scale-up technology businesses.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain scalable, resilient, and high-performing backend systems.
• Contribute to architecture and design discussions, helping shape technical solutions across services and platforms.
• Write clean, maintainable, and secure code with a strong focus on quality and reliability.
• Identify and resolve performance, scalability, and operational challenges.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of engineering standards, tooling, and development practices.

Engineering Delivery

• Own features and technical initiatives from design through deployment and support.
• Build and maintain distributed systems and microservices that support marketing operations and affiliate programmes.
• Own the reliability and accuracy of tracking and analytics infrastructure, including event instrumentation, tag management, and data flows into tools such as Amplitude, Segment, and Google Analytics.
• Build and maintain affiliate integrations covering tracking, attribution, and reporting.
• Support and improve the technical infrastructure behind SEO across our brands.
• Ensure strong observability, monitoring, and operational excellence practices are embedded into solutions.
• Participate in troubleshooting, incident response, and root-cause analysis activities.

Collaboration & Mentorship

• Collaborate closely with Marketing teams, Product Managers, Designers, Data teams, and fellow engineers to deliver impactful solutions.
• Participate in technical discussions, code reviews, and design reviews.
• Share knowledge and mentor junior and mid-level engineers through coaching and technical guidance.
• Promote engineering best practices and contribute positively to team culture.

Marketing & Stakeholder Partnership

• Act as a trusted technical partner to marketing teams, understanding their goals and priorities.
• Translate marketing and affiliate requirements into scalable technical solutions.
• Provide technical input into planning, estimation, and delivery discussions.
• Communicate technical trade-offs and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

What we offer:

• Flexible Work – Hybrid model and flexible hours, giving you the freedom to collaborate in the office or focus remotely.
• Health & Wellness – Private health insurance and wellness benefits to keep you feeling your best.
• Retirement & Group Risk (South Africa hub)– Joint contributions to your Retirement Annuity (RA) and Group Risk Fund to secure your future
• Stress-Free Parking – Safe, convenient parking so your day starts smooth.
• Top-Notch Tech – A high-performance laptop and tools to make your work seamless and productive.
• Team Activities – Regular events to connect, collaborate, and have fun with your colleagues.
• Office Perks – Free snacks, coffee, and a welcoming environment to keep you energized.
• Performance Bonuses – Discretionary rewards recognizing your contributions and impact.

*Eligibility for the discretionary bonus depends on the onboarding cycle and start date; employees joining after a certain point in the year may not be eligible for the 2026 cycle. At KingMakers, we’re committed to creating an environment where you can do your best work, grow, and be rewarded for it.