Senior Software Engineer - Backend

Placements24; Durban; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Professional development

Collaborative environment

On-site in Durban

Job summary

Placements24 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, is seeking a Senior Software Engineer focused on backend development to design, build, and maintain scalable systems powering our client’s products.

Responsibilities include crafting robust APIs, modeling databases, implementing security, and leading code reviews, tests, and performance optimizations. The role requires collaborating with frontend, product, and operations teams on-site in Durban.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of backend development experience required.
• Strong knowledge of API design (REST/GraphQL).
• Experience with relational and NoSQL databases.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms and containerization.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement efficient, reusable backend code and services.
• Develop and maintain robust APIs for front-end and third-party integrations.
• Design and manage database schemas, optimize queries, ensure data integrity.
• Collaborate with front-end developers to integrate server-side logic with UI.
• Implement security measures to safeguard data and access control.
• Write unit, integration, and end-to-end tests to ensure code quality.
• Participate in code reviews and provide constructive feedback.
• Troubleshoot and upgrade existing systems; contribute to architecture decisions.

Skills

Backend development

API design

Database design

Code reviews

Unit testing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field

Tools

Python

Java

Go

Node.js

PostgreSQL

MongoDB

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leader in the technology sector, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Software Engineer specializing in backend development to join their team in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal . This role is critical for designing, building, and maintaining scalable, high-performance backend systems that power our client's innovative products and services. You will work closely with front-end developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to deliver robust and efficient software solutions. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of server-side logic, database management, API development, and best practices in software engineering. You will contribute significantly to the technical architecture and strategic direction of our client's technology stack. This is an excellent opportunity to leverage your expertise in a challenging and rewarding environment, driving the development of cutting-edge technology.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement efficient, reusable, and reliable backend code using languages such as Python, Java, Go, or Node.js.
• Develop and maintain robust APIs for seamless integration with front-end applications and third-party services.
• Design and manage database schemas, optimize queries, and ensure data integrity and performance.
• Collaborate with front-end developers to integrate user-facing elements with server-side logic.
• Implement security and data protection measures to safeguard sensitive information.
• Write comprehensive unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end tests to ensure code quality and stability.
• Participate in code reviews, providing constructive feedback to peers and junior engineers.
• Troubleshoot, debug, and upgrade existing systems.
• Contribute to architectural decisions and technology selection for new projects.
• Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in backend development.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in backend software development.
• Proficiency in one or more backend programming languages (e.g., Python, Java, Go, Node.js).
• Strong experience with relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and/or NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra).
• Solid understanding of API design principles (RESTful, GraphQL) and experience building scalable APIs.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes) is highly desirable.
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git).
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and debugging skills.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities.
• Ability to work on-site in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal .

Benefits

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Opportunity to work on impactful and innovative projects.
• Professional development and continuous learning support.
• Collaborative and growth-oriented work environment.
• Contribution to a leading technology company.