Software Engineer (Python)

Takealot Group; South Africa; Hybrid; ZAR 600 000 - 850 000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent e-commerce company in South Africa is seeking a Software Engineer (Python) to develop robust software solutions and improve customer experience. The role offers flexibility in remote working and opportunities for mentorship. Ideal candidates possess a degree in Computer Science, with 5-10 years of experience. Those with knowledge of microservices and Agile environments will find this role advantageous. Join a dynamic team and be part of the tech community.

Benefits

Market-related Total Remuneration Package

Remote working options

Mentorship programme

Staff discount

Birthday leave

Confidential counselling

Qualifications

• Proficient in a strongly typed open-source language such as Python, Java, Golang.
• Thorough understanding of computer science fundamentals.
• Experience in writing robust, efficient production code.

Responsibilities

• Design and build solutions for improved customer experience.
• Architect and design solutions with your team.
• Develop high-quality production code.

Skills

Solutions-oriented, can-do attitude

Strong analytical and critical thinking

Ability to structure solutions to ambiguous problems

Capability to present ideas succinctly

Versatile and with appetite to learn

Education

Bachelor’s degree or Advanced Diploma in Computer Science or related field

5 to 10 years in a software development role

Tools

Python

SQL database systems

Linux environment

RESTful APIs

GitHub

Docker

Job description

Takealot.com, South Africa’s leading online retailer, is looking for a highly talented Software Engineer (Python) to join our team. We are a young, dynamic, hyper‑growth company seeking smart, creative, hard‑working people with integrity.

Think you’ve been challenged before? Think again!

• Scale: Over 4 million happy shoppers shop online on takealot.com. Show them what you can do.
• Learn: We work with the best of the best. Code alongside industry leaders and up‑skill in record time.
• Grow: Expand your career in the fast‑growing Takealot Group. We promote from within. Here’s your chance.

Who’s who in the tech space

This position reports to the respective team's manager.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it

As a Software Engineer, you will be someone whose expertise directly translates into developing robust software in the e‑commerce domain. You will implement best practices to improve existing software and participate in the development of new features. While we don’t promote after‑hours work as part of the regular workday, we run a 24/7 business that requires after‑hours support on a rotational basis to resolve critical system issues.

• Design and build solutions to assist our business users and improve customer experience
• Architect and design solutions with your team
• Develop code, making major improvements to non‑functional areas
• Develop high‑quality production code for work of high complexity and scale
• Utilize and improve functional and non‑functional testing practices
• Champion, challenge, and iterate on best practices within engineering
• Design solutions for complex problems with difficult decision trade‑offs, typically system or domain‑wide
• Participate in and collaborate on architecture proposals across engineering
• Support alignment of architecture across the organisation
• Respond to and resolve bugs in production for systems in your division
• Respond to alerts and support incident response within your division
• Investigate and drive the resolution of issues that impact multiple teams
• Support, challenge existing, and define new engineering processes and directives
• Review and contribute fixes and content to internal documentation
• React to technology trends, identifying risks and opportunities for your division's technologies, systems, and domains
• Share knowledge through blog posts, tech talks, and workshops across engineering
• Contribute to discussions and decisions in the division
• Challenge others to always produce work of the highest quality
• REST and RPC API implementation and maintenance (using Python)
• Develop and maintain automation tests
• Liaise with various internal stakeholders to discuss project requirements, progress, etc.

The skills we need

• Solutions‑oriented, can‑do attitude, and high energy
• Strong analytical and critical thinking, using data to inform decisions
• Ability to dis‑aggregate and structure solutions to ambiguous problems
• Capability to present ideas succinctly, in writing and verbally
• Versatile and with the appetite to learn by doing

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or an Advanced Diploma in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• 5 to 10 years in a software development role
• A thorough understanding of computer science fundamentals, including object‑oriented design, data structures, and algorithms
• Experience in writing robust, efficient production code
• Proficient in a strongly typed open‑source language such as Python, Java, Golang, etc
• Exposure to RESTful APIs and web services
• Experience with SQL database systems
• Experience with development in a Linux environment

Experience in the following will be advantageous

• Familiarity with microservices architecture
• Experience working in an Agile environment
• Memcached, Redis
• Message Brokers, Queues, and PubSub systems (e.g., Kafka and RabbitMQ)
• Containerisation (e.g., Docker)
• GitHub, Travis CI, Jenkins

Let’s talk about life @ Takealot Group

• The power is in your hands: We offer a market‑related Total Remuneration Package that allows full flexibility according to your needs.
• No doors: We aren’t fans of stuffy offices or siloed work environments. See someone you like, high‑five, collab, and make something great.
• Remote working: Enjoy the flexibility of working from home while having the option for in‑office interactions.
• Mentorship programme: Learn from the best.
• Naspers Tech Community & Online Learning: Share ideas and grow with global industry leaders.
• Good times: Get to know the other extraordinary minds at takealot.com through social events.
• Staff discount: Takealotsubscriptions and millions of products across 28 departments.
• Birthday leave: Cake Day all the way.
• Right tools, right job: Mac or Linux, two monitors or one.
• Help when you need it most: Confidential counselling, legal support, and financial guidance.
• Tech stack (for days): ReactJS, Python, Scala, Kotlin, Swift, Google Cloud, Kafka, Redis, Kubernetes, and all things machine learning.
• Free parking: No more 5km fun runs to your desk.

Like what you see?

If you meet the above, you are an extraordinary mind. Apply today!!

Takealot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants from previously disadvantaged groups and people with disabilities will be given preference.