Software Engineer Team Lead - Cloud

Electrum Software; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work

Generous leave

Cape Town office perks

Job summary

Electrum is a next-generation payment software technology company.

Since 2012, we’ve delivered trusted, enterprise-grade, cloud-native software to optimise financial transaction processing for millions of users in South Africa.

As the Software Engineering Team Lead, you’ll guide a cloud engineering team, drive AWS-based infrastructure, ensure ISO-compliant security, and enable on-time delivery with a strong focus on cost efficiency and stakeholder collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, IT, or a related field.
• 2–3+ years of technical team leadership or management experience.
• 3–5 years hands-on software development and cloud operations experience.
• Fintech or payments domain knowledge is highly advantageous.
• Strong knowledge of AWS, Linux, networking, IaC, and security controls.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coach a cloud engineering team to deliver resilient cloud infrastructure.
• Drive design and implementation of AWS-based services and networking.
• Apply Agile/Scrum to manage capacity and releases.
• Partner with stakeholders to plan releases and optimise cloud systems.
• Ensure ISO-compliant security, encryption, access management, and vulnerability assessments.
• Collaborate with Finance to improve cloud cost visibility and optimization.

Skills

Team leadership

Cloud architecture

AWS

Linux administration

Infrastructure as Code

Agile/Scrum

Cloud security controls

Cost optimization

Networking

ISO compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science / Engineering / IT

Job description

Electrum is a next-generation payment software technology company.

Since 2012, we've delivered trusted, enterprise-grade, cloud-native software to optimise financial transaction processing. Our deep expertise has established us as a respected partner in high-volume, low-value payment schemes, enabling clients to deliver services to millions of South Africans daily.

At Electrum, we are grounded in impact – designing solutions that matter, acting with urgency, and continuously learning as we scale. We believe in creating together – working side by side with our clients and teams to build meaningful, lasting solutions. We prioritise making it safe – encouraging open communication, smart risk-taking, and trust so that creativity and alignment thrive. And we back empowered strong teams – hiring brilliant people, collaborating hard, and holding each other to high standards while leading with empathy and kindness.

When you join the Electrum team, you’ll get to:

• Be part of the entire journey — from the spark of an idea to the final product launch.
• Grow your skills through world-class training and hands-on learning every day.
• Receive mentorship and guidance from industry leaders who are invested in your success.
• Work in a dynamic, innovative workplace where collaboration and creativity thrive.
• Tackle real-world customer challenges and see the impact of your work firsthand.
• Explore plenty of opportunities to grow your career and expand your expertise.
• Gain valuable experience in a leading FinTech environment, contributing to meaningful, high-impact projects.

The Opportunity

As the Software Engineering Team Lead, you will report directly to the Head of Platforms Engineering. Your mission will be to lead and develop a team of cloud engineers in provisioning, maintaining, and securing Electrum’s mission critical cloud infrastructure while ensuring compliance with ISO standards. By bridging hands-on technical contribution with people leadership, you will drive on-time project execution, ensure operational resilience, promote cloud cost-awareness, and foster a collaborative team culture committed to high-quality cloud architecture.

The Role

• Team Leadership & Performance: Lead, coach, and support the personal and professional growth of team members through regular 1-on-1s, goal setting, clear career pathways, and performance reviews. Set a strong sense of purpose, recognise talent gaps, and actively recruit to fill them.
• Technical Architecture & Hands-on Contribution: Lead by example with active technical contributions. Drive design and implementation for cloud infrastructure, VPCs, and networking components using AWS services (EC2, RDS, ELB, S3), Linux, and Infrastructure-as-Code best practices.
• Delivery & Project Execution: Utilise Agile/Scrum methodologies to manage capacity, maintain backlog health, and ensure high-quality software/infrastructure releases on time.
• Stakeholder Management: Partner across departments to prioritise, scope, and execute releases, continuously collaborating to optimise cloud systems.
• Cloud Infrastructure, Security & ISO Compliance: Oversee automation, setup, and maintenance of AWS environments. Implement robust security controls, encryption, access management, and vulnerability assessments alongside the security team in compliance with ISO standards.
• Cost Optimisation: Collaborate with Finance to improve cloud cost visibility, forecasting, and drive cost-reduction initiatives across AWS resources.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Leadership Experience: 2–3+ years of technical team leadership or management experience.
• Technical Experience: 3–5 years of hands-on experience in software development and cloud operations/infrastructure management.
• Domain Knowledge: Domain experience in Fintech or payment platforms is highly advantageous.
• Core Technical Skills:
• Deep proficiency in Linux system administration, AWS services (EC2, RDS, ELB, S3), networking, and Infrastructure-as-Code concepts (Architectural certifications beneficial).
• Strong practical grasp of Agile/Scrum, cloud platform administration, and capacity optimization.
• Solid understanding of cloud security controls, encryption, and vulnerability management.
• Core Soft Skills: Excellent stakeholder management, cross-functional communication, clear goal setting, and a continuous improvement mindset.

Why Join Electrum?

• We believe in a People First approach, ensuring a culture where you can thrive and make a real difference
  

Your Career & Culture

• Career Growth: Delivering world-class financial software is challenging, but your effort will earn you hands‑on experience with products used by millions, accelerating your career.
• Strong Teams: We keep teams small, focused, and collaborative to maximise impact.
• Transparency: We openly discuss strategy, finances, and salaries. Mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities that we actively discuss.
• Autonomy: We trust you. You're expected to seek out the data needed for informed decisions and manage your own time—knowing when to focus and when to recharge.
• Shared Vision: You'll have the power to shape the vision of how we build the future of financial services.

Practical Perks

1. Here’s how we support our culture:

• Flexible Work: Office-first environment with flexible hours.
• Generous Leave: Starting at 20 days per year.
• Office Perks (Cape Town): Fully-stocked kitchen and daily catered lunch.

• Social Life: Regular team activities like hikes, getaways, and dinners