Software Engineering Lead (Java)

Blue Pearl PTY LTD; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

A recognized software firm in Johannesburg is seeking an experienced Java Lead to steer engineering delivery in an AWS-driven environment. In this role, you'll lead Agile teams, design and implement scalable Java solutions, while mentoring other developers. The ideal candidate should have a strong background in Java, Spring Boot, and AWS services, and possess excellent communication and problem-solving skills.

Qualifications

• Experience in designing, developing, and maintaining enterprise-grade applications.
• Familiarity with Agile, DevOps practices, and modern SDLC standards.
• Strong understanding of design patterns and secure application development.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor developers across Agile squads.
• Design, implement, and maintain scalable Java solutions.
• Drive automation in testing and deployment.

Skills

Java

Spring Boot

RESTful APIs

Microservices

SQL

AWS services

Agile methodologies

Problem-solving

Tools

IntelliJ IDEA

JIRA

Docker

GitHub Actions

Job description

The Role

We’re looking for an experienced Java Lead to take ownership of engineering delivery within our AWS-driven environment. As a senior leader in the team, you’ll be responsible for shaping technical direction, guiding architectural decisions, and ensuring the successful delivery of complex solutions. You’ll lead by example — combining hands-on coding with coaching and mentoring engineers across multiple Agile squads. Collaboration will be key as you work closely with product owners, architects, and stakeholders to translate business objectives into robust, scalable Java solutions. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on balancing leadership with technical depth, enjoys building high-performing teams, and is passionate about driving engineering excellence in a fast-paced, full-stack environment.

Skills and Experience

What you’ll do : Lead & Design

• Partner with business and product teams to shape requirements into scalable Java-based solutions.
• Define and communicate technical direction, ensuring alignment with architecture, security, and quality standards.
• Guide high-level design discussions, translating complex requirements into practical, fit-for-purpose solutions.
• Mentor and coach developers, fostering best practices and technical growth within the team.

Build & Deliver

• Design, develop, and maintain enterprise-grade applications and APIs using Java, Spring Boot, and modern frameworks.
• Implement microservices and cloud-native solutions leveraging AWS services for scalability and resilience.
• Contribute to architectural decisions, code reviews, and hands-on development to maintain engineering excellence.
• Drive automation in testing, deployment, and monitoring to ensure reliable, high-quality releases.
• Collaborate with front-end engineers on full-stack initiatives, ensuring seamless integration across platforms.

Operate & Improve

• Monitor system performance and apply optimizations to improve stability and efficiency.
• Champion coding standards, design patterns, and engineering best practices.
• Stay ahead of emerging technologies in Java, cloud, and DevOps, introducing improvements where relevant.
• Promote continuous improvement in Agile delivery, tooling, and team collaboration.

Key Functions

• Lead small, cross-functional Agile teams with a focus on delivering business value through technology.
• Balance leadership responsibilities with hands-on coding and problem-solving.
• Build reusable, extensible solutions that reduce complexity and speed up delivery.
• Act as a technical point of contact for stakeholders, bridging business needs and engineering execution.

Requirements

Your expertise :

Core Technology Stack

• Java, Spring Boot, Hibernate / JPA, RESTful APIs, Microservices
• Frontend frameworks such as Angular or React (advantageous)
• Databases : SQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL
• AWS services : EC2, Lambda, S3, RDS, API Gateway
• CI / CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)

Software Development Tools

• IntelliJ IDEA / Eclipse
• Maven / Gradle
• JIRA, Confluence

Technical Knowledge

• Strong grasp of design patterns, SOLID principles, and scalable architecture
• Experience building secure, resilient, high-performance enterprise applications
• Familiarity with Agile, DevOps practices, and modern SDLC standards

Personal Attributes :

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex ideas clearly.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable working under pressure and meeting established business objectives.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams.
• Empathy for stakeholders and a user-centric approach to solution design.

Other

Other information applicable to the opportunity :

• Contract Position : 12 Months
• Location : Cape Town or Johannesburg