Software Engineering Manager (Fulfilment Operations)

takealot.com; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working model

Mentorship programme

Tech community & online learning

Birthday leave

Staff discount

Free parking

Job summary

takealot.com, a leading South African online retailer, is seeking a Software Engineering Manager for the Fulfilment Engineering team in South Africa. You will be responsible for cross–functional operations, scaling teams, and delivering solutions that improve the fulfilment process.

The role combines hands-on technical leadership with strategic planning, stakeholder management, and mentorship to grow a high-caliber engineering team within a fast-paced e-commerce environment.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent experience in CS/Engineering.
• Strong SQL/GBQ experience in high-load environments.
• Experience with e-commerce applications is advantageous.
• Exposure to cloud infrastructure (AWS/Azure) and API integrations is advantageous.
• Proven experience managing multiple stakeholder relationships.
• Exposure to IT infrastructure, networking and software systems.

Responsibilities

• Handle operational issues across multiple divisions to improve fulfilment.
• Remain hands-on as a manager while tackling operations.
• Build and retain a high-caliber engineering support team.
• Mentor and develop team careers.
• Lead processes within the team and remove blockers.
• Prioritize commitments and manage stakeholder expectations.
• Contribute to architectural and strategic planning with peers.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to gather requirements and resolve issues.
• Track team productivity and drive operational excellence using metrics.
• Lead initiatives to improve system operations.

Skills

Solution oriented

Analytical thinking

Data-driven

Interpersonal

Written & verbal comms

Learning by doing

High energy

Education

Bachelor's Degree or Advanced Diploma in CS/Engineering

Tools

SQL/GBQ

AWS

Azure

Jira

ServiceNow

Zendesk

APIs

Job description

takealot.com, a leading South African online retailer, is looking for a highly talented Software Engineering manager to join our Fulfilment Engineering team in South Africa.

Think you've been challenged before? Think again!

• Scale: 4 million happy shoppers shop online on takealot.com. Show them what you can do.
• Learn: We work with the best of the best, and then some. Code alongside industry leaders and upskill in record time.
• Grow: Expand your career in the fast-growing Takealot Group: takealot.com and Mr D. We like to promote from within: Here's your chance.

Who's who in the tech space

The position reports to the Senior Engineering Manager: Group Fulfilment Operations.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it:

• In this position you will be responsible for handling operational issues across multiple divisions which will empower you to understand and affect every part of the fulfilment process.
• This position is ideal for someone who is keen to remain hands‑on as a manager while being able to tackle operational processes.
• Build and retain a high caliber engineering support team
• Support and develop the careers of members of the team
• Lead the processes within the team
• Remove roadblocks and interruptions to help the team perform
• Manage the commitments for the team, playing a key role in prioritization
• Be involved with the architectural and strategic planning with peers and senior developers
• Work with stakeholders to gather requirements, and manage expectations
• Work with all levels within the business to resolve issues.
• Track and ensure team productivity is healthy using a metrics‑based approach
• Track and ensure operational excellence in the team using a metrics‑based approach
• Analyze reports to identify trends in recurring issues and collaborate with stakeholders to develop and implement solutions.
• Lead operations improvement initiatives in the areas of covered by the systems being supported

The skills we need:

• A solutions‑oriented, can‑do attitude and high‑energy
• Strong analytical and critical thinking, using data to inform decisions
• Solid quantitative skills
• Ability to interview and interact professionally with internal and external people
• Capability to present ideas succinctly, in writing and verbally
• Versatile and with the appetite to learn by doing
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree or Advanced Diploma in Computer Science, Engineering, or any related area of study. In the event that you do not have a Bachelor's Degree or an Advanced Diploma, equivalent experience in the related area is sufficient.
• Good SQL/GBQ experience in a high‑load environment.
• Experience with e‑commerce‑based applications is advantageous.
• Exposure to cloud infrastructure (AWS/Azure), SQL databases, API integrations, and enterprise ticketing systems (e.g., Jira Service Desk, ServiceNow, Zendesk) is advantageous.
• Proven experience managing multiple stakeholder relationships.
• Exposure to IT infrastructure, networking, cloud technologies, and software systems.
• Solid understanding of incident, problem, and change management processes.

Let's talk about life @ Takealot Group

• The power is in your hands: We offer a market‑related, Total Remuneration Package.
• 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: Love water cooler chats and working from home? Takealot.com offers a hybrid working model for the best of both worlds.
• Mentorship programme: We aren't kidding when we say the people with the best people win. Now's your chance to be one of the best, by learning from the best.
• Naspers Tech Community & Online Learning: Share ideas and grow with global industry leaders who are all just a Slack message away. Love to learn? Up‑skill with free access to courses on MyAcademy, Udacity, Coursera, and more.
• Good times: Get to know the other extraordinary minds at takealot.com during regular social events and out‑of‑office activities (think hikes, think mini golf, think good times).
• Staff discount. Millions of products across 28 departments. What more could you ask for?
• TakealotMORE Benefit
• Birthday leave: Cake Day all the way. Enjoy your day off - you deserve it.
• Help when you need it most: Confidential counseling, legal support, and financial guidance, for free, anytime, anywhere.
• Tech stack (for days): Angular, Scala, Kotlin, Google Cloud, Kafka, Redis, Kubernetes and all things machine learning. If you build it, they will come.
• Free parking: No more 5km fun runs to your desk (unless you want to).

Like what you see?

If you meet the above you are an Extraordinary Mind.

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