Vibe Engineer (Junior Ai-First Software Developer)

Wise Pelican; Gauteng; Hybrid; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading software company in South Africa is seeking a Junior AI-First Software Developer to join their team. You'll build user-facing features with JavaScript and React, collaborate closely with other teams, and work in an inclusive environment. Ideal candidates are recent graduates or self-taught builders with a solid understanding of front-end frameworks and a passion for AI development. The role offers competitive benefits including paid time off and parental leave.

Benefits

3 weeks Paid Time Off

Sick Leave

Parental Leave

7 Company Holidays

Qualifications

• Strong portfolio demonstrating your capabilities.
• Recent graduate or self-taught with a passion for building.
• Understanding of user-centric product development.

Responsibilities

• Build and improve user-facing features with modern frameworks.
• Collaborate with teams to bring ideas to life.
• Own a product surface end-to-end once you're settled.

Skills

JavaScript

TypeScript

React

AI-assisted development

Education

Degree, bootcamp, or trade school

Tools

Claude Code

Cursor

Lovable

Bolt

Job description

Title : Vibe Engineer (Junior AI-First Software Developer)

Department : Product Engineering

Reports to : CEO

Location : Scottsdale, Arizona

About Wise Pelican

Wise Pelican is hiring a dedicated Vibe Engineer who will learn fast, ship faster, and build real product features using modern frameworks and AI-assisted, vibe-first development.

You'll join a small, high-velocity team reimagining what engineering looks like in the AI era, pairing with senior engineers, leveraging tools like Claude Code, Cursor, Lovable, and Bolt, and iterating quickly to deliver impact.

Wise Pelican is an innovative leader in real estate marketing solutions, empowering real estate professionals with cutting‑edge tools and services.

As a growing company with a global workforce, we foster a dynamic, inclusive work environment that promotes growth, innovation, and collaboration.

This position is a contract position with full‑time hour availability for a US‑based company in Scottsdale, Arizona.

This role will work typical business hours within South Africa.

What Will You Do?

• Build and improve user‑facing features with JavaScript / TypeScript and React.
• Use AI coding tools daily (Claude Code, Cursor, Lovable, Bolt) to design, build, and ship production‑ready code.
• Collaborate with designers, PMs, and engineers to turn ideas into live features.
• Think like a product engineer: understand the "why," prioritize user impact, and iterate based on feedback and data.
• Contribute to quality: write clear PRs, basic tests, and keep speed / quality in balance.
• Learn and apply modern DevEx: CI / CD basics, environment setup, and lightweight automation.

What Big Things Will You Own?

At first...

• Ship your first customer‑facing feature in your first few weeks using React + AI tools.
• Pair program to master vibe‑first workflows (Claude Code, Cursor, Lovable, Bolt).
• Build small internal tools / automations and document your work for repeatability.
• Set up local dev, tests, and CI checks so your code sails to production.

Once you get your footing...

• Own a small product surface end‑to‑end (scope ? ship ? learn ? improve).
• Improve developer experience (scripts, CI refinements, issue / PR templates).
• Instrument basic metrics (errors, performance) and raise your ship‑to‑learn velocity.

Who Are You?

• Recent grad (college, bootcamp, or trade school) or self‑taught builder with a strong portfolio.
• You love building things that matter and care about users, outcomes, and results.
• Excited about AI‑assisted development and curious about new tools.
• Solid foundation in JavaScript / TypeScript and front‑end frameworks like React.
• A problem‑solver who thinks like a product person.
• Collaborative, creative, and unafraid to experiment.

Where Can You Easily Impress Us?

• Side projects that use Claude Code, Cursor, Lovable, or Bolt.
• Contributions to open source or publishing your own tools / experiments.
• Exposure to CI / CD and testing; bonus: Leaflet / Mapbox or real‑estate data experience.

What's In It For You?

Paid Time Away : The PTA you want to be involved with.

Employees are given 3 weeks of Paid Time Off.

Also Sick Time.

Also Parental Leave.

Also 7 Company Holidays per year.

Also-

Compensation : This role is currently benchmarked by industry standards and ranges from R / month ($1,–$2, / month).

Offered compensation is based on merit and relevant qualifications.