Research Development Engineer: Innovation; Intermediate

About Clickatell

We Are Innovators & Category Creators.
Clickatell
, founded in Cape Town in 2000
, was the first company to connect businesses with consumers via SMS using just four lines of code. Today, it powers AI-driven chat commerce for leading global brands across industries such as banking, retail, telecoms, and healthcare
. Over 25 years
, Clickatell has led multiple industry firsts through its award-winning AI Chat Commerce Platform
, enabling brands to connect, interact, and transact with customers seamlessly.

As a Research and Development Engineer:
Innovation (Intermediate), you are a key driver of our R&D initiatives, responsible for taking ownership of complex features and technical challenges. You will collaborate with engineers and researchers to design and implement innovative solutions that enhance our SaaS platform. This role marks a transition into an “Independent Solver,” where you are expected to navigate ambiguity and lead small “Tactical Pods” or projects from ideation to execution.

You play a vital role in mentoring junior talent and graduates, ensuring our innovation efforts are modular, scalable, and aligned with the “Big Picture” of our systems architecture.

• Conduct in-depth research on industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitor products to identify opportunities for innovation.
• Brainstorm, conceptualize, and propose innovative ideas and solutions that can improve our SaaS products.
• Develop proof‑of‑concept prototypes to test and validate new ideas, leveraging your technical skills.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams, including software developers, designers, and product managers, to bring innovation projects to life.
• Document research findings, design concepts, and development processes to maintain a clear and organized record of innovation efforts.
• Assist in testing and validation of new features, ensuring they meet the highest quality standards.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and best practices to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
• Take ownership of complex “Stories” and navigate ambiguity by building a solution from high‑level requirements with minimal oversight.
• Manage the end‑to‑end development of specific features, ensuring that code is functional, modular, data‑driven, and seamlessly integrates into the broader SaaS architecture.
• Perform rigorous peer reviews and self-testing to ensure all delivered code is “Day 2” ready—extendable, secure, and maintaining system performance as it moves toward production readiness.
• Support the growth of Junior Engineers and Graduates by providing technical guidance, performing constructive code reviews, and helping them navigate the department’s “Way of Work.”

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong programming skills in languages such as Python, Java, or C++.
• A passion for innovation and a keen interest in emerging technologies.
• Excellent problem‑solving and analytical abilities.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively in a team.
• Demonstrated eagerness to learn, adapt, and take on new challenges.
• Knowledge of SaaS and cloud computing is essential.
• Minimum 2‑4 years of experience with a track record of “figuring out how to build it” and working independently.
• Experience taking ownership of a full “Story” from initial requirement to a functional, integrated feature.
• Ability to provide constructive code reviews and technical support to Junior engineers and Graduates.
• Good AI understanding and daily use in a responsible way.

• Team Player:
  Self‑directed and dedicated, positively engaging with the team to solve.
• Optimizing Processes:
  Utilizes tools and resources to maximize output, conducts day‑to‑day operations using best practice to achieve effectiveness and accuracy, and continuously reviews and recommends process improvements.
• Expert Thinker:
  Equipped with specialist knowledge and provides practical, smart recommendations to be implemented; stays up‑to‑date in the industry and offers technical advice and support.
• Effective Problem‑Solver:
  Resourceful,…