Principal Backend Software Engineer

Our client, a rapidly expanding e-commerce platform, is seeking a highly accomplished Principal Backend Software Engineer to join their core engineering team in Durban
. This is a strategic role where you will architect, design, and implement highly scalable, performant, and reliable backend systems that power millions of user interactions daily. You will be instrumental in defining technical direction, mentoring junior engineers, and driving best practices across the backend development lifecycle. The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of distributed systems, API design, database optimization, and a passion for building robust, high-quality software.

Join us in Durban and make a significant impact on a platform used by customers across the region.

• Lead the design and development of complex backend services and APIs, ensuring scalability, performance, and maintainability.
• Architect robust and resilient distributed systems using modern microservices patterns.
• Collaborate with frontend developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to define feature requirements and technical specifications.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to a team of backend engineers, fostering code quality and best practices.
• Drive the adoption of new technologies and architectural patterns to improve system efficiency and developer productivity.
• Optimize application performance and database queries for high-traffic scenarios.
• Implement and champion comprehensive testing strategies, including unit, integration, and end-to-end tests.
• Participate actively in code reviews, providing constructive feedback to peers.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex production issues, ensuring system stability and reliability.
• Contribute to the technical roadmap and strategic planning for the backend infrastructure.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of professional experience in backend software development.
• Proven experience as a technical lead or principal engineer, architecting complex systems.
• Expertise in one or more backend languages such as Java, Python, Go, or Node.js.
• Deep understanding of microservices architecture, RESTful APIs, and gRPC.
• Extensive experience with relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and No
  
  SQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra).
• Proficiency with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Strong knowledge of caching mechanisms (e.g., Redis, Memcached) and message queues (e.g., Kafka, RabbitMQ).
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure-as-code tools.
• Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration abilities.
• Experience working within the Durban tech community is a plus.

• Highly competitive salary and potential for equity.
• Comprehensive health insurance and retirement plan.
• Generous paid time off and flexible working hours.
• Professional development budget for conferences and training.
• Opportunity to work with a talented and passionate team.
• Modern office space in Durban with amenities.
• Regular team-building events and social activities.
• Significant impact on a high-growth product.