Backend Developer

Recruiter

IOCO

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Johannesburg, South Africa

As a Backend Developer, you will be the architect of our application's "brain." You will design, build, and maintain the server‑side logic, ensure high performance and responsiveness to requests from the frontend, and manage the complex data orchestration that powers our platform. In 2026, this role specifically requires a "security‑first" mindset and experience with distributed, cloud‑native environments.

• System Architecture:
  Design and implement scalable, resilient backend services using microservices or modular monolithic patterns.
• API Excellence:
  Build and document robust RESTful, Graph
  
  QL, or gRPC APIs that serve as seamless interfaces for web and mobile clients.
• Data Management:
  Design optimized database schemas (SQL/No
  
  SQL), manage data pipelines, and implement efficient caching strategies (e.g., Redis).
• Security & Compliance:
  Implement zero‑trust security protocols, including OAuth2, JWT, and data encryption at rest and in transit.
• Performance Optimization:
  Use observability tools (Prometheus, Grafana) to identify bottlenecks and optimize code for low‑latency execution.
• Cloud & Dev Ops:
  Containerize applications using Docker/Kubernetes and manage CI/CD pipelines to ensure continuous, automated delivery.
• AI Integration:
  Work with AI/ML teams to integrate LLM endpoints and manage the data flows required for generative AI features.

• Languages:
  
  Proficiency in at least one of:
  Go, Java (Spring Boot), Python (FastAPI/Django), or Node.js.
• Databases:
  Postgre
  
  SQL, MySQL, Mongo
  
  DB, or Cassandra; experience with vector databases is a plus.
• Infrastructure:
  Experience with AWS/Azure/GCP, Docker, and Kubernetes.
• Communication:
  Deep understanding of message brokers like Kafka or Rabbit
  
  MQ for event‑driven architecture.
• Quality:
  Strong focus on unit, integration, and end‑to‑end testing (TDD/BDD).

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• 3+ years (Mid) or 6+ years (Senior) of professional experience in backend development.
• A portfolio or Git Hub history demonstrating clean, maintainable, and well‑documented code.

• Analytical Thinking:
  Ability to decompose complex business requirements into technical tasks.
• Collaboration:
  
  Working closely with Frontend Developers to define API contracts and Product Managers to scope features.
• Mentorship: (For Senior roles) Guiding junior developers through code reviews and architectural discussions.