Technical Lead; PHP Node.JS; On-site Somerset West

Technical Lead (PHP & Node.

JS) (On-site Somerset West) IT - Manager – Somerset West, Western Cape, South Africa

A well‑established yet fast‑growing software company serving the South African property management market is looking for a hands‑on Technical Lead who excels in both coding and architecture while also inspiring and mentoring a team. In this pivotal role, you’ll guide the development team to deliver high‑quality code, build scalable and maintainable architecture, and continuously improve engineering processes. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment and is equally passionate about technology and team leadership.

To succeed, you’ll need 7+ years of software development experience, including at least 2 years in a technical leadership role, with strong proficiency in PHP and Node.js, a solid background in SaaS and microservices architectures, and deep familiarity with the AWS cloud platform.

• Technical Leadership:
  Lead a team of developers, ensuring best practices in software development, architecture, and deployment, especially on back‑end of system
• Hands‑on Development:
  Write high‑quality, scalable, and maintainable code, when necessary, particularly for complex or high‑impact features.
• Architecture & Design:
  Define and oversee the system architecture, ensuring solutions are scalable, secure, and efficient.
• Mentorship & Team Development:
  Guide and mentor junior and mid‑level developers, fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
• Code Review & Quality Assurance:
  Conduct code reviews, enforce coding standards, and ensure software quality through testing strategies.
• Agile Development:
  Participate in agile processes, including sprint planning, stand‑ups, and retrospectives. Provide suggestions to improve processes.
• Collaboration:
  
  Work closely with product managers, product owners, scrum masters, UX designers, solution architects, and other stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions.
• Tech Stack & Innovation:
  Stay up to date with new technologies, suggesting and implementing improvements where applicable.

• 7+ years of experience in software development, with at least 2 years in a technical leadership role.
• Proficiency in PHP, NodeJS.
• Strong experience with SaaS architectures, microservices, and the AWS cloud platform.
• Expertise in database design (SQL & No
  
  SQL) and API development.
• Solid understanding of Dev Ops practices, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure as code.
• Experience leading code reviews, mentoring software developers, and setting and maintaining coding standards.
• Ability to balance technical leadership with hands‑on coding.
• Experience with containerisation e.g. Docker
• Knowledge of front‑end frameworks (React, Vue.js, or Angular).
• Prior experience in a SaaS environment.

• Strong problem‑solving skills and ability to work in a fast‑paced environment.
• Good communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Strong people management skills