Senior Software Engineer– Real-Time Logistics Platform, Cape Town

Got Drive? Join AnyVan as we make moving anything, anywhere miles better and build a career that moves just as fast.

Back in 2009, our CEO Angus saw half-empty vans everywhere and knew there had to be a better way! That's how AnyVan began. He set out to create the world's most efficient logistics technology and help halve the number of wasted miles by filling those empty vans.

Since then we've become the nation's favourite way to move, with over 150k five-star reviews and 5 million customers in the UK and Europe. Our team of 400 AnyVanners across London, Cape Town and Bogota is proving that moving doesn't have to cost the earth by helping save 8,520 tonnes of Carbon each year.

Build systems that move the real world At the heart of our business is a sophisticated optimisation platform that connects customer demand with real‑time driver availability, helping us deliver a world‑class service at market‑beating prices.

By intelligently matching jobs to vans already on the road, we reduce wasted miles, cut emissions, and ensure drivers earn fairly. It’s logistics, pricing, and marketplace dynamics - all driven by software.

And we’re only just getting started......

Why this role matters Over the next few years, we’re evolving our platform from a strong foundation into a truly intelligent logistics marketplace.

Model true job‑level costs

in real time, enabling smarter, more dynamic pricing

Deepen our driver platform , embedding into their daily workflows and unlocking new revenue opportunities

Create a two‑sided marketplace , including buying and selling non-core jobs between drivers to maximise utilisation

Scale reliably , as we grow volume, complexity, and ambition

This is a role for engineers who enjoy solving

ambiguous, high‑impact problems

and shaping how a platform evolves at scale.

How our engineering teams deliver We’re a product‑led, agile organisation. Most teams run Scrum with two‑week sprints, but we care far more about

outcomes than rituals . Engineers are trusted to adapt processes, challenge assumptions, and improve how we work.

Senior engineers here are not just heads‑down coders, you’ll:

Work closely with product, data, and commercial stakeholders

Influence technical direction and architectural decisions

Balance speed with long‑term sustainability

Regularly ship meaningful improvements to production

We’re pragmatic and cloud‑first, choosing the right tools for the problem:

Cloud:

AWS

Backend:

Java (Spring), Python

Frontend:

JavaScript (Vue.js)

Other:

TypeScript where it makes sense

Legacy:

A PHP stack we’re actively migrating away from

What you’ll be doing:

Designing, building, and operating

production‑grade systems

that scale

Tackling complex technical challenges across backend, infrastructure, and data flows

Writing clean, pragmatic, well‑tested code with long‑term maintainability in mind

Collaborating with technical and non‑technical stakeholders to shape solutions

Championing testing, observability, and quality improvements

Mentoring engineers and raising the technical bar across the team

You’ll thrive here if you have:

Experience in a

scale‑up or fast‑growing product environment

Strong backend engineering skills (Java, Python, or similar)

A solid understanding of

distributed systems, scalability, and performance

Experience with CI/CD, modern deployment practices, and cloud infrastructure

Comfort working with ambiguity and evolving requirements

A bias toward action– shipping value quickly, then iterating

A collaborative mindset and the ability to influence beyond your code

Bonus points for exposure to marketplaces, logistics, pricing, or e‑commerce systems.

Location and Eligibility

Cape Town -based, able to commute to

the Central Business District

Happy to be onsite

at least 3 days per week

Fully eligible to work in South Africa

What We Offer

Competitive Salary

– Highly competitive salaries

Generous Time Off

– 20 days + public holidays and Christmas Eve on us

Health&Wellbeing

– ZAR1000 per month towards cover with Momentum/Discovery

Future Ready

– 5% you, 5% us

Easy Travel

– Free parking or transport home after 7pm

Daily Perks

– In‑house barista coffee, free breakfast every day

Culture&Community

– Weekly drinks, fun socials, and rewards that take you places

Career Growth

– Join a disruptive technology leader and fast forward your career move

Our company values are

Have fun, get it done

Progress over perfection

One team thinking big

You can find out more about our culture here We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse workplace where every voice is heard, every perspective is valued, and every individual has the opportunity to thrive. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to be part of our mission and contribute to our vibrant culture.

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