Senior Software Engineer (Java), Johannesburg

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Software Engineer (Java) to join our innovative technology team. You will design, build, and maintain scalable enterprise-grade applications using Java and complementary technologies.

This role emphasizes cloud-native development, microservices architecture, and secure, high-performance coding practices. It is ideal for a skilled engineer who thrives in collaborative Agile environments, embraces continuous learning, and is passionate about delivering robust, future-ready software solutions.

Key Responsibilities

1. Development & Architecture

• Design, develop, and maintain backend applications using Java 8+, Spring Boot, and related frameworks.
• Build microservices-based architectures with reusable and modular components.
• Implement cloud-native solutions using AWS or Azure services (e.g., Lambda, EC2, S3, RDS, App Services).
• Develop and integrate RESTful APIs, messaging systems, and asynchronous services.
• Ensure high availability, performance, and security of applications.
• Apply best practices in coding, architecture, and DevOps for maintainable and extensible solutions.

1. Tooling & Pipelines

• Implement CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or Azure DevOps.
• Containerize applications using Docker and manage orchestration with Kubernetes.
• Monitor and optimize application performance using tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, or AWS CloudWatch.
• Maintain unit tests, integration tests, and automated test frameworks to ensure application quality.

1. Collaboration & Process

• Collaborate with product managers, QA engineers, DevOps, and other software engineers in an Agile/Scrum environment.
• Participate in code reviews, architecture discussions, and knowledge-sharing sessions.
• Mentor junior developers and support team growth and skill development.
• Translate functional and technical requirements into high-quality software solutions.

Requirements & Qualifications

Must-Have Skills:

• 6+ years of professional software development experience with Java 8+.
• Strong experience with Spring Boot, Spring Framework, and Hibernate / JPA.
• Hands-on experience with RESTful APIs and microservices architectures.
• Experience with relational databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle) and NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Cassandra).
• Knowledge of containerization using Docker and orchestration using Kubernetes.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and automated build/deployment processes.
• Strong understanding of object-oriented programming, design patterns, and secure software development.

Highly Desirable Skills:

• Cloud experience with AWS (Lambda, EC2, S3, RDS) or Azure services.
• Knowledge of event-driven architectures and messaging systems (e.g., Kafka, RabbitMQ, SQS).
• Familiarity with unit and integration testing frameworks (JUnit, TestNG, Mockito).
• Experience with build tools like Maven or Gradle.
• Exposure to performance tuning, profiling, and monitoring of Java applications.
• Understanding of DevSecOps practices and secure coding standards.

Education & Certifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree, higher certificate, or diploma in Computer Science, Software Engineering, IT, or a related field.

Certifications (beneficial not compulsory):

• AWS Certified Developer – Associate 
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate 

Additional Information

• Contract Duration: 12 Months (with possibility of renewal)
• Salary: Market Related 
• Location Options: Johannesburg / Cape Town / Remote
• Must be located in South Africa or have a valid work permit for South Africa