Johannesburg: Backend Engineer posted by iOCO Digital Pty Lty

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.

What you’ll do:

• System Architecture: Design and implement scalable, resilient backend services using microservices or modular monolithic patterns.
• API Excellence: Build and document robust RESTful, GraphQL, or gRPC APIs that serve as seamless interfaces for web and mobile clients.
• Data Management: Design optimized database schemas (SQL/NoSQL), 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 & DevOps: Containerize applications using Docker/Kubernetes and manage CI/CD pipelines to ensure continuous, automated delivery.li>
• AI Integration: Work with AI/ML teams to integrate LLM endpoints and manage the data flows required for generative AI features.

Your Expertise:

• Languages: Proficiency in at least one: Go, Java (Spring Boot), Python (FastAPI/Django), or Node.js.
• Databases: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, 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 RabbitMQ for event-driven architecture.
• Quality: Strong focus on unit, integration, and end-to-end testing (TDD/BDD).

Qualifications:

• Bachelors 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 GitHub history demonstrating clean, maintainable, and well-documented code.

Soft Skills

• 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.