Senior Java Software Engineer (Hybrid, South Africa) - Sandton, Gauteng (Hybrid)

About Glucode

Glucode specialises in designing and developing apps for businesses worldwide. We help our clients create globally competitive apps across sectors including finance, insurance, health, transport and entertainment.

We are a diverse team of dreamers, creators and problem solvers who believe in making the world a better place through technology. We collaborate with clients and colleagues to solve problems effectively, guided by our core values: curiosity, courage, integrity, quality and passion. Our mission is to be the best mobile partner for companies that share our values, creating beautifully designed, meaningful and easy-to-use mobile apps that make a real impact.

About the Job

Overview

The Web Frontend Engineer is a key member of the engineering team, responsible for designing, developing and maintaining high-quality products and systems. This role requires strong technical expertise, excellent problem-solving skills and effective communication to collaborate across teams and deliver successful projects.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior and intermediate developers
• Collaborate with engineering teams to design and implement efficient, scalable and maintainable full stack solutions
• Contribute to the company’s technical vision and strategy
• Stay current with emerging technologies and apply relevant developments to improve systems and innovate

Design and Development

• Design, develop and implement complex software engineering projects in line with best practices and company guidelines
• Build responsive and intuitive user interfaces using modern frontend frameworks
• Develop accessible experiences using semantic HTML, keyboard navigation and appropriate assistive-technology support
• Create and maintain technical documentation, including architecture, design specifications and test plans
• Participate in code and design reviews, providing constructive feedback to improve code quality and maintainability

Project Management

• Collaborate with project managers, product owners and stakeholders to define scope, goals and deliverables
• Develop and maintain project schedules, identify risks and mitigate roadblocks
• Track and report progress to support timely delivery of milestones

Quality Assurance

• Ensure product and system quality through testing and validation
• Collaborate with QA to develop and execute test plans and test cases
• Identify, troubleshoot and resolve defects, implementing sustainable solutions

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work with Product, Sales, Marketing and other teams to align engineering goals with business objectives
• Act as a technical liaison, explaining technical matters clearly to non-technical stakeholders

Other

• Complete accurate daily timesheets and submit them weekly for review

Key Competencies

Technical Expertise

• Proficiency in web frontend technologies, frameworks and tools
• Strong knowledge of software development methodologies, best practices and design patterns
• Familiarity with system architecture, data structures, algorithms and performance optimisation

Leadership and Mentorship

• Ability to guide, coach and mentor junior and intermediate developers
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and fostering collaboration
• Ability to inspire and motivate others towards shared goals

Project Management

• Strong organisational and planning skills across concurrent projects
• Experience scheduling work, tracking progress and managing risks
• Adaptability to changing priorities while maintaining focus on objectives

Communication and Collaboration

• Strong written and verbal communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Effective collaboration with cross-functional teams and external partners

Problem Solving and Critical Thinking

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to evaluate trade-offs and make informed decisions
• Creative approaches to technical challenges

Key Behaviours

Values Alignment

• Company Values: Adheres to the company’s values in all professional behaviours
• Cultural Sensitivity: Respects and values diverse perspectives and backgrounds
• Engagement: Actively participates in and commits to the company’s mission and culture

Collaboration and Teamwork

• Participation: Actively participates in team meetings and activities, contributing ideas, feedback, and support
• Collaboration: Works effectively with others to achieve common goals
• Building Relationships: Fosters positive working relationships with colleagues
• Receiving Feedback: Accepts feedback from leaders and colleagues and responds positively

Adaptability and Continuous Learning

• Flexibility: Adapts to various roles and responsibilities, embracing new challenges
• Openness to Change: Embraces new processes, technologies, and environments
• Resilience: Maintains performance under pressure and quickly recovers from setbacks
• Learning Agility: Continuously seeks opportunities to learn and improve
• Adaptability in Structure: Adjusts to changes in organisational structure and responsibilities

Time Management and Reliability

• Prioritisation: Identifies and focuses on high-priority tasks
• Reliability and Dependability: Consistently delivers quality work on time
• Efficiency: Makes optimal use of time and resources
• Punctuality: Arrives on time and manages time efficiently

Professional Conduct and Integrity

• Appearance and Conduct: Maintains a professional appearance and demeanour
• Respect for Others: Treats colleagues, partners, and clients with respect
• Confidentiality: Safeguards sensitive information
• Respect for Leadership Decisions: Supports leadership decisions and understands their organisational impact

Leadership and Proactivity

• Influence: Positively influences and motivates others
• Initiative: Takes proactive actions without waiting for prompts
• Responsibility: Takes ownership of tasks and leads by example
• Fearless Feedback: Raises issues, concerns, or risks appropriately

Work Ethic and Accountability

• Honesty: Remains truthful and transparent in all dealings
• Accountability: Takes responsibility for actions and their outcomes
• Commitment to Quality: Strives to produce high-quality work consistently
• Attention to Detail: Ensures accuracy and thoroughness in work
• Compliance with Policies: Diligently adheres to company policies and guidelines

About You

The ideal candidate for this position is passionate about building applications that will have a positive impact on users' lives. You should have a strong background in software development and be able to demonstrate proficiency in modern backend technologies. You have experience working with scalable applications and understand the complexities of building maintainable, secure, performant systems. Good communication skills are also important, as you will be responsible for writing code, drafting proposals, and submitting pull requests. You possess leadership skills and use these skills to lead others. Overall, the ideal candidate for this position is passionate about technology, has a strong work ethic, and is committed to delivering high-quality work that will have a positive impact on users' lives.

Core Requirements

• BS/MS degree in Computer Science, Engineering or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 6+ years backend development experience
• Strong proficiency in the Java Stack: Spring Boot/Java EE, PostgreSQL/Oracle, with on-premise or AWS deployment
• Experience with RESTful API design and development
• Strong database design and optimization experience
• Experienced in functional programming and Object Orientated Programming
• Experienced in Test-Driven Development (TDD)

Required Skills and Attributes

• Demonstrated experience in testing and test automation for both frontend and backend applications
• Experience using source control systems like Git and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) tools like GitHub Actions, Jenkins, Travis CI, or CircleCI
• Experience with modern build tools and dependency management (Maven/Gradle, npm/yarn, Bundler)
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Heroku, Vercel, Netlify, DigitalOcean)
• Knowledge of containerization (Docker) and deployment strategies
• Understanding of web application architecture and best practices
• Understanding of web security (OWASP top 10 etc)
• Database management experience with both SQL and NoSQL databases
• Demonstrate debugging and problem-solving skills across the full stack

Advantageous Skills and Experience

• Previous experience mentoring and leading a team
• Multi-stack experience across Ruby on Rails, Java/Spring Boot, and/or Node.js ecosystems
• Experience with advanced AWS services (EC2, RDS, S3, Lambda, etc.)
• Knowledge of message broking systems (Apache Kafka, Redis, RabbitMQ)
• Experience with NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Redis) and advanced SQL optimization
• Familiarity with Kubernetes and container orchestration
• Experience with GraphQL APIs and modern API design patterns
• Knowledge of DevOps practices and infrastructure as code (Terraform, CloudFormation)
• Understanding of Agile/Scrum methodologies
• Experience with performance optimization and monitoring tools
• Knowledge of security best practices for web applications
• Understanding of microservices architecture and distributed systems
• Experience in developing mobile applications.

Our Benefits

• Group Medical Aid percentage contribution
• Group Life Scheme benefit
• Apple computer provided for work
• Fitness watch gift
• Home office allowance
• Monthly cellphone/data allowance
• Personal device insurance

Why Glucode

• Award-winning office design and recognition as a best place to work
• Leading, award-winning local and international projects
• Frequent engagement and collaboration with leadership
• Direct interaction with clients and colleagues across disciplines and skill levels
• Opportunities to influence a diverse range of projects
• Meaningful work that makes the world a better place
• Growth Track framework to support your development
• Exposure to a wide range of exciting technologies
• A fun, connected community with a year-end celebration and frequent team outings

Learn more: https://handbook.glucode.com | www.glucode.com | Glucode on LinkedIn