Principal Software Engineer

About the role

We’re hiring a Principal Software Engineer to be the technical authority for our software platform. Reporting to the Head of Tech, you will be the most senior technical voice, shaping architecture, standards and the overall technical direction across multiple squads.

Key responsibilities

• Define technical direction, architecture standards and guardrails for the development teams.
• Choose implementation styles and technology stacks, ensuring consistency and coherence across squads.
• Guide platform evolution with evidence‑based decisions and bring teams along the roadmap.
• Maintain technical coherence, applying successful patterns throughout the platform.
• Provide quality oversight for team leads, reviewing major architectural decisions.
• Champion test‑driven development, code review culture and high‑quality engineering standards.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics or a related field.
• 8+ years of software development experience, with a track record of influencing how teams build.
• 5+ years of hands‑on Java experience at production scale.
• Proven experience as a senior technical voice across multiple teams, setting architecture and defending decisions.
• Hands‑on experience building CI/CD pipelines, automated testing and deployment workflows on GitHub.
• Experience with test‑driven development and modern engineering practices, including AI‑assisted engineering.

Required skills

• Java
• GitHub CI/CD pipelines
• Test‑driven development
• AI‑assisted engineering
• Salesforce Apex (plus optional certifications)
• RESTful API design
• Penetration testing
• Front‑end development

What we offer

• Four‑day onsite work week at our Melrose Arch office in Johannesburg.
• Collaborative, ambitious tech team with a strong focus on craft.
• Culture built on excellence, freedom, responsibility, innovation and integrity.
• Perks such as a book club, games corner, daily chocolate drops, standing desks, unlimited popcorn, mother’s room and regular social hangouts.