Technical Lead (PHP & Node.JS) (On-site Somerset West)
IT – Manager
Somerset West – Western Cape – South Africa
ENVIRONMENT:
A well-established yet fast-growing software company serving the South African property management market is looking for a hands-on Technical Lead who excels in both coding and architecture while also inspiring and mentoring a team. In this pivotal role, you’ll guide the development team to deliver high-quality code, build scalable and maintainable architecture, and continuously improve engineering processes. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and is equally passionate about technology and team leadership. To succeed, you’ll need 7+ years of software development experience, including at least 2 years in a technical leadership role, with strong proficiency in PHP and Node.js, a solid background in SaaS and microservices architectures, and deep familiarity with the AWS cloud platform.
DUTIES:
- Technical Leadership: Lead a team of developers, ensuring best practices in software development, architecture, and deployment, especially on back-end of system
- Hands-on Development: Write high-quality, scalable, and maintainable code, when necessary, particularly for complex or high-impact features.
- Architecture & Design: Define and oversee the system architecture, ensuring solutions are scalable, secure, and efficient.
- Mentorship & Team Development: Guide and mentor junior and mid-level developers, fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
- Code Review & Quality Assurance: Conduct code reviews, enforce coding standards, and ensure software quality through testing strategies.
- Agile Development: Participate in agile processes, including sprint planning, standups, and retrospectives. Provide suggestions to improve processes.
- Collaboration: Work closely with product managers, product owners, scrum masters, UX designers, solution architects, and other stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions.
- Tech Stack & Innovation: Stay up to date with new technologies, suggesting and implementing improvements where applicable.
REQUIREMENTS:
- 7+ years of experience in software development, with at least 2 years in a technical leadership role.
- Proficiency in PHP, NodeJS.
- Strong experience with SaaS architectures, microservices, and the AWS cloud platform.
- Expertise in database design (SQL & NoSQL) and API development.
- Solid understanding of DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure as code.
- Experience leading code reviews, mentoring software developers, and setting and maintaining coding standards.
- Ability to balance technical leadership with hands-on coding.
- Experience with containerisation e.g. Docker
- Knowledge of front-end frameworks (React, Vue.js, or Angular).
- Prior experience in a SaaS environment.
ATTRIBUTES:
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
- Good communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Strong people management skills