Senior Backend Java Developer
Position Description
Warp Development is hiring a Senior Backend Java Developer based in South Africa to work on large-scale, cloud-native backend systems for a global client. This is a full-time role for an experienced Java engineer who enjoys building robust, modern systems using strong architectural and testing principles.
This position is suited to a Senior Backend Java Developer with 6+ years of experience, comfortable working with modern Java, cloud platforms, and distributed systems.
What is the Senior Backend Java Developer Role at Warp Development?
As a Senior Backend Java Developer, you will work on modern backend systems built with Java 21, Spring Boot 3, and OpenAPI Specification 3, contributing to scalable, high-performance services used in production by real users.
You will be part of a senior engineering team that values clean architecture, automated testing, and long-term maintainability, while continuously evolving systems in a cloud-first environment.
What will the Senior Backend Java Developer work on?
The Senior Backend Java Developer will:
- Build and maintain backend services for large-scale, production systems
- Work on cloud-native architectures supporting global users
- Contribute to cloud optimisation initiatives, including cost efficiency and autoscaling
- Help evolve observability, monitoring, and infrastructure practices
- Collaborate closely with other senior engineers across disciplines
This is a long-term project focused on stability, scalability, and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
As a Senior Backend Java Developer you will:
Design, develop, and maintain backend services using Java 21 and Spring Boot 3
Build well-defined APIs using OpenAPI Specification 3
Apply strong architectural principles and ensure long-term maintainability of systems
Write high-quality automated tests using JUnit 5, Testcontainers, and ArchUnit
Collaborate on distributed systems involving Apache Kafka
Work with relational and NoSQL databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Cassandra
Contribute to cloud infrastructure optimisation, including autoscaling and cost efficiency
Support and improve observability and monitoring in cloud environments
Review code and provide constructive feedback to maintain high engineering standards
Required Qualifications and skills
To succeed in this position, you should have:
6+ years of experience building backend systems using Java
Strong experience with modern Java (Java 21) and Spring Boot
Solid understanding of backend architecture and distributed systems
Experience designing and consuming APIs using OpenAPI
Strong automated testing experience with JUnit 5, Testcontainers, and similar tools
Experience working with messaging systems such as Apache Kafka
Hands-on experience with relational and NoSQL databases
Experience working in cloud environments, preferably AWS
Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently
Excellent communication skills and experience collaborating with remote teams
Preferred Qualifications
While not required, the following are beneficial for this Senior Backend Java Developer role:
- Experience with Kubernetes and containerised workloads
- Familiarity with AWS-native services and cloud optimisation strategies
- Experience improving observability stacks (logging, metrics, tracing)
- Experience working in Agile / Scrum development environments
- Strong familiarity with Git and collaborative development workflows
Why work at Warp Development?
Warp Development is a senior, expert software development company with over 23 years of experience delivering custom software solutions for local and international clients. As a Senior iOS Developer, you will work with a global client while being part of a trusted, South Africa-based team known for quality, long-term partnerships, and technical excellence.
We are a growing team of 120+ individuals, read more about us here and apply by submitting your CV via our careers portal.