DMZ267 - Python Engineer (Backend Platform Engineer)

Job Summary

Our client seeks an experienced Python Engineer to build scalable backend systems, REST APIs, microservices and data integrations for a high-volume e-commerce platform. Working with Product, Software, Data, SRE and DevOps teams, the engineer will support retail, customer experience, fulfilment, payments and logistics systems serving millions of interactions.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain Python backend services, REST APIs and microservices for orders, stock, payments, customer experience, fulfilment and logistics.
• Write clean, testable and reusable code; apply object-oriented design, patterns, multithreading and asynchronous development to scalable distributed systems.
• Improve throughput, latency, database queries and system reliability; investigate incidents and implement lasting root-cause solutions.
• Develop cloud-native applications, containerise services with Docker/Kubernetes, and support infrastructure automation, CI/CD and deployments.
• Build dependable API and event-driven integrations, process large operational/analytical datasets and optimise data models and performance.
• Contribute to architecture and technical roadmaps, code reviews, junior mentoring, engineering automation and continuous improvement.
• Work closely with Product, Engineering and Agile teams to deliver secure, highly available, customer-focused solutions.

Competencies

• Analytical problem-solving, strong technical judgement and attention to performance and production reliability.
• Clear communication, effective stakeholder engagement and collaborative cross-functional teamwork.
• Customer-first mindset, personal ownership, accountability and adaptability in fast-paced Agile environments.
• Passion for engineering excellence, mentoring, sound delivery practices and continuous learning.

Technical Skills

• 5–8 years of commercial Python development
  • OOP, design patterns, multithreading and asynchronous programming.

• Backend: FastAPI, Flask and REST APIs
  • Django advantageous and GraphQL beneficial.

• Data: PostgreSQL, MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server and Redis
  • MongoDB advantageous; database/query tuning and large datasets.

• Cloud/infrastructure: Azure, AWS or GCP
  • Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform and Linux.

• Messaging: Kafka, RabbitMQ and event-driven architecture for reliable integrations.
• DevOps: Git, GitHub/GitLab, Azure DevOps, Jenkins, CI/CD pipelines and GitHub Actions.
• Observability: Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack, Datadog and New Relic.
• Experience: enterprise-scale microservices, APIs, high-availability production, thousands of daily transactions, performance optimisation and Agile delivery in e-commerce, fintech, logistics, marketplace or digital platforms.
• Advantageous exposure: online retail, last-mile delivery, WMS, supply chain, payment gateways, transaction processing, recommendations/personalisation, Elasticsearch and AI/ML customer experiences
  • AZ-204, AWS Developer Associate/Solutions Architect or CKA/CKAD certification.

General Information

• Contract: 12-month contract or permanent

Location: Cape Town preferred

• Johannesburg or Durban considered
• Work Mode: Hybrid – three days per week in office