Java and JavaScript Tech Lead

If you are a senior engineer who loves the chess game of platform modernisation, this is the meaty challenge you've been looking for. We are partnering with an ambitious, growing e-commerce platform based in Northern Johannesburg that is currently expanding its footprint. They need a hands-on technical leader to act as the primary designer and technical North Star for their ecosystem.

This isn't a role where you sit in ivory-tower meetings drawing theoretical architecture diagrams. You will be the most senior technical voice in the room, driving a critical migration strategy from a production Java monolith with legacy JSP frontends over to a modern, component-driven JavaScript framework. You will evaluate the frameworks, build the proof-of-concepts, and actually execute the roadmap alongside your team.

What's in it for You?

• Real Ownership: Cut through the red tape. You will have the autonomy to make the technical calls that keep delivery moving, defining the migration strategy that works best.

• Accelerate Your Career: The company is experiencing a strong period of growth. Joining them right now means you can harness this momentum to fuel your own professional advancement.

• True Hybrid Flexibility: Work from a great office space in Bryanston three days a week, transitioning to a flexible hybrid model once you have completed your probation period.

• A Culture that Delivers: Work within a transparent, inclusive, and supportive environment where your voice genuinely matters, complemented by a healthy work-life balance.

• Drive Platform Modernisation: Chart the path away from JSP-based UIs to modern frontend frameworks like React, Next.js, or Vue, ensuring the existing platform stays stable during the transition.
• Assess Backend Opportunities: Look for ways to modernise the Java backend, including upgrading to Java 21, refining API design, and reducing monolith coupling.
• Lead and Mentor: Stay close to the codebase by reviewing PRs, sharing knowledge, and keeping the team's technical skills sharp through pairing and mentorship.
• Collaborative Problem Solving: Partner closely with product and design teams to translate complex business requirements into scalable high-level architecture.

To be successful in this role, you need to be a pragmatic problem solver who prefers incremental delivery over big-bang rewrites.

• Experience: 10+ years in software development, with a strong advantage if you have worked in e-commerce, marketplace platforms, or fintech.
• Technical Foundations: Deep comfort with production Java (ideally with an appreciation for Java 17+/21) paired with meaningful experience in modern frontend frameworks.
• Modernisation Track Record: Proven experience leading or playing a significant role in migrating a legacy frontend to a modern stack within a live production environment.
• Tech Stack Familiarity: Experience or comfort with AWS infrastructure (EC2, RDS/Aurora, Lambda, S3, CloudWatch). Any exposure to Go or React Native + Expo is a great bonus.
• Qualifications: A Bachelor's Degree or National Diploma in Computer Science or Information Technology.

If you're ready to face this considerable challenge, lets talk!