Overview
Senior Backend Software Developer – Johannesburg/Cape Town Jobs in Johannesburg at MSA Safety
Overview:
Who We Are
What We’re Looking For
The Role
The Person
Location
Who We Are
Safety io is expanding its mission into large-scale industrial IoT and fixed monitoring solutions, connecting HVAC-R systems, gas-detection hardware, and 3rd-party OEM equipment into a unified, cloud-driven platform. We build technology that powers real-time monitoring, asset intelligence, automated compliance, and remote management for critical industrial environments across the world.
As part of MSA Safety – a global leader with more than a century of engineering excellence – our Johannesburg engineering team plays a key role in creating the next generation of connected safety and industrial IoT systems.
We operate from Johannesburg and Cape Town, collaborating daily with colleagues in Berlin, Germany and Cranberry, USA. Our South African engineering culture blends world-class skill, bold problem-solving, and the relentless ingenuity SA tech talent is known for.
If you want to work on technology that leaves a real impact – this is where you do it.
What We’re Looking For
We are looking for a hands-on Backend Software Developer who is technically curious, user-focussed and thrives in a modern product-driven environment. Your work will contribute to building cloud applications that power our IoT solutions, which revolutionise the live monitoring of workforces in hazardous areas. In an agile and cross-functional team, you will help to improve and grow the Safety io Industrial Grid. You can help us continue to shape the future of safety technology – your code could save lives!
Responsibilities:
The Role
As a Backend Software Developer, you will:
- Collaborate in a cross-functional team.
- Build and maintain microservices, data flows, and infrastructure (AWS).
- Ensure reliability, observability, and performance in production systems.
- Develop on the backend (Typescript) to ensure robust functionality.
- Develop on the Infrastructure as Code (AWS CloudFormation & Ansible) to ensure reliability and scalability.
- Contribute to CI/CD pipelines and automations
- Contribute to internal tooling and automation to strengthen engineering velocity.
Qualifications:
The Person
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Computer Science, Software/Engineering, or related field
- Minimum 5-year professional experience
- Strong programming skills (JavaScript /TypeScript/ Node.js)
- Understanding of cloud fundamentals, ideally AWS
- Solid understanding of REST APIs, microservice architecture and serverless
- Comfortable with Linux environments
- Database experience (PostgreSQL preferred)
- A solid background in various automation test types, including unit testing, integration testing, and end-to-end testing,
- Soft Skills:
-
- Strong time management
- Proven decision-making abilities.
- The drive to challenge and change the status quo.
- Internally motivated, able to work proficiently both independently and in a team environment.
- Strong communication skills with both internal team members and external business stakeholders
Location
- Johannesburg or Cape Town-based role (hybrid model)
- Willingness for occasional international travel
What we offer
- Competitive salary
- Hybrid working model
- 21 days’ leave
- A startup-like environment backed by a global industry leader
- Meaningful work—your software powers systems that protect people and infrastructure
- Flat structure, modern Agile environment, and strong engineering culture
- World-class offices and regular team events
- Access to conferences, training, and learning tools
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Title: Senior Backend Software Developer – Johannesburg/Cape Town
Company: MSA Safety
Location: Johannesburg
