Sanlam Life & Savings is seeking to appoint an Intermediate Software Engineer - Java, Cloud & DevOps within BTSS. The successful candidate will contribute to the design, development, testing, deployment, and support of backend applications and APIs in a structured enterprise environment, working closely with product owners, business analysts, architects, testers, and fellow engineers to deliver reliable, scalable, and maintainable solutions.
This opportunity is suited to a delivery-focused software engineer with solid experience in Java and Spring-based development, together with exposure to cloud platforms, DevOps delivery practices, automated testing, and disciplined engineering standards.
This role requires a strong foundation in Java and Spring-based development, together with exposure to cloud platforms, DevOps delivery practices, automated testing, and disciplined software engineering standards.
Key responsibilities include:
Build and maintain backend services using Java, Spring Boot, and related Spring components such as REST, JPA, Gateway MVC, and SOAP web services.
Develop and enhance APIs and service integrations in line with business requirements and agreed design patterns.
Contribute to technical design discussions and implement solutions aligned with architectural and security standards.
Write clean, maintainable code using supporting libraries and tools such as MapStruct, Lombok, and Drools where appropriate.
Participate in agile ceremonies and collaborate with the team to deliver sprint commitments and release outcomes.
Use Gradle for builds and contribute to reliable deployment practices within CI/CD pipelines.
Create and maintain automated tests using tools such as JUnit 5, Mockito, REST Assured, and WireMock.
Support code quality and engineering standards through tools such as Checkstyle, PMD, code reviews, and team best practices.
The role offers the opportunity to build scalable and maintainable services in a complex enterprise environment, while further developing capability across cloud engineering, DevOps, quality engineering, and solution delivery
Output/Core Tasks:
Contribute to agile planning and delivery activities, including estimation, sprint execution, reviews, and retrospectives.
Design, develop, enhance, and maintain backend applications and services using Java and Spring Boot, including REST services, JPA-based persistence, Gateway MVC, and SOAP integrations where applicable.
Translate business, functional, and technical requirements into robust, maintainable, and scalable software solutions.
Participate in solution design and technical implementation discussions, ensuring alignment with architecture, security, and operational standards.
Develop clean, reusable, and supportable code using approved engineering standards, patterns, and project libraries such as Lombok and MapStruct where relevant.
Develop and maintain automated unit, integration, and API tests using tools such as JUnit 5, Mockito, REST Assured, and WireMock.
Support build, release, and deployment activities using Gradle, CI/CD pipelines, and DevOps practices that promote reliable and repeatable delivery.
Apply code quality, security, and engineering governance standards through peer reviews and tooling such as Checkstyle and PMD.
Contribute to technical documentation, incident resolution, and effective communication of progress, dependencies, and delivery risks.
Contribute to the deployment and support of services in cloud environments, with exposure to AWS and/or Microsoft Azure considered advantageous.
Support DevOps ways of working, including source control, automated builds, release pipelines, environment management, monitoring, and continuous improvement of delivery processes.
What will make you successful in this role?
Requirements:
Qualifications:
Relevant degree or diploma in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, or a related discipline.
Relevant cloud or DevOps certifications, or equivalent technical training, will be advantageous.
Experience:
Typically 3 - 5 years' relevant experience in software engineering, including practical exposure to designing, building, and supporting backend Java applications.
Experience within agile delivery teams, together with exposure to production support, structured engineering practices, and enterprise delivery environments.
Exposure to cloud-hosted application delivery and support across AWS and/or Azure environments will be advantageous.
Backend & Java Engineering
Proficiency in Java and sound understanding of object-oriented programming principles.
Hands-on experience with Spring Boot and Spring-based development for REST APIs, JPA persistence, Gateway MVC, and SOAP web services.
Experience building and integrating RESTful APIs and working with OpenAPI specifications.
Architecture & Design
Understanding of service-based application design and integration patterns in enterprise environments.
Ability to contribute to technical discussions and implement solutions that consider maintainability, security, performance, and supportability.
Testing & Quality Engineering
Experience writing unit, integration, and API tests using JUnit 5, Mockito, REST Assured, and/or WireMock.
Understanding of clean code principles, code quality tooling, and embedding quality into the development lifecycle.
Build & Delivery
Experience using Gradle and contributing to CI/CD-enabled delivery across multiple environments.
Familiarity with DevOps tooling and practices, including source control, build automation, release pipelines, code quality tooling, and collaborative engineering workflows
Exposure to cloud services and deployment concepts in AWS and/or Microsoft Azure will be advantageous.
Comfort working with structured development workflows, peer reviews, and documented standards.
Experience supporting troubleshooting, defect resolution, and operational readiness across test and production environments.
Data & Rules
Experience working with relational databases, SQL, and JPA-based persistence.
Exposure to rules-based or decisioning frameworks such as Drools would be advantageous.
Project Tooling & Libraries
Exposure to project libraries and frameworks such as MapStruct, Lombok, OpenAPI, and Spring SOAP Web Services will be advantageous.
Experience in enterprise or financial services environments would be beneficial.
Ways of Working
Good understanding of the software development lifecycle and agile development practices.
Ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams and manage assigned work with limited supervision.
Domain Knowledge (Advantageous)
Exposure to financial services, insurance, or other regulated enterprise environments will be advantageous.
Knowledge
Working knowledge of Java, Spring Boot, and common backend service development patterns.
Understanding of REST APIs, SOAP services, object-oriented design, and clean coding practices.
Knowledge of relational databases, JPA persistence, and service integration concepts.
Understanding of build, test, release, and deployment practices using Gradle, CI/CD pipelines, and DevOps delivery principles.
Foundational knowledge of cloud platform concepts and deployment approaches within AWS and/or Microsoft Azure.
Familiarity with automated testing and code quality tools such as JUnit 5, Mockito, REST Assured, WireMock, Checkstyle, and PMD.
Understanding of agile team delivery, collaboration practices, and continuous improvement principles.
Competencies
Strong analytical and problem-solving capability, with sound judgement and attention to detail.
Ability to translate technical and business requirements into practical, maintainable, and fit-for-purpose solutions.
Well-developed communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work effectively across technical and business teams.
Demonstrated ownership, accountability, and commitment to delivery outcomes.
Strong quality orientation, with a disciplined approach to testing, reliability, supportability, and engineering standards.
A continuous improvement mindset, with willingness to grow capability across cloud, DevOps, and modern software engineering practices