About the Role
We are looking for a Senior Backend Engineer who will also serve as a Tech Lead for a cross-functional engineering team (Frontend, Backend, and DevOps).
This is not just a senior IC role—it is a leadership role grounded in strong technical execution. You will be responsible for delivering complex systems end-to-end, setting engineering standards, and elevating the performance of the entire team.
You will work primarily within a Java/Spring Boot backend ecosystem, while also collaborating closely with frontend engineers (Angular) and DevOps to ensure cohesive, scalable, and reliable systems.
Requirements
Key Responsibilities
Technical Leadership & System Design
Lead the design and implementation of scalable, secure, and maintainable backend systems using Java and Spring Boot
Own architectural decisions across services, ensuring clear contracts between backend, frontend (Angular), and infrastructure
Translate ambiguous product requirements into well-defined technical designs and execution plans
Drive system design discussions, identifying trade-offs in scalability, performance, and maintainability
Ensure alignment between frontend and backend through well-structured APIs and data contracts
Backend Engineering & Execution
Write high-quality, production-grade code for mission-critical systems
Build and maintain RESTful APIs and backend services
Optimize system performance, reliability, and scalability
Proactively identify and address technical debt and bottlenecks
Establish and enforce best practices in code quality and testing
Team Productivity & Enablement
Act as a force multiplier through code reviews and technical leadership
Unblock engineers quickly when they face challenges
Balance personal contribution with team enablement
Ownership & Delivery
Take full ownership of multi-sprint projects
Coordinate execution across engineers
Drive incident response and post-mortems
Proactively identify and resolve risks
Cross-Stack Collaboration
Work closely with Angular frontend engineers
Partner with DevOps on deployment pipelines
Ensure end-to-end system reliability
Business & Product Alignment
Align engineering decisions with product goals
Collaborate with Product Managers
Balance technical excellence with delivery timelines
Mentorship & Team Development
Mentor junior and mid-level engineers
Contribute to hiring and onboarding
Foster a culture of ownership and learning
Performance Expectations
Deliver complex multi-sprint projects reliably
Improve team velocity and code quality
Maintain high system uptime
Drive system performance improvements
Mentor engineers effectively
What We’re Looking For
Experience & Technical Skills
5+ years in backend engineering
Strong expertise in Java and Spring Boot
Experience with distributed systems
Strong System and API design skills
Database experience (SQL/NoSQL)
Familiarity with cloud services and CI/CD configurations
Working knowledge of Angular frontend concepts
Leadership & Mindset
Strong ownership mentality
Proven leadership ability
Excellent communication skills
Pragmatic decision-maker
Passion for mentorship
What we offer
● A chance to contribute to a mission-driven company that's making a real difference in education across Africa.
● A collaborative, inclusive, and dynamic work environment where your input is valued.
Our culture
At Zeraki, our strength is rooted in our vibrant culture, driven by a shared commitment for integrity, learning, and excellence. Our environment demands the highest standards and focuses on delivering results. We hire and develop the best, manage through trust, value empathy, and practice having a backbone in all our dealings. We are a team that thrives on freedom, responsibility, and the pursuit of excellence. Joining us means being part of a community dedicated to growth, innovation, and transformation.
About the Company
Zeraki is a pioneering EdTech startup on a mission to redefine education across Africa. Our innovative technology tools are designed to make learning more accessible, effective, and engaging for parents, teachers, and students alike. At the heart of Zeraki is a deep-rooted passion for harnessing the power of education to unlock the potential of the continent's youth and drive transformative change. Zeraki proudly serves over 2.7 million users in 10 countries, establishing itself as one of Africa's leading EdTech companies.
Our commitment to excellence and innovation has not gone unnoticed. Zeraki was the proud recipient of the African Union Commission Innovating Education in Africa Award in 2022. Zeraki is one of three EdTech companies participating in the 2024 cohort of the EY AI SDG Accelerator and is also part of the 2024 cohort of the Microsoft Entrepreneurship for Positive Impact Program. Through these accolades and partnerships, Zeraki continues to shape the future of learning in Africa, demonstrating the transformative role of technology in education.