Senior Software Engineer, Java

Upstream · Johannesburg South, South Africa (Hybrid) · Full-time · Posted 2026-11-02

Workplace: hybrid

Department: Engineering

Description

Who we are

Upstream is a global leader in mobile marketing automation and digital service innovation, enabling Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and brands to grow revenue, improve customer engagement and succeed in the digital economy. With over two decades of experience and operations spanning 45+ markets across Africa, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, we are a trusted partner to more than 60 MNOs worldwide.

Headquartered in Athens, Greece, and with regional hubs in London, Dubai, Johannesburg, Lagos, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Upstream combines global expertise with deep local insight. Our end-to-end approach encompasses strategy, creative development, technical deployment, campaign execution, and ongoing optimization, ensuring seamless, scalable, and performance-driven service delivery.

The role

We are looking for an enthusiastic Senior Software Engineer to join our Software Development team in Johannesburg, South Africa.

As a Senior Software Engineer, you will be part of a very competent team that works on mission – critical applications contributing in all phases of the development process. You will be responsible for Java application development, supporting business objectives while providing expertise in full software development lifecycle, from concept and design, to testing.

Your main responsibilities will be:

Write well-designed, testable, efficient software modules.
Ensure designs are in compliance with specifications and that specifications cover all needed aspects of the implementation.
Prepare and produce releases of software components.
Provide support for production systems.
Create/ review design documentation and provide feedback on test plans.
Support continuous improvement by investigating alternatives and technologies and presenting these for architectural review.
Support and coach junior developers.

Requirements

BSc/MSc in Computer Science, Software Engineering or equivalent.
5+ years of full time professional experience in designing and developing applications using the Java ecosystem.
Solid background in Object Oriented Analysis and Design.
Experience with popular Java frameworks and technologies such as Spring Framework, JPA/Hibernate.
Experience with asynchronous messaging technologies (e.g. RabbitMQ, Kafka).
Experience designing and developing HTTP web services.
Excellent knowledge of SQL and RDBMS concepts.
Working knowledge of Maven, Git and Continuous Delivery principles.

Experience in the following will be extra appreciated:

NoSQL databases such as Redis, Elasticsearch, Couchbase.
Caching technologies, such as Hazelcast, EhCache.
Horizontally scalable, distributed, microservices architectures.

You will be an excellent fit for our team if you are:

Strong team player with good communication skills.
Eager to work with leading-edge technologies.
Reliable and dedicated professional with clear thinking and strong attention to detail.
Able to work well under pressure and meeting deadlines in sometimes challenging situations.
Able to multitask and thrive in a dynamic environment as well as balance and prioritize activities to ensure critical items are addressed.

Benefits

We offer a competitive base salary and benefits, directly dependent on the candidate’s qualifications and skills. The real excitement comes from working closely with a dynamic, smart, agile, and highly motivated team in a competitive and fast-paced environment.

Upstream is an equal-opportunity employer. The Company does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, pregnancy, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or any other legally protected status. The Company also makes reasonable accommodations for disabled employees. Finally, the Company prohibits the harassment of any individual based on their protected status. This policy applies to all areas of personnel actions, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, transfer, and social and recreational programs

Apply

Apply at Upstream

Upstream

Senior Software Engineer - Java

About the Job

Requirements

Responsibilities

Desired Qualifications