Software Engineer I

Position Overview

Software Engineer I is an entry-level engineering position focused on learning fundamental software development practices whilst contributing to team projects under guidance and supervision. This role requires a strong willingness to learn, a basic understanding of coding principles, and the ability to work collaboratively within a team environment. SE1s work on small, well-defined tasks whilst building foundational skills across the software development lifecycle.

Reporting to a Tech Lead, this role requires foundational programming skills, eagerness to learn, and the ability to incorporate feedback to continuously improve. You will work closely with more experienced team members to understand project requirements, deliver assigned work, and build expertise in software development practices including coding standards, testing approaches, operational basics, and collaborative development workflows. 

What will you do?

Code Development & Quality

• Write clean, maintainable, and efficient code for assigned tasks and features.
• Follow coding standards and best practices with guidance from senior team members.
• Participate actively in code reviews, incorporating feedback to improve coding skills.
• Demonstrate the ability to debug and solve simple problems with guidance and support. 
• Understand and implement basic algorithms and common data structures.
• Contribute to the team's codebase and projects under supervision.
• Begin to recognise technical debt in code with guidance from senior engineers 

Learning & Development

• Show strong initiative in learning unfamiliar technologies and development practices.
• Continuously work on honing your technical craft and expanding your skill set.
• Collaborate with team members to understand project requirements and objectives.
• Proactively seek guidance and mentorship from more experienced engineers.
• Gain familiarity with the full software development lifecycle through hands-on experience.
• Develop understanding of the core functionality of the product and systems. 

Operational Practices

• Begin to understand the basics of operational practices under mentorship, including monitoring, logging, and incident response.
• Learn about production systems, deployment processes, and how to support live applications.
• Start participating in on-call rotations with close mentorship and support.
• Understand the importance of system reliability and customer experience. 

Collaboration & Communication

• Effectively communicate work progress and challenges to teammates.
• Collaborate effectively within the team under supervision.
• Participate in team meetings, stand-ups, and agile ceremonies.
• Ask questions when uncertain and seek help when blocked.
• Demonstrate humility and willingness to learn from others. 

Progression

• Improve understanding and application of fundamental programming concepts and best practices.
• Develop the ability to work more independently on tasks with increasing complexity.
• Enhance collaboration and communication skills within the team.
• Gain familiarity with the full software development lifecycle. 
• Start contributing to more noteworthy features and projects under supervision.
• Begin participating in on-call rotations with close mentorship and support. 

Qualification and Experience

• Relevant degree or diploma in Computer Science, IT, or related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• Typically 0-5 years of software engineering experience. 
• Proficient in at least one programming language with familiarity of its standard library.
• Basic understanding of algorithms, data structures, and software development principles.
• Familiar with common libraries and frameworks in their language of expertise. 

What will make you successful in this role?

• Learning Orientation: Strong willingness and demonstrated ability to learn new technologies, tools, and practices quickly. Shows initiative in developing skills and expanding knowledge beyond immediate assignments.
• Collaboration Skills: Ability to work effectively within a team environment, seek guidance when needed, and incorporate feedback constructively. Good culture fit with collaborative and team-player mentality.
• Problem-solving Abilities: Can debug code and identify simple bugs with guidance. Demonstrates systematic approach to understanding and resolving issues with support from more experienced engineers.
• Communication: Effectively communicates work status, challenges, and questions to teammates. Able to articulate technical concepts at a basic level and participate in team discussions. 
• Ownership & Responsibility: Beginning to understand the importance of taking responsibility for assigned work. Shows commitment to delivering quality contributions and meeting team standards. 

Knowledge and Skills

Personal Attributes

Build a successful career with us

We’re all about building strong, lasting relationships with our employees. We know that you have hopes for your future – your career, your personal development and of achieving great things. We pride ourselves in helping  our employees to realise their worth. Through its five business clusters – Sanlam Fintech, Sanlam Life and Savings, Sanlam Investment Group, Sanlam Allianz, Santam, as well as MiWay and the Group Office – the group provides many opportunities for growth and development.

Core Competencies

Turnaround time

The shortlisting process will only start once the application due date has been reached. The time taken to complete this process will depend on how far you progress and the availability of managers. 

Our commitment to transformation