Senior Software Engineer: 3DS Payments

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a senior backend engineer with strong Java expertise who is comfortable working on security‑critical, regulated systems. You have experience designing, building and maintaining distributed backend services, enjoy taking ownership of complex technical problems, and are able to balance delivery with long‑term maintainability.

You are confident working independently, contributing to architectural decisions, and mentoring other engineers, while collaborating closely with product, QA and DevOps teams. Experience in payments, fintech or other high‑security environments will be a strong advantage.

The Role

As a Senior Software Engineer in the 3DS Payments team, you will work on backend services that support secure payment authentication and the handling of sensitive data. The role focuses on developing and maintaining Java‑based services, improving system reliability and performance, and ensuring compliance with security and regulatory requirements.

You will contribute to system design, guide technical decision‑making, and help drive continuous improvement across the codebase and platform.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and maintain backend services within the 3DS Payment’s platform
• Build and maintain RESTful APIs and distributed systems
• Develop and support Java applications deployed on Apache Tomcat
• Design, optimise and maintain MySQL database schemas and queries
• Identify and resolve performance, stability and production issues
• Contribute to architectural decisions and technical tradeoffs
• Ensure systems adhere to secure coding practices and compliance requirements
• Collaborate with product, QA and DevOps teams throughout the delivery lifecycle
• Mentor and support other engineers within the team
• Take ownership of features and services from design through to production

Skills and Experience

Successful candidates for this role will generally possess the following qualifications and skills:

• 5 - 8+ years of professional software engineering experience with strong proficiency in Java (Java 11+ required; newer LTS versions a plus).
• Experience developing applications running on Apache Tomcat.
• Solid experience with MySQL or similar relational databases, including:
• Schema design
• Query optimisation and indexing
• Performance tuning and troubleshooting
• Experience building RESTful APIs and working with distributed systems.
• Strong understanding of software design principles (OOP, SOLID, clean architecture).
• Experience using Git or similar version control systems.
• Strong understanding of secure coding practices, including OWASP Top 10.
• Experience working in regulated environments (e.g. PCI DSS, GDPR).
• Experience handling sensitive data such as cardholder data or PII.
• Nice‑to‑have:
  • Experience with AWS (EC2, RDS, S3, IAM, CloudWatch)
  • Exposure to cloud‑native or cloud‑migrated architectures
  • Experience with Docker and/or Kubernetes
  • Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices
  • Experience in payments, fintech or other high‑security domains

Personality Attributes

• Strong problem‑solving and analytical thinking skills.
• Clear and effective communicator with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Comfortable working independently and taking ownership.
• Collaborative team player with a pragmatic, delivery‑focused mindset.
• Strong attention to quality, security and maintainability.

View all current vacancies at Entersekt →

1. Read the full job description and requirements on this page carefully before applying — tailor your application to what the employer actually asks for.
2. Update your CV and save it as a PDF. Make sure your contact details, most recent experience and qualifications are easy to find.
3. Click the apply button on this page to complete your application on Entersekt's own careers site. The employer manages the shortlisting process directly.
4. Have certified copies of your ID and qualifications ready. Many South African employers request them once you are shortlisted.
5. Applications close on 27 August 2026. Submit well before the deadline — late applications are normally not considered.
6. Keep a record of what you submitted and when. If you have not heard back within a few weeks of the closing date, it is acceptable to follow up politely.

If Entersekt shortlists you for the Senior Software Engineer: 3DS Payments position, preparation makes the difference. Work through these steps:

• Research Entersekt before the interview — look for their official website, social profiles and any recent news. Interviewers expect you to know why you want to work there specifically.
• Go through the job description above and prepare a specific example from your own experience for each of the main duties. Most interview questions will be drawn from what the advert emphasises.
• Structure your answers with the STAR method — Situation, Task, Action, Result. Concrete stories with measurable outcomes are far stronger than general claims about your abilities.
• Prepare two or three thoughtful questions to ask the panel — about the team, how success is measured in the role, or growth opportunities. It signals genuine interest.
• Plan your logistics early. Confirm whether the interview is in person in Fully Remote or online, and arrive or log in at least ten minutes early.