Intermediate Developer at Kontak Recruitment

• A growing digital agency based in Port Elizabeth builds and maintains a portfolio of web-based products for a range of clients. The team operates lean and moves fast, with developers taking real ownership of the projects they build rather than passing work along a chain of siloed handovers. This is a place where curiosity is valued, initiative is rewarded, and the work you ship genuinely has your name on it.
• This is not a role for someone who needs constant direction or prefers to stay in their comfort zone. The successful candidate will come in, get their bearings on existing projects, and within the first couple of months take full ownership of a new project from the ground up. Think of it as your project, your call, your responsibility. Bug fixes, maintenance, future iterations, all yours. As the codebase grows, so does your scope, and the path toward a tech lead role is a real one for the right person.

What's in it for you

• Clear growth trajectory into a senior and tech lead role
• Full project ownership from conception through to maintenance
• Collaborative environment with direct access to senior guidance during onboarding
• Exposure to AI-assisted development workflows using tools like Claude and Codex
• Stable, in-office team environment in Port Elizabeth

Minimum Requirements

• Approximately two years of software development experience
• Matric is required, a degree is advantageous but not essential
• Proficiency in Ruby on Rails is strongly preferred
• Candidates with strong general web development skills and the ability to transition to Ruby on Rails will be considered
• Solid understanding of PostgreSQL or similar relational databases
• Ability to read, review, and reason through code critically, including code generated by AI tools
• Comfortable working independently and making considered decisions without constant escalation
• A portfolio of projects or GitHub repositories demonstrating practical work is advantageous
• Must be based in Port Elizabeth or genuinely willing and motivated to relocate

Key Responsibilities

• Supporting and maintaining existing web-based projects during the initial onboarding period
• Taking full ownership of new web development projects from planning through to delivery
• Performing ongoing bug fixes and maintenance for all projects under your custodianship
• Building out admin systems and back-end architecture as required
• Conducting thorough code review, including reviewing AI-generated output critically and with understanding
• Collaborating closely with senior team members on technical direction and system design
• Growing into a tech lead function over time, including broader architectural involvement