Lead Developer at Santam Insurance

What will you do?

The Core Insurance Platform team in Santam BITS (Business Information Technology Services) is looking for a Lead Developer, who will be based in Bellville.

The incumbent will be responsible for development, testing, maintaining and supporting software that meets business requirements on the Policy Administration System.  The incumbent will also be responsible for lead developer functions to improve team processes.

What will make you successful in this role?

• Adheres to defined software development lifecycles and best practice (including code standards, code reviews, source control, etc.)

• Configure and develop screens and applications that meet business requirements (UI’s, business logic, rules, process flow, etc.)

• Build integration / web services 

• Create XML payloads for integration between systems

• Create test data and unit tests to ensure developed software works according to business requirement, design and specification

• Considers non-functional requirements during software development (e.g. performance, load, response, etc.)

• Prepare and produce releases of software components

• Support and maintain developed applications and services

• Continuous improvement of the team processes, quality of deliverables and technical standards

• Provide estimates on development efforts required for sprint planning

Generic Functions

• Contributes and collaborates with team members across the SDLC from business analysis, design, development and testing in Agile / self-managed team environment

• Identification of potential risks / issues and give input into risk plan

• Provide support to other members of the Development Team and members of the Project Management team as required

Quality Assurance

• Unit and functional testing of developed software to ensure it meets quality standards

• Responsible for code reviews 

• Participate in technical issue resolution meetings

Qualifications and Experience

• Relevant Tertiary IT qualification and/or qualification through experience 

• Minimum of 5 years’ IT development experience across the systems development lifecycle 

• Solid experience in :

  • Java 8, J2EE 

  • XML

  • Object oriented development

  • Web application development

  • Web services

• Experience in SQL

• Experience with all phases of the software development lifecycle 

• Experience with Agile Methodology 

• Experience in integrating applications with 3rd party solutions using REST/JSON and SOAP/XML requests 

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of SOLID principles / Design Patterns and their use

• Working knowledge of the Atlassian Suite of products (e.g. Bamboo, JIRA, Confluence) would be advantageous

• Knowledge of Agile methods, e.g. Kanban, SCRUM 

• Knowledge of Groovy advantageous

• Knowledge of the short term insurance industry is advantageous

• Competent in problem solving and troubleshooting

• Working effectively as a team member sharing responsibility, providing support and maintaining communication

• Identifying, resolving or escalating risks, issues, dependencies, etc. 

• Must be able to work in a highly pressurised and dynamic environment

• Investigation and analysis of information

• Able to accept accountability for actions and decisions

• Proven teamwork and communication skills

Core Competencies

• Being resilient - Contributing independently
• Collaborates - Contributing independently
• Cultivates innovation - Contributing independently
• Customer focus - Contributing independently
• Drives results - Contributing independently

About The Company

Santam is the market leader in the general insurance industry in Southern Africa. We are a large, diversified, expanding and transforming company and whilst based in South Africa, we are rapidly moving into a number of emerging markets, both in Africa and Asia.  Our success is rooted in our passion for our clients and everything we do is centered on our delivery of Insurance Good and Proper. 

Please note this appointment will be made in line with the Divisional Employment Equity targets. People with disabilities are welcome to apply.