About Us: Founded in 2018, headquartered in Johannesburg, and backed by leading investors including Pantera Capital, Coinbase Ventures and Fidelity’s F-Prime Capital, VALR is a global crypto exchange offering a comprehensive suite of products—including Spot Trading, Spot Margin, Perpetual Futures, Staking, Lending, Borrowing, OTC services, VALR Invest, Crypto Bundles, and VALR Pay. Licensed by South Africa’s FSCA, with regulatory approval in Europe, VALR serves over 1.7 million registered users and 2,000 corporate and institutional clients worldwide. The exchange is dedicated to advancing a just financial future that upholds human dignity and the unity of mankind. For more information, visit valr.com. Our Vision: To establish VALR as a global institution that advances the economic life of human civilisation through a borderless, inclusive, and empowering financial ecosystem. Our Mission: To contribute towards a global financial system that upholds justice, fosters human dignity, and reflects the oneness of humanity, by serving the financial needs of individuals, communities, and institutions through innovative financial technologies. Team Overview This role sits within the Integrations team, responsible for design, building and maintaining high-performance backend systems. - Practical experience is more relevant than a formal qualification. - Extensive experience in backend development with proficiency in Kotlin, Java, or other JVM-based languages. - 1 -3 years experience working in production environments. - Strong understanding of REST APIs and/or WebSockets for building scalable and real-time communication systems. - A strong drive to leverage AI tools extensively - from writing and reviewing code to debugging and architecture. - Hands-on experience with cloud platforms like AWS and GCP, along with knowledge of associated services and tools. - Familiarity with CI/CD concepts, version control systems (e.g., Git), and containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes). - Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to tackle complex technical challenges. - Effective communication skills with the ability to collaborate within cross-functional teams. - Passion for cryptocurrencies and alternative financial systems. - A natural inclination to help people and the ability to explain technical details simply. - Design, develop, and maintain Kotlin-based backend services. - Implement and integrate REST APIs and/or WebSockets for seamless communication between different components of the exchange platform, while also extending and improving our API. - Leverage Google Cloud Platform to deploy and manage scalable infrastructure. - Incorporate CI/CD concepts, version control, and containerization to streamline the development and deployment processes. - Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including frontend engineers, designers, and product managers, to deliver high-quality features and products. - Develop RESTful APIs and microservices to build best-in-class product features, extend our platform's functionality, and enhance user experience. - Optimise and scale backend systems to handle high traffic volumes and ensure low-latency responses. - Create troubleshooting tools and participate in code reviews, automated testing, and continuous integration to maintain code quality. - Implement internal processes and tooling to improve development efficiency and streamline workflows. - Write easy-to-read, maintainable code and adhere to coding standards and best practices. - Participate in an on-call rotation as needed to support 24/7 operations. - Innovative Work Environment - Engage with the latest blockchain technologies and tools in a rapidly evolving industry. - Work from anywhere with secure, stable internet connectivity, allowing you to create your ideal workspace. - Career Development - Benefit from an annual professional development allowance alongside scheduled company training sessions to keep you at the forefront of the crypto industry. - Competitive Compensation - Competitive salaries that align with industry standards. - When you contribute to our success, you’ll be rewarded with discretionary bonuses, recognising your impact on VALR’s growth. - Receive preferential Tier 5 trading fees on VALR, with no monthly trading volume required. - Diversity and Inclusion - A commitment to fostering a diverse workforce with initiatives that promote equity and belonging. - Wellness - Employees are encouraged to strive for coherent and wholesome lives, fulfilling their work, personal, social, physical and spiritual goals to the best of their abilities. - Compliance with statutory leave required by individual countries, in addition to flexible leave options. - Enjoy lunch on us when working from our Johannesburg Head Office, one of the ways we support wellbeing and connection in the workplace. - Impact and Contribution - At VALR, we believe in a financial system that recognises the oneness of humanity. Our mission is to break down financial barriers and promote universal values of courage, ethical integrity, and the intrinsic worth of every individual. - Engage in initiatives that promote education and awareness about cryptocurrencies, ensuring that everyone has the tools and knowledge to participate in the evolving financial landscape. - Dynamic Team Culture - Open communication and teamwork across departments, fostering innovation and creativity. - Enjoy social gatherings outside of work to strengthen team bonds and boost morale. - Global Exposure - Work with colleagues from around the world. - Exposure to diverse perspectives and practices in the crypto space. - Recognition and Rewards - Regular acknowledgement of employee accomplishments, fostering a culture of appreciation and motivation. - Join us for retreats that blend professional development with team bonding in inspiring locations. - Tools for Success - Receive a Mac laptop and a discretionary allowance to purchase all the extras needed for a productive home office—yours to keep after three years (terms and conditions apply).