Senior Full Stack Developer (React Native, React & Laravel)

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain features across the web portal and React Native mobile app.
• Build reliable workflows that support school administration, management and communication.
• Develop and maintain Laravel backend services and REST APIs used by both web and mobile applications.
• Design and maintain MySQL database structures, queries and migrations.
• Deliver consistent functionality and accurate data across the web portal, mobile app and backend.
• Build intuitive, responsive interfaces suited to the needs of school administrators, staff, parents and learners.
• Implement secure authentication, role-based permissions and appropriate access to school and learner information.
• Take ownership of features from technical planning through development, testing, release and ongoing support.
• Troubleshoot complex issues across mobile, web, APIs and databases.
• Improve platform performance, stability, security and maintainability.
• Manage mobile builds and releases to the Apple App Store and Google Play.
• Review code, mentor developers and contribute to technical standards and architectural decisions.
• Collaborate with Product, UI/UX, QA and Development teams to clarify requirements, estimate work and identify risks.
• Write clean, maintainable code, implement appropriate automated tests and maintain technical documentation.

Required Skills

Mobile Development — Essential

• Strong commercial React Native experience building and maintaining iOS and Android applications.
• Experience releasing and supporting production mobile applications.
• Strong understanding of mobile navigation, application lifecycle behaviour and platform-specific issues.
• Experience with push notifications, secure local storage and handling unreliable connectivity.
• Experience managing mobile builds, signing and app store releases.
• Ability to debug and optimise mobile performance and stability.

Web Development — Essential

• Strong hands-on React.js experience building and maintaining production web applications.
• Strong HTML5, CSS3 and responsive design skills.
• Experience building complex forms, dashboards, tables and administrative workflows.
• Ability to develop reusable components and optimise frontend performance.

JavaScript & TypeScript — Essential

• Strong JavaScript (ES6+) and TypeScript skills.
• Strong understanding of React hooks, component architecture and state management.
• Experience implementing API integration, authentication, validation and error handling across web and mobile applications.

Backend & Database Development — Essential

• Strong hands-on PHP and Laravel experience.
• Experience designing, developing and maintaining secure REST APIs.
• Strong MySQL skills, including database design, relationships, indexing and query optimisation.
• Experience implementing business logic, validation, authentication and role-based permissions.
• Experience working with database migrations, queues and scheduled jobs.
• Ability to resolve backend errors, integration issues and performance bottlenecks.

Senior Engineering Capability — Essential

• Ability to independently deliver features across mobile, web, backend and database layers.
• Sound architectural judgement and the ability to explain technical trade-offs.
• Strong Git and collaborative version control skills.
• Experience reviewing code and mentoring developers.
• Experience implementing appropriate automated tests across the stack.
• Strong problem-solving, estimation and communication skills.
• Ownership of delivery quality, technical risks and production issues.

Nice to Have

• Experience with SaaS platforms and multi-tenant systems.
• Experience with educational software or school management systems.
• Experience with billing, online payments or finance-related functionality.
• Experience integrating third-party systems and services.
• Exposure to AWS, Docker, CI/CD pipelines and application monitoring.
• Experience working in Agile development teams.

Experience & Qualifications prefered

• At least 5 years of professional software development experience, including 3 or more years of commercial React Native development.
• Strong practical experience delivering production React.js applications, Laravel backend services and MySQL database functionality.
• Demonstrated experience taking technical ownership and delivering complete features across the stack.
• A diploma or degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Location

Office-based — Woodmead, Sandton, South Africa

Please note:

Strong React Native, React.js, PHP, Laravel and MySQL experience is required. Candidates should be prepared to discuss previous projects, their specific contributions and how they resolved technical challenges across the stack.