Full Stack Web Developer

Full Stack Web Developer

About Sonnenglas

Sonnenglas is an acclaimed South African-German company that designs and creates sustainable, solar-powered products. Rooted in a commitment to social responsibility, elegant design, and clean technology, we develop lighting solutions that are both meaningful and beautiful—products that people love and that make a difference.

The Role

We’re looking for a full stack web developer who thrives on building excellent software—tools that are intuitive, purposeful, fast, and a pleasure to use. Someone who cares not just about how things work, but how they feel. At Sonnenglas, we apply the same design and quality standards to our software as we do to our physical products: thoughtful, precise, and built to last.

You’ll join a team that takes ownership of the systems that power our business—from internal operations and manufacturing tools to customer-facing web apps. You’ll work primarily in Laravel (Backend) and Next.js. The role leans backend but requires full stack fluency, especially with the support of modern AI tools. We use tools like Cursor and Windsurf daily to move faster and think bigger.

You’ll work from our studio at Victoria Yards—a lush urban garden and creative campus in Johannesburg, surrounded by artists, makers, and entrepreneurs. It’s one of the most beautiful and inspiring places to work in the city. Remote work is possible for up to 30% of your time, but we believe the energy of this place is something special to be part of.

What You’ll Do

• Design, build, and maintain robust backend systems in Laravel (PHP), MariaDB, and PostgreSQL
• Create and refine modern web interfaces using Next.js, JavaScript, and Tailwind CSS
• Architect clean APIs, design scalable data models, and optimize system performance
• Lead development of new tools while maintaining and improving existing systems
• Apply sound architectural judgment in choosing the right tools and abstractions
• Use AI tools like Cursor and Windsurf to amplify your productivity and code quality
• Operate comfortably in a Linux-based development and deployment environment
• Collaborate with a small, highly motivated team to define, ship, and iterate
• Insist on high standards—for yourself and the product

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience with Laravel and backend web development or equivalent
• Strong understanding of application and web architecture
• Solid command of modern frontend frameworks (Next.js, React or Vue.js)
• Fluency in SQL, data modeling, and system design
• Familiarity with Linux environments and CLI tooling
• Active use of AI-enhanced developer tools like Cursor and Windsurf
• Proficiency with Git and structured workflows
• A product mindset—care about the what and the why, not just the how
• Attention to detail, a clear sense of design, and a bias for simplicity
• Eagerness to learn, curiosity, and pride in building software that lasts

Bonus Points

• Experience with Vercel, serverless deployments, or CI/CD
• Exposure to containerization or infrastructure automation
• Interest in sustainability, fair trade, or mission-driven work

What We Offer

• A central role in shaping software that supports real-world impact
• An inspiring work environment at Victoria Yards—Johannesburg’s most vibrant creative hub
• Hybrid flexibility with up to 30% remote work
• Access to the latest AI development tools and workflows
• Competitive compensation and opportunity to attend Laracon EU

Join Us

If you want to build great software—modern, beautiful, and impactful—we’d love to hear from you.