API Integration Engineer

EMPLOYMENT TYPE Permanent COMPANY A large retail chain based in Cape Town. LOCATION Belville, Cape Town WORKING MODEL Hybrid (2 days remote, 3 days in office) JOB OVERVIEW As an Intermediate API Integration Engineer, you'll play a key role in shaping core business capabilities through the design, development, and maintenance of high-performance APIs and seamless integrations. You'll collaborate closely with development, technical support, and business teams to deliver scalable and secure solutions. This position involves managing the API Gateway, ensuring platform security, and leveraging Google Cloud Platform (GCP) AI services to enable intelligent system features. We're seeking an innovative problem-solver who is passionate about building modern, high-quality integration solutions. DESCRIPTION OF POSITION API Development & Design Design and develop robust, scalable APIs following industry best practices (e.g., REST, SOAP, OpenAPI/Swagger). Apply an API-first design methodology with a focus on reusability and consistency. Contribute to the full API lifecycle management process including documentation, development, monitoring, and versioning. Develop, deploy, and maintain API proxies on the chosen API Gateway platform, implementing security policies, traffic management, and caching under guidance or supervision. Platform Management & Operations Support and maintain middleware and API Gateway technologies, ensuring stability and performance across test and production environments. Deploy, test, and manage integration pipelines for workflows and services using CI/CD processes. Provide first-level support for integration issues, handling incident resolution and problem management on the API Gateway platform. Participate in standby and on-call duties as required. Analyse systems to identify deficiencies and recommend improvements for ongoing optimisation. Integration & AI Services Integrate APIs with cloud-based AI services and models to enable intelligent, data-driven capabilities. Develop and maintain conversational AI agents (e.g., virtual assistants or chatbots) and connect them to business workflows through APIs. Collaboration & Documentation Create and maintain comprehensive technical documentation, including API specifications and integration guidelines. Collaborate closely with development teams to design and refine integration solutions, contributing to best practices and platform enhancements. KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS Excellent analytical, debugging, problem-solving, and communication skills. Self-driven with the ability to work independently and manage tasks with minimal supervision. Strong collaboration and teamwork skills. Eagerness to continuously learn, adapt, and embrace new tools and technologies. Experience working with Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and related services, including: Vertex AI Agents for developing conversational AI solutions. Model Context Protocol (MCP) for enabling large language models (LLMs) to access and interact with external data sources and tools. Proficiency in using Cloud Functions or Cloud Run for serverless integration and automation. Experience with Python or other scripting languages commonly used in AI/ML model integration and deployment. Familiarity with containerization technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes. Hands‑on experience with message queues (AMQP) or streaming platforms like RabbitMQ. Understanding of Agile delivery frameworks, including Scrum and Kanban. QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED A relevant tertiary qualification (e.g., Bachelor's degree, National Diploma, or equivalent) in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field. Google Cloud Certified - Professional Cloud Developer certification or related. EXPERIENCE REQUIRED Previous working experience as an Integration Engineer/Developer for 5+ years. Proven, hands‑on experience developing and deploying APIs on a leading API Gateway platform. Strong knowledge and practical experience with Google Apigee (Apigee X or Edge) is highly desirable. Strong knowledge of CI/CD automation tools, such as Jenkins or equivalent. Solid experience with API lifecycle management concepts, including API security and developer portals. Strong SOA and Microservices understanding. Hands‑on experience designing and developing inbound and outbound integration interfaces. Good understanding of industry standards and technical adapters like GraphQL, REST, SOAP, OpenAPI/Swagger and hands‑on experience in XML, JSON, XSD, JavaScript. 2-3 years of Java coding experience (preferred for Apigee custom policies/integrations). Understanding of integration security standards such as OAuth 2.0 and JWT. Experience with the Google Cloud Platform (GCP) ecosystem. ADVANTAGEOUS SKILLS Hands‑on experience with Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and its associated services, including: Vertex AI Agents for building conversational AI solutions. MCP for enabling LLMs to interact with external data sources and tools. Experience using Cloud Functions or Cloud Run to implement serverless integration logic. Proficient in Python or other scripting languages commonly applied in AI/ML model usage. Familiarity with container technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes. Practical experience with message queues (AMQP) or streaming platforms like RabbitMQ. Exposure to Agile frameworks, including Scrum and Kanban. Note: If you have not heard from us within 2 weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful. #J-18808-Ljbffr