Lead Back End Engineer
SKILLS
FULL DESCRIPTION
Lead Back End Engineer
[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] is seeking a Lead Back End Engineer to join their team in London or Newcastle. This permanent, hybrid role involves technical leadership, designing backend architectures, mentoring engineers, and driving improvements.
- Location: London or Newcastle
- Role Type: Permanent
- Remuneration: Competitive
Key Skills and Attributes
- Strong backend engineering experience, ideally including Java (Java 11+) and Spring Boot.
- Proven ability to design and lead backend architectures for complex systems.
- Familiarity with cloud environments (AWS is mandatory) and container orchestration (Kubernetes).
- Experience with event-driven architectures and messaging platforms such as Kafka.
- Strong understanding of RESTful APIs, microservices, and distributed system design.
- Knowledge of SQL and NoSQL databases.
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and modern deployment practices.
- Skilled mentor with the ability to influence technical direction across teams.
- Strong problem-solving skills, balancing technical, product, and delivery considerations.
- Comfortable in agile environments using Git-based SCM and tools like Jira or Redmine.
- Awareness of compliance frameworks such as ISO27001 and PCI.
About the Role
Reporting to a Software Engineering Manager or Head of Engineering, we are seeking a Lead Backend Software Engineer to be the go-to authority for backend engineering, setting the technical vision, guiding architecture, and driving improvements in tools, processes, and delivery practices. You’ll remain hands-on for critical work, but your greatest impact will come from technical leadership, enabling teams to deliver robust, scalable, and secure services.
With a strong foundation in backend technologies, including Java and Spring Boot, and event-driven systems such as Kafka, you’ll influence systems well beyond your own code, ensuring architectural integrity and high engineering standards across multiple teams. You’ll play a pivotal role in aligning technical strategy with business goals and ensuring our backend capabilities are future-ready.
Main Responsibilities
- Technical Leadership - Define and evolve backend architecture to ensure scalability, maintainability, and performance. Set coding standards and champion secure development practices (e.g. OWASP). Influence technology choices, frameworks, and tools. Oversee improvements to CI/CD pipelines. Clearly articulate risk to non-technical stakeholders.
- Hands-On Guidance - Contribute to key backend systems when expertise is needed. Review and refine critical code. Provide technical oversight for major initiatives.
- Mentoring & Collaboration - Coach, mentor, and develop engineers. Facilitate design discussions and code reviews. Build consensus for architectural decisions.
- Continuous Improvement - Identify and resolve technical debt. Introduce new technologies. Promote scalable, secure, and maintainable practices.
- Community & Advocacy - Stay updated with tech trends. Share knowledge through presentations. Support recruitment. Ensure compliance with ISO27001 and PCI.
More Benefits
[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] is a great place to work, with excellent benefits comprising:
- Hybrid/Flexible Working
- Quarterly team events
- Birthday Holiday
- Christmas Day-Off
- Generous Holiday Allowance
- Tech Loan Scheme
- Performance bonus & profit share scheme
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Life insurance and income protection
- Travel Loan scheme
- Supplies of fresh fruits, cereals, biscuits, nibbles, etc. in the offices
- Relevant training and training budget
- Digital Nomad Policy
- Generous refer a friend scheme
How to Apply
If this is the opportunity you have been waiting for, to work in a fast-paced company with cutting-edge technology, please send your CV to [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] or click Apply.