Lead Backend Engineer

TL;DR

Lead Backend Engineer (Python): Designing and evolving core backend services for customer-facing features at scale with an accent on resilient, observable systems and strong engineering judgement. Focus on building scalable distributed architectures, ensuring reliability under increasing demand and complexity, and guiding architectural decisions.

Location: London (Hybrid), also Leeds, West Yorkshire, York, City of London

Salary: Basic salary up to £120k

Company

Fast-scaling, well-funded technology business where backend engineering drives product delivery.

What you will do

• Design and evolve core backend services supporting customer-facing features at scale
• Build resilient, observable systems ensuring reliability and maintainability
• Lead architectural decisions and technical direction across services or teams
• Drive complex technical initiatives from design to delivery
• Mentor engineers and set technical standards through hands-on leadership
• Collaborate with product managers, designers, and senior engineers

Requirements

• Strong experience as Lead Backend Engineer or senior backend engineer using Python or modern backend language
• Proven ability to design, build, and evolve scalable backend systems in distributed architectures
• Deep understanding of software engineering fundamentals: system design, performance, reliability
• Experience influencing architecture and leading complex initiatives
• Mentoring and supporting other engineers
• Product-aware mindset balancing engineering quality with user impact
• Communicating technical decisions to technical and non-technical stakeholders

Culture & Benefits

• Performance bonus
• Share options
• Private medical insurance
• Generous holiday allowance
• Flexible hybrid working model
• Learning & development budget
• Wellbeing benefits and additional perks