Lead Backend Engineer

Talent; Canberra; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Talent is seeking a principal-level engineer to lead the architecture and engineering of enterprise API platforms and backend services. You will work across Golang, GraphQL, AWS, Kubernetes and modern platform engineering, setting technical standards while remaining hands-on in delivery.

You’ll guide architecture and engineering standards, mentor teams, and drive CI/CD, testing and observability practices. Hybrid work with three days in the office per week is available.

Qualifications

• Strong experience leading enterprise-scale backend services, API platforms and integrations.
• Deep technical expertise in Golang, GraphQL and modern API architecture.
• Strong experience with authentication, authorisation and service-to-service communication.
• Cloud-native engineering experience across AWS, EKS and Kubernetes.
• Experience establishing engineering standards, CI/CD, automated testing and software delivery governance.
• Strong leadership and mentoring capability across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Experience with AI-assisted software engineering tools.

Responsibilities

• Leading the design and evolution of enterprise API platforms and backend services.
• Defining API architecture, engineering standards and technical practices.
• Building and operating cloud-native services across AWS, EKS and Kubernetes.
• Driving modern engineering practices across CI/CD, automated testing, observability and platform automation.
• Mentoring engineers and guiding technical decision-making across integrated delivery teams.

Skills

Golang

GraphQL

AWS

Kubernetes

CI/CD

Observability

Platform engineering

Leadership

Mentoring

AI-assisted tools

Tools

EKS

Kubernetes

Job description

• Lead the architecture and engineering of enterprise-scale API platforms using Golang, GraphQL and AWS
• 12-month contract + 12-month extension option
• Australian citizenship required | Must be able to obtain NV1 clearance

Take on a principal-level engineering role focused on the design, evolution and operation of consumer-facing API platforms and backend services.

You’ll work across Golang, GraphQL, AWS, Kubernetes and modern platform engineering, setting technical standards and guiding architecture while still remaining actively involved in solution delivery.

The Role

Your Responsibilities Will Include

• Leading the design and evolution of enterprise API platforms and backend services
• Defining API architecture, engineering standards and technical practices
• Building and operating cloud-native services across AWS, EKS and Kubernetes
• Driving modern engineering practices across CI/CD, automated testing, observability and platform automation
• Mentoring engineers and guiding technical decision-making across integrated delivery teams

About You

We’re particularly interested in:

• Strong experience leading enterprise-scale backend services, API platforms and integrations
• Deep technical expertise in Golang, GraphQL and modern API architecture
• Strong experience with authentication, authorisation and service-to-service communication
• Cloud-native engineering experience across AWS, EKS and Kubernetes
• Experience establishing engineering standards, CI/CD, automated testing and software delivery governance
• Strong leadership and mentoring capability across multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Experience with AI-assisted software engineering tools

Experience with Cloudflare, Salesforce, and MuleSoft would be highly regarded.

Why Consider the Opportunity?

This is a strong fit for someone who wants principal-level technical influence without stepping away from engineering.

You’ll shape API architecture, engineering standards and platform direction while still working closely with delivery teams across backend, integration, platform and digital channels.

Hybrid working is available, with a minimum of three days per week in the office and flexibility for the remaining two days.