Lead Backend Architect for Scalable Data Platforms (Hybrid)

WPP; København; Hybrid; DKK 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

WPP is looking for a Lead Software Engineer to own backend systems end to end, including architecture, delivery, and people management. You will shape technical direction for a squad, mentor engineers, and ensure reliable APIs and services in production.

The role requires hands-on work on authentication, orchestration, and integrations, with strong emphasis on reliability, scalability, and collaboration with Product and other teams. Hybrid work model in Copenhagen area is offered.

Qualifications

• 6+ years in software engineering with leadership experience.
• Proven delivery of backend and API-centered systems at scale.
• Experience building and operating REST/HTTP APIs and durable workflows.
• Comfort owning third-party integrations, auth, errors, and monitoring.
• Strong proficiency in at least one backend language (Python/Go/Java/Kotlin).
• Experience with cloud platforms and containers/Kubernetes.

Responsibilities

• Lead an engineering squad: set direction, prioritise delivery, review design/code, mentor engineers.
• Own architecture and health of activation and orchestration services, APIs and gateways.
• Partner with Product to turn roadmaps into shippable contracts; avoid ad hoc integrations.
• Drive API integration engineering: authentication, rate limiting, retries, idempotency, runbooks.
• Establish production standards: CI/CD, testing, observability, auditability, safe releases.
• Maintain end-to-end data flow visibility across systems; manage dependencies and debt.
• Contribute hands-on on critical paths, new gateways, framework foundations.
• Address technical debt with a balance of speed and reliability.
• Share knowledge in reviews, stand-ups, and cross-team forums; elevate blockers.
• Stay curious about agentic orchestration and AI coding assistants.

Skills

Leadership

Backend development

REST APIs

Cloud platforms

Kubernetes

CI/CD

Terraform

Observability

AI coding assistants

Communication

Tools

Python

Go

Java/Kotlin

Kubernetes

Terraform

GCP

AWS

Azure

CI/CD tooling

Job description

WPP is looking for a Lead Software Engineer to own backend systems end to end, including architecture, delivery, and people management. You will shape technical direction for a squad, mentor engineers, and ensure reliable APIs and services in production.

The role requires hands-on work on authentication, orchestration, and integrations, with strong emphasis on reliability, scalability, and collaboration with Product and other teams. Hybrid work model in Copenhagen area is offered.