Backend Engineer

eTeam; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 61,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

eTeam is seeking a Backend Engineer to design, build, and maintain secure, scalable backend services for enterprise applications and AI-enabled solutions in Sheffield. The role focuses on Python-based platforms and RESTful APIs, with modern CI/CD, testing, and documentation.

You will work with product, data, and security teams to deliver reliable services and contribute to AI governance and observability. The contract runs on a daily rate of £384 (PAYE via umbrella) with three days on-site per

Qualifications

• Proven Python backend development experience.
• Experience building RESTful APIs and distributed systems.
• Hands-on with FastAPI/Flask/Django.
• Experience with pytest and dependency management.
• Knowledge of cloud platforms, containers, CI/CD.
• Understanding of secure coding practices.
• Strong problem-solving and communication.
• Experience with AI-enabled capabilities and LLM APIs.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain secure, scalable backend apps and RESTful APIs using Python.
• Deliver production-ready software with version control, testing, code reviews, CI/CD, and docs.
• Integrate services with enterprise platforms, data sources, and third-party APIs.
• Build and support AI-enabled capabilities, including LLMs, RAG, prompts, and agent architectures.
• Apply AI governance, model evaluation, monitoring, guardrails, and security controls.
• Investigate defects, performance bottlenecks, and incidents using logs and observability tools.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate requirements into solutions.
• Participate in architecture discussions and provide estimates for planning.
• Stay updated on cloud, cybersecurity, AI trends; adopt relevant innovations.
• Contribute to improving development standards and processes.

Skills

Python

RESTful APIs

Distributed systems

pytest

CI/CD

AI integration

Tools

FastAPI

Flask

Django

CI/CD pipelines

Observability tooling

Job description

We are a Global Recruitment specialist that provides support to the clients across EMEA, APAC, US and Canada. We have an excellent job opportunity for you.

Location: Sheffield - 3 days WFO

Duration: 07/05/2027

Rate: £384 per day(PAYE through FCSA Umbrella)

Description:

Role Overview

• We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Backend Engineer to join our growing technology team. This role will focus on designing, building, and maintaining secure, scalable, and high-performing backend services that support critical business applications and AI-enabled solutions. The successful candidate will play a key role in developing robust APIs, integrating enterprise systems, and delivering innovative solutions that leverage modern cloud technologies and Generative AI capabilities
• As a Backend Engineer, you will collaborate closely with product managers, designers, data specialists, architects, and fellow engineers to transform business requirements into reliable and maintainable technical solutions. You will be expected to demonstrate strong engineering fundamentals, uphold software development best practices, and contribute to the continuous improvement of our technology landscape.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain secure, scalable backend applications, services, and RESTful APIs primarily using Python.
• Deliver high-quality, production-ready software through modern engineering practices including version control, automated testing, peer code reviews, CI/CD pipelines, and technical documentation.
• Integrate backend services with enterprise platforms, data sources, and third-party APIs, ensuring effective authentication, authorization, resilience, and error handling.
• Build and support AI-enabled capabilities, including Large Language Model (LLM) integrations, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), prompt engineering workflows, and agent-based architectures.
• Implement AI governance practices including model evaluation, monitoring, guardrails, security controls, and human oversight to ensure responsible and reliable deployment of AI solutions.
• Investigate and resolve application defects, performance bottlenecks, and operational incidents using logs, metrics, tracing, and observability tools.
• Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to understand requirements, define technical approaches, and deliver successful outcomes.
• Participate in architecture and technical design discussions, providing estimates and recommendations to support project planning and delivery.
• Stay informed of emerging trends in software engineering, cloud technologies, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, applying relevant innovations where appropriate.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of development standards, processes, and engineering practices.

Skills & Experience Required

• Strong commercial experience developing backend applications and services using Python.
• Proven experience building and maintaining RESTful APIs and distributed systems.
• Hands-on expertise with Python frameworks such as FastAPI, Flask, or Django.
• Experience using testing frameworks such as pytest and working with package/dependency management tools.
• Strong understanding of software engineering principles including clean code, object-oriented and/or functional programming, debugging, testing strategies, API design, and source control.
• Experience working with both relational and NoSQL databases, including data modelling and query optimisation.
• Practical experience implementing Generative AI solutions using LLM APIs and orchestration frameworks.
• Solid understanding of RAG architectures, embeddings, vector databases, prompt engineering, AI evaluation techniques, agent workflows, and AI safety controls.
• Experience with cloud platforms, containerisation technologies, and automated CI/CD deployment pipelines.
• Knowledge of secure software development practices, including secrets management, access control, dependency management, and data protection.
• Strong analytical thinking, troubleshooting capabilities, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience building full-stack applications or working closely with front-end teams to define API contracts and user experiences.
• Familiarity with observability and monitoring tools, including application logging, monitoring platforms, and distributed tracing solutions.
• Experience delivering solutions within regulated, enterprise-scale, financial services, or security-conscious environments.