Lead Backend Engineer

ZipRecruiter; London; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Insurtech company in London is seeking a Lead Backend Engineer to drive the architecture and development of cloud-based microservices using Python. The role involves mentoring a team, shaping the platform's architecture, and working in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate has expertise in Python frameworks, microservices architecture, and cloud platforms, and will enjoy benefits such as private medical insurance and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Company share options

Generous holiday allowance

Flexible hybrid working

Qualifications

• Proven leadership and hands-on experience in building production-grade Python services.
• Deep understanding of microservices architecture and APIs.
• Comfortable in fast-changing environments with ownership.

Responsibilities

• Architect, build, and maintain scalable Python microservices.
• Lead architectural decisions focusing on performance and scalability.
• Mentor and guide engineers through code reviews.

Skills

Leadership

Python (FastAPI, Flask, Django)

Microservices Architecture

Cloud Platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure)

Clean Code Practices

SQL and NoSQL Databases

CI/CD Pipelines

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

Job Description

Lead Backend Engineer

London - Hybrid (1x day per week)

Salary: Up to £100k DOE + Benefits

About Us

Our client is an Insurtech Unicorn looking to expand their engineering team. With the opportunity to work on existing products which have generated millions in revenue, and to develop new solutions that are changing the landscape of the insurance industry, this is an ideal opportunity for a results-driven and growth-focused Senior Engineer eager to start an ambitious business.

The Role

We're seeking a Lead Backend Engineer to drive the architecture, development, and scaling of cloud-based microservices using Python, especially FastAPI. You will lead a cross-functional team to build resilient backend systems supporting millions of users, impacting product and business outcomes directly.

This fast-paced role requires expertise in building scalable, secure services and guiding the evolution of our platform's microservices ecosystem.

What You'll Do

1. Architect, build, and maintain scalable Python microservices deployed in cloud environments.
2. Lead architectural decisions focusing on performance, observability, fault tolerance, and scalability.
3. Own complex backend features from end-to-end: design, implement, test, deploy, and monitor.
4. Mentor and guide engineers through code reviews, design discussions, and best practices.
5. Collaborate closely with Product, Design, and Engineering teams in an agile environment.
6. Drive continuous improvement in engineering standards, code quality, and team productivity.
7. Shape the platform's service-oriented architecture and infrastructure as we scale.
8. Stay ahead of industry trends and champion AI and automation tools to enhance team efficiency.

About You

1. Proven leadership and hands-on experience building production-grade Python services with FastAPI, Flask, or Django REST Framework.
2. Deep understanding of microservices architecture, APIs, service discovery, and messaging patterns.
3. Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and containerisation (Docker; Kubernetes a plus).
4. Strong software engineering fundamentals: clean code, testing, performance optimisation, OOP, algorithms.
5. Familiarity with SQL and NoSQL databases (PostgreSQL, MongoDB) and CI/CD pipelines.
6. Comfortable in fast-changing environments with a strong sense of ownership and collaboration.
7. Growth mindset with curiosity for AI-driven tooling and workflow enhancements.

Benefits

Private medical insurance, company share options, generous holiday allowance, flexible hybrid working.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on gender, marital status, or other protected characteristics.