Lead Backend Engineer (Node or JVM)

LegalAndGeneral; City Of London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services provider is seeking a Lead Engineer to guide a team of engineers while actively contributing to software development. This role involves ensuring high-quality software delivery by promoting best practices, managing technical debt, and fostering team collaboration. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in backend development with frameworks like Node or JVM, and they are skilled in JavaScript/TypeScript and React.

Benefits

Performance-related bonus plan

Generous pension contribution

Life assurance

Healthcare Plan

25 days holiday plus public holidays

Competitive family leave

Electric car scheme

Discounts at stores and online

Qualifications

• Experience working as a backend developer on large commercial projects.
• Hands‑on experience with JavaScript/TypeScript, deep proficiency in React.
• Solid understanding of application architecture patterns.

Responsibilities

• Leverage and promote optimal engineering practices to drive outcomes.
• Advocate for scalable software solutions from complex requirements.
• Guide the strategy for managing technical debt.

Skills

Backend development experience

JavaScript/TypeScript proficiency

Solid understanding of application architecture

Test-driven development experience

Familiarity with Agile methodologies

Commercial experience with React

Web API security best practices

Mentoring peers

Complex issue diagnosis

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Git

CI/CD pipelines

Job description

We are seeking a Lead Engineer to join our software delivery team as a principal this role you will leverage your technical expertise to guide and support a team of engineers while also actively contributing to the teams development efforts.

You will play a key role in driving successful team outcomes shaping strategic application design decisions and identifying opportunities to standardise approaches across adjacent teams. Your leadership will help ensure the delivery of high-quality high-value software to our customers.

What you’ll be doing

• Leveraging and promoting technically optimal engineering practices across adjacent teams to drive efficient high-quality outcomes for our customers
• Advocating for and building elegant scalable software solutions from complex requirements while partnering with Solutions Architects to ensure alignment with business value quality standards and engineering best practices
• Defining and guiding the strategy for managing technical debt to maintain secure resilient and reliable systems across Legal & General
• Promoting a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging inspection and adaptation to enhance team effectiveness productivity and wellbeing
• Fostering mutual respect and collaboration within the team by mentoring and supporting less experienced engineers and facilitating smooth delivery through effective communication
• Coaching the Developer Community to establish development standards that meet security compliance and audit requirements without compromising delivery speed
• Ensuring all engineering work reflects Legal & Generals commitment to Customer Experience and Treating Customers Fairly principles

Qualifications

• Experience working as a backend developer on 1 or more large commercial projects (Node or JVM based frameworks)
• Hands‑on experience with JavaScript / TypeScript including deep proficiency in React and REST‑based microservice development using JVM Spring or
• Solid understanding of mobile and backend application architecture patterns (e.g. MVP MVVM Flux Hexagonal Onion) clean code principles (e.g. SOLID) and scalable software design
• Proven experience with test‑driven development testing strategies aligned with the testing pyramid and a strong focus on security usability and accessibility
• Familiarity with Agile methodologies (Scrum / Kanban) Git / Git Flow CI / CD pipelines and containerization tools like Docker and Kubernetes
• Commercial experience with React or React Native plus working knowledge of GraphQL AWS services and mobile performance optimisation
• Understanding of web API and mobile security best practices observability strategies and the ability to identify and remediate security flaws in code and infrastructure
• Demonstrated ability to mentor peers facilitate technical workshops drive alignment across teams and contribute to process improvements with a strategic mindset
• Skilled in diagnosing complex issues across services applying root cause analysis techniques and contributing to architectural evolution and operational excellence

Benefits

• The opportunity to participate in our annual performance –related bonus plan and valuable share schemes
• Generous pension contribution
• Life assurance
• Healthcare Plan (permanent employees only)
• At least 25 days holiday plus public holidays 26 days after 2 years service. Theres also the option to buy and sell holiday
• Competitive family leave
• Participate in our electric car scheme which offers employees the option to hire a brand‑new electric car through tax efficient salary sacrifice (permanent employees only)
• There are the many discounts we offer both for our own products and at a range of high street stores and online
• In 2023 some of our workspaces were redesigned. Our offices are great spaces to connect and collaborate and have your wellbeing at the heart

Remote Work: No

Employment Type: Full‑time

Key Skills: Business Intelligence,Bidding,Accounts Assistant Credit Control,Account Development,Content Development,Lab Testing

Experience: years

Vacancy: 1

At L&G we believe its possible to generate positive returns today while helping to build a better future for all.

If you join us youll be part of a welcoming inclusive culture with opportunities to collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds views and experiences. Guided by leaders with integrity who care about your future and wellbeing. Empowered through initiatives which support people to develop their careers and excel.

We care passionately about outcomes rather than attendance and are therefore open to discussing all kinds of flexible working options including part‑time term‑time and job shares. Although some roles have limited flexibility due to customer demand we accommodate requests when we can.

It doesnt matter if you dont meet every single criterion in this advert. Instead think about what you excel at and what else you can bring in terms of strengths potential and connection to our purpose.