Lead C++ Backend Engineer: AI-Driven Platform Leadership

Digital Waffle; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Digital Waffle in Birmingham is seeking a Lead Software Engineer to own the backend engineering function and help shape the platform's next phase. This hands-on leadership role requires deep C++ experience and a passion for mentoring, architecture and AI adoption.

You'll collaborate with Product, Front End and R&D teams to improve performance, quality and velocity, lead sprint planning, and drive secure coding, testing and code reviews while guiding a team of backend engineers through

Qualifications

• Strong commercial experience as a Lead Backend Engineer, Senior Backend Engineer or similar technical leadership role.
• Expert-level C++ with strong knowledge of STL and algorithms.
• Experience designing and maintaining scalable backend services and APIs.
• Proven ability to mentor and coach software engineers.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and evolution of scalable backend systems and APIs.
• Take technical ownership of backend projects from planning through to production delivery.
• Define technical requirements with Product Managers, Architects and Engineers.
• Lead and mentor a team of backend engineers, supporting their development and progression.
• Drive improvements across architecture, performance, reliability and observability.
• Identify bottlenecks and optimise database queries, services and system performance.
• Evaluate and implement AI-powered tools to improve productivity and quality.
• Help shape the adoption of LLMs, AI-assisted development and modern AI practices.
• Lead sprint planning, stand-ups and retrospectives with Product and Delivery teams.
• Champion secure coding, testing, code review and engineering best practice.

Skills

C++ expert

Backend architecture

Mentoring

Leadership

AI integration

Performance optimization

Agile practices

Database optimization

Job description

Digital Waffle in Birmingham is seeking a Lead Software Engineer to own the backend engineering function and help shape the platform's next phase. This hands-on leadership role requires deep C++ experience and a passion for mentoring, architecture and AI adoption.

You'll collaborate with Product, Front End and R&D teams to improve performance, quality and velocity, lead sprint planning, and drive secure coding, testing and code reviews while guiding a team of backend engineers through