Lead Python Engineer — Fintech Backend Architect (Hybrid)

Understanding Recruitment; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Understanding Recruitment in London is seeking a Lead Python Engineer to own a core backend domain while leading a small engineering pod. The role combines hands-on coding (50-70%) with architectural leadership to deliver scalable financial infrastructure.

Based in London, this hybrid role involves 3 days in the office and 2 days work-from-home, and offers significant influence on product direction and engineering standards while shaping a fast-growing fintech platform.

Qualifications

• Extensive commercial experience building backend systems with Python.
• Experience developing and operating production-grade distributed systems.
• Previous experience leading projects or small engineering teams.
• Strong understanding of scalable, data-intensive platforms.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead a backend engineering pod and contribute 50-70% of your time to coding.
• Build and evolve backend systems that support investment operations and trading workflows.
• Architectural leadership and technical design for new features and products.
• Mentor engineers and raise engineering standards across the team.
• Improve reliability, performance, and resilience of core systems.

Skills

Python backend

Distributed systems

Leadership

Communication

Job description

Understanding Recruitment in London is seeking a Lead Python Engineer to own a core backend domain while leading a small engineering pod. The role combines hands-on coding (50-70%) with architectural leadership to deliver scalable financial infrastructure.

Based in London, this hybrid role involves 3 days in the office and 2 days work-from-home, and offers significant influence on product direction and engineering standards while shaping a fast-growing fintech platform.