Lead Software Engineer Python API - Fintech

Client Server; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 96,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Client Server is seeking a Lead Software Engineer to head a small, skilled tech team in London, delivering features and refactoring efforts on a core banking platform. The role involves a 50/50 split between architecture/design and people management, with mentoring and performance reviews for junior developers.

You will work on API development (FastAPI), cloud services (GCP preferred), and robust CI/CD practices, contributing to a modern, evolving fintech stack in a hybrid London-based setting.

Qualifications

• Proficient Python backend development with SDLC experience.
• Experience leading a small engineering team and mentoring developers.
• Knowledge of cloud services (GCP preferred; AWS/Azure also acceptable).
• Experience building APIs, ideally with FastAPI.
• Strong CI/CD, testing, and deployment practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead a small tech team, deliver new features and refactors
• Set engineering standards and mentor juniors with 1-2-1s and performance reviews
• Collaborate on architecture/design with ~50/50 focus on technical and people management
• Develop and maintain APIs and cloud-based services, ensure robust CI/CD pipelines

Skills

Python

Team leadership

Cloud platforms

API design

CI/CD

Testing

OOP & patterns

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Tools

FastAPI

Git

Job description

Lead Software Engineer / Developer London / WFH to £120k

Are you a skilled a backend focussed Python technologist with team leadership experience?

You could be progressing your career at a well-funded and profitable FinTech start-up.

As a Lead Software Engineer you'll head up a small, talented tech team to deliver new features and enhancements as well as some refactoring work, contributing to the core banking platform which integrates with major players such as HSBC. There's a relatively young codebase and lots of new projects to get stuck into.

You'll be collaboratively problem solving in a hands-on role with approximately 50/50 split between architecture / design and people management. You'll set the standards and mentor more junior developers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and self development.

Location / WFH:

You'll join colleagues in the Central London office with flexibility to work from home twice a week in a hybrid model.

About you:

• You're an experienced Software Engineer with Python expertise and a strong knowledge of software engineering best practices and full SDLC experience
• You have team leadership experience, happy to mentor and develop others as well as provide 1-2-1s and performance reviews
• You have a good knowledge of cloud based services (they use GCP but AWS or Azure experience is fine)
• You have experience of building APIs, ideally FastAPI experience
• You have a good knowledge of CI/CD, testing and deployment
• You have a thorough understanding of Computer Science fundamentals such as OOP, Data Structures, Design Patterns, Algorithms
• You're collaborative and pragmatic with great communication skills
• You're degree educated in a STEM discipline, having achieved a 2.1 or above

What's in it for you:

As a Lead Software Engineer you will earn a competitive salary (to £120k) plus pension and other benefits.