Senior Backend Developer

The Acorn Group; Liverpool; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Mental health support

Career development

Job summary

The Acorn Group in Liverpool is seeking a Senior Backend Developer to join a cross-functional squad that owns its products from idea to production. You’ll lead technically, design scalable services with .NET 8, Azure, and Docker, and mentor peers.

Join a team that values collaboration, fast feedback, and growth into technical leadership. This role offers a hybrid Liverpool HQ with three days in the office and a competitive £65k–£75k salary, plus dedicated career development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Proven experience with C#, .NET and Dockerised microservices.
• Strong knowledge of SQL Server and Entity Framework.
• Experience with testing, CI/CD and cloud deployments.
• Mentoring and collaborating within a team is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain scalable backend services using .NET 8.0 and Azure.
• Design and implement APIs and database solutions.
• Deploy and run services using Docker and Azure Cloud.
• Mentor other developers and raise the team's standard.
• Work closely with product owners and designers to deliver features.
• Share ideas and contribute to system improvements.
• Write clean, testable and performant code.

Skills

C#

.NET

Dockerised microservices

Tools

Docker

Azure

Kubernetes

RabbitMQ

Job description

Posted Thursday, 27 August 2026 at 00:00

We’re looking for a Senior Backend Developer who enjoys solving complex problems and building systems that scale. You’ll be part of a tight-knit, cross-functional squad that owns its products from idea to production.

You’ll have the freedom to lead and make technical decisions, the space to experiment, and the support to keep developing your skills. We’ll encourage you to grow into a T-shaped developer, with opportunities to get involved in architecture, DevOps and other areas of development.

We work together in our Liverpool HQ three days a week because we value collaboration, fast feedback and a strong team culture.

Location: Liverpool City Centre HQ / Hybrid (3 days in office)

Salary: £65,000–£75,000 depending on experience

What You’ll Do:

• Build and maintain scalable backend services using .NET 8.0 and Azure
• Write clean, testable and performant code that’s built to last
• Design and implement APIs and database solutions
• Deploy and run services using Docker and Azure Cloud
• Work closely with product owners and designers to bring features to life
• Mentor other developers and help raise the standard across the team
• Share ideas and contribute to how we build and improve our systems

Backend: C#, .NET 8.0, Mediator, MassTransit

Database: SQL Server, Entity Framework, Redis, Mongo

Infrastructure: Docker, Azure, K8s, RabbitMQ

Monitoring: Grafana, Loki Stack

Tooling: Git, CI/CD pipelines, Unit and Integration Testing, Agile methodologies

It’s a bonus if you’re familiar with Clean Architecture or the Mediator pattern, but curiosity and a willingness to learn are just as valuable.

We care deeply about quality and maintainability.

• We use CI/CD pipelines for fast and reliable deployments
• Automated testing and peer reviews are part of our daily rhythm
• Our systems are monitored with Grafana and Loki, giving full visibility across environments
• We encourage experimentation, retrospectives and continuous improvement in everything we build

What We’re Looking For:

• Solid experience with C#, .NET and Dockerised microservices
• Strong understanding of SQL Server and Entity Framework
• Understanding of event driven architecture and modern microservice patterns
• Experience with testing, CI/CD and cloud deployments
• A team player who enjoys mentoring and collaborating
• A pragmatic problem solver who writes clean, maintainable code
• A genuine desire to learn and help others grow

Why Join Us:

• Modern tech stack and a strong culture of engineering excellence
• A collaborative squad where your ideas make a real impact
• Clear path into technical leadership or architecture
• Freedom to innovate and take ownership
• Top-tier tools and a workspace built for creativity and collaboration

Team and Culture

You’ll be joining a collaborative squad of engineers, designers and product thinkers who enjoy building great software together.

We believe in ownership, curiosity and craftsmanship. Everyone has a voice, and we trust each other to make good decisions. We support one another, share knowledge and celebrate success as a team.

We’re passionate about technology, but even more passionate about building a team that trusts, respects and learns from each other.

Grow with Acorn

At Acorn Insurance , we’re proud of our Liverpool roots — and even prouder of how far we’ve come. As part of the Acorn Group , we bring over 40 years of specialist insurance expertise to the table. From humble beginnings, we’ve grown into a national leader, now employing 1,700+ people across the UK and reached a milestone £750 million in total value of insurance policies written in 2024.

We’re growing fast, with new opportunities emerging every week. That growth is largely due to the values we share :

W e run through walls for our customers and each other

W e challenge the status quo

W e succeed when we help those around us succeed

We decide quickly when the smart thing to do is use our judgement

A maximum of 35 days’ holiday ( depending on role and tenure) including bank holidays, with addit ional buy/sell options

24/7 mental health support & free counselling available

Grow with us : Through career fairs, leadership programs, and learning on the go!

Flexible benefits , including early access to salary via our internal platform

Hybrid working options to support work-life balance and individual needs

Our Commitment to our colleague ’ s :

T hese aren’t just words — they’re the principles we live by. And we’re proud to back them up with real action, earning recognition and accreditation from leading organisations that share our commitment to people and growth:

Mindful Employer – championing mental health and wellbeing

Disability Confident Level 1 & 2 – creating accessible, inclusive opportunities

Menopause Friendly accredited – supporting every stage of life

Armed Forces Covenant signatory – honouring those who serve

Armed Forces Defence employer recognition scheme - Supporting those who serve

Great Places to Work 2024/25 – fostering an engaging and positive workplace culture

Best Place to Work for Development – proud to be investing in people’s future

Best Place to Work for Women – breaking down barriers to women's career progression

If you’re looking for a company with a strong culture, real career progression, and a people-first approach — all rooted in the heart of Liverpool — Grow with Acorn.

A Few Things to Know Before You Apply

We’re really excited that you’re considering joining Acorn! To help everything go smoothly, here are a couple of things to keep in mind:

If your application is successful, we will commence relevant employment checks prior to you commencing employment with us. These will include a standard criminal record check and an insolvency register check.

Visa Requirements B ecause our training is quite comprehensive, we can only consider applicants who have at least one year remaining on their Graduate or Post-Study Work visa. At the moment , we’re not able to offer visa sponsorship.

We’re Here to Support You W e’re committed to creating an inclusive, supportive workplace where everyone can flourish . If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process—or once you’re part of the team—just let us know. Whether it’s flexible hours, adapted equipment, or a bit of extra support, we’ll work with you to make sure you can do your best work.