Senior Backend Engineer

Vanguard; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a Senior Application Engineer to provide expert-level system analysis and development of applications and databases. This role focuses on guiding teams with innovative solutions, mentoring junior staff, and driving strategy while ensuring compliance with IT policies.

Qualifications

• Minimum of eight years related work experience.
• At least two years of development experience.
• Strong analysis and problem solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive strategy for your area of expertise across teams.
• Mentor junior staff, ensuring high-quality deliverables.
• Promote best practices like TDD and BDD.

Skills

Analysis

Problem Solving

Java

AWS

API Design

Automation Testing

Education

Undergraduate degree in a related field

Graduate degree preferred

Job description

Provides expert level system analysis, design, development, and implementation of applications and databases. Directs the business assessment and requirements analysis processes, for the development of hardware and operating systems.

Overview

We are seeking a Senior Application Engineer with deep technical expertise and thought leadership. You will drive strategy for your area of expertise across teams and foster a developer community within your domain. The role involves mentoring junior staff, ensuring high-quality deliverables, promoting best practices like TDD and BDD, and leading engineering practices across the SDLC.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide senior thought leadership in your area of expertise, guiding the team with innovative solutions and strategic insights.

• Cover all aspects of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), from initial requirements gathering to deployment and maintenance.

• Demonstrates a strong commitment to staying at the forefront of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices.

• Actively brings new insights, tools, and methodologies into the team to foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

• Champions knowledge sharing and mentorship, helping to upskill peers and junior engineers.

• Drive strategy for your area of expertise across teams, ensuring alignment and effective implementation.

• Foster a developer community within your domain, encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing.

• Collaborates with technical leads, IT groups, and our business to understand project implications and dependencies

• Review and approve technical documentation, identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.

• Promote and implement best practices such as Test-Driven Development (TDD) and Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) to ensure high-quality and maintainable code.

• Utilize and advocate for design patterns to solve complex problems efficiently and improve code readability and reusability.

• Ensure compliance with IT and Information Security policies and procedures.

• Participate in special projects and perform other duties as assigned.
• Demonstrates technical leadership with impact across teams

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a related field or the equivalent combination of training and experience
• Five years experience in technical specialty.
• Strong analysis and problem solving skills
• Knowledge of the financial services industry
• Deep understanding Languages (Required): Java
• Other technologies/areas: AWS, API Design, Automation testing

Core Responsibilities

1. Provides expert level system analysis, design, development, and implementation of applications and databases. Integrates third party products. Ensures that expected application performance levels are achieved.

2. Ensures the viability of IT deliverables. Recommends development options, including design, build/buy, and vendor purchase. Conducts testing, including functionality, technical limitations, and security.

3. Elevates code into the development, test, and production environments on schedule. Provides follow up production support. Submits change control requests and documents.

4. Provides subject matter expertise in software development methodology and development architecture standards. Mentors and trains staff with less experience. Resolves elevated issues and recommends enterprise-wide improvements.

5. Participates in design, code, and test inspections throughout the life cycle to identify issues. Explains technical considerations at related meetings, including those with internal clients. Performs systems analysis activities.

6. Thoroughly understands client business functions and technology needs. Has a broad and deep understanding of Vanguard's technologies, tools, and applications, including those that interface with business area and systems. Is well versed on the latest technologies and tools supporting software development in the industry.

7. Interfaces with cross functional team members and communicates systems issues at the appropriate technical level for each audience.

8. Thoroughly understands and complies with Information Technology and Information Security policies and procedures and verifies that deliverables meet requirements.

9. Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum of eight years related work experience, with at least two years of development experience.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience. Graduate degree preferred.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.