Senior Backend Engineer - Enterprise AI Platform (Hybrid)

Pontoon; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Pontoon is recruiting two Backend Engineers for a major UK financial services project. Hybrid roles with 2 days on site across Leeds, Manchester or Edinburgh. Initial contract to 20 December 2026, with potential extension.

You will design scalable backend services, REST APIs, microservices and secure integrations, using Java, Python and/or Node.js, Kafka, GCP, Kubernetes/OpenShift and OAuth/SAML.

Qualifications

• Proven backend engineering experience with Java, Python, Node.js or similar.
• Experience with APIs, microservices and distributed systems.
• Understanding of event-driven architecture and messaging.
• Experience with cloud, containers and Kubernetes/OpenShift.
• Knowledge of enterprise security, authentication and authorisation.
• Experience building reliable, production-grade platforms.

Responsibilities

• Build backend services using Java with emphasis on Python and/or Node.js.
• Develop secure, scalable REST APIs.
• Design microservices and event-driven architectures.
• Work with Kafka/Pub/Sub.
• Conversant with GCP.
• Implement OAuth, SAML and SSO.
• Build cloud-native applications using Kubernetes/OpenShift and containers.
• Develop CI/CD, monitoring and observability capabilities.
• Work closely with AI, Data, Architecture and Security teams.

Skills

Java

Python

Node.js

APIs

Microservices

Distributed systems

Event-driven

Cloud

Kubernetes

OpenShift

Security

Tools

Kafka

Pub/Sub

GCP

Job description

Pontoon is recruiting two Backend Engineers for a major UK financial services project. Hybrid roles with 2 days on site across Leeds, Manchester or Edinburgh. Initial contract to 20 December 2026, with potential extension.

You will design scalable backend services, REST APIs, microservices and secure integrations, using Java, Python and/or Node.js, Kafka, GCP, Kubernetes/OpenShift and OAuth/SAML.