Senior Software Backend Developer

Advancedphotonix; Borehamwood; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Luna Innovations is seeking a Senior Software Backend Developer in Elstree, London. You will design, develop, and scale backend systems powering our sensing and monitoring platform, handling live data from distributed sensing systems in challenging environments.

You will contribute to technical decision-making, drive best practices, and collaborate with teams across the UK, Germany, and the USA to deliver secure, scalable solutions.

Qualifications

• Strong commercial experience developing software in modern C++ (C++17 or later).
• Experience with SQL databases, particularly PostgreSQL.
• Knowledge of web technologies, including REST APIs and WebSockets.
• Experience with distributed systems and microservices-based architectures.
• Strong Linux development experience and familiarity with Windows-based environments.
• Hands-on experience with container technologies such as Docker and Podman.
• Experience developing and supporting data-intensive applications and processing pipelines.
• Strong understanding of software engineering best practices, including Git, CI/CD, testing frameworks, issue tracking, and technical documentation.
• Knowledge of software security principles and secure coding practices.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently and take ownership of technical solutions.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with experience working within multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain high-performance data processing services using modern C++ (C++17 and above).
• Build and enhance backend services responsible for sensor management, data ingestion, analytics, and API functionality.
• Integrate scientific and analytical algorithms developed in Python into production-ready software solutions.
• Develop, deploy, and support containerised applications using Docker and Podman across Linux and Windows environments.
• Work collaboratively with software engineers, data scientists, product managers, and domain experts to deliver high-quality solutions.
• Improve system performance, scalability, reliability, and maintainability across distributed deployments.
• Contribute to software architecture discussions and influence technical direction and best practice adoption.
• Support and enhance CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and software delivery processes.
• Implement and promote secure development practices, including vulnerability remediation and software hardening.
• Take ownership of features throughout the full software development lifecycle, from design through to deployment and support.

Skills

Modern C++ (C++17+)

Distributed systems

Linux development

REST APIs

WebSockets

SQL databases PostgreSQL

Container technologies (Docker, Podman

Python integration

Software security principles

CI/CD and testing frameworks

Tools

Git

Docker

Podman

PostgreSQL

CI/CD tooling

Job description

Luna Innovations
Location: Elstree, London, UK
Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time

About Us

Luna Innovations is a global leader in fibre-optic sensing, test and measurement technologies, delivering advanced monitoring solutions for critical infrastructure across the energy, transportation, security, and industrial sectors.

Our Edge Platform team develops software systems that transform vast volumes of real-time sensor data into actionable intelligence. Deployed globally in demanding customer environments, our platform processes and analyses data from Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) and Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) systems to help customers monitor assets, detect anomalies, and make informed operational decisions.

As a Senior Software Backend Developer, you will play a key role in building and enhancing the backend services that power these solutions. Working with modern C++, distributed systems, data processing pipelines, containerised applications, and cloud-connected technologies, you will help solve complex technical challenges while contributing to products used by some of the world's leading energy and infrastructure organisations.

We foster a collaborative and innovative engineering culture where developers are encouraged to take ownership, influence technical direction, and continuously improve both our products and development practices. Working closely with multidisciplinary teams in the UK, Germany, and the USA, you will have the opportunity to create technology that delivers real-world impact on a global scale.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a talented and experienced Senior Software Backend Developer to join our Edge Platform team based in Elstree, London.

This is a hands-on engineering role where you will play a key part in designing, developing, and scaling the backend systems that power our next-generation sensing and monitoring platform. Your work will directly support the processing and analysis of live data from distributed sensing systems operating in some of the world's most challenging environments.

As a senior member of the team, you will contribute to technical decision-making, drive engineering best practices, and collaborate with colleagues across multiple international locations to deliver solutions that are secure, scalable, and innovative.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain high-performance data processing services using modern C++ (C++17 and above).
• Build and enhance backend services responsible for sensor management, data ingestion, analytics, and API functionality.
• Integrate scientific and analytical algorithms developed in Python into production-ready software solutions.
• Develop, deploy, and support containerised applications using Docker and Podman across Linux and Windows environments.
• Work collaboratively with software engineers, data scientists, product managers, and domain experts to deliver high-quality solutions.
• Improve system performance, scalability, reliability, and maintainability across distributed deployments.
• Contribute to software architecture discussions and influence technical direction and best practice adoption.
• Support and enhance CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and software delivery processes.
• Implement and promote secure development practices, including vulnerability remediation and software hardening.
• Take ownership of features throughout the full software development lifecycle, from design through to deployment and support.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Strong commercial experience developing software in modern C++ (C++17 or later).
• Experience working with SQL databases, particularly PostgreSQL.
• Knowledge of web technologies, including REST APIs and WebSockets.
• Experience with distributed systems and microservices-based architectures.
• Strong Linux development experience and familiarity with Windows-based environments.
• Hands-on experience with container technologies such as Docker and Podman.
• Experience developing and supporting data-intensive applications and processing pipelines.
• Strong understanding of software engineering best practices, including Git, CI/CD, testing frameworks, issue tracking, and technical documentation.
• Knowledge of software security principles and secure coding practices.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently and take ownership of technical solutions.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with experience working within multidisciplinary teams.

Desirable Skills and Experience

The following would be advantageous but are not essential:

• Experience within industrial monitoring, energy, utilities, or infrastructure sectors.
• Knowledge of signal processing, scientific computing, or sensor-based technologies.
• Familiarity with geophysics, seismic monitoring, or related analytical disciplines.
• Experience working with front-end technologies such as Svelte or Angular.
• Understanding of cybersecurity and industrial compliance frameworks, including IEC 62443 and the Cyber Resilience Act.
• Experience implementing Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) models.
• Knowledge of GPU computing or high-performance processing techniques.
• Experience working with cloud-connected or hybrid edge computing platforms.

Why Join Luna Innovations?

Work on Meaningful Technology

Your work will directly contribute to solutions that help organisations protect critical infrastructure, improve operational efficiency, and make data-driven decisions.

Solve Complex Engineering Challenges

Join a team building sophisticated distributed systems that process real-time sensor data at scale in demanding operational environments.

Influence Technical Direction

As a senior engineer, you will have the opportunity to shape architecture, mentor colleagues, and contribute to engineering best practices.

Professional Growth

Work alongside experienced engineers, scientists, and industry specialists while developing your expertise in advanced sensing technologies and modern software engineering.

Collaborative International Team

Partner with colleagues across the UK, Germany, and the USA on innovative projects with global impact.

Flexible Working Environment

We support flexible working arrangements and recognise the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Luna Innovations is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and are dedicated to creating an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to our shared success.