Software Engineer, Backend

NatWest Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

NatWest Group is seeking a Backend Software Engineer to join a permanent feature team in Greater London. You will lead the technical delivery of the software engineering team, collaborating across business, applications, data and infrastructure to understand the platform and support business objectives.

You’ll also drive design options, estimation, Agile development, and architecture-driven delivery, focusing on automated build, test and deployment to create scalable, resilient software for

Qualifications

• Experience working in banking or financial services.
• Hands-on experience delivering Java-based solutions.
• Experience designing microservices and distributed systems.
• Strong understanding of software architecture and design principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical delivery of a software engineering team across the platform.
• Liaise with principal engineers and architects to understand platform workings and support business objectives.
• Supervise solution design options and explain trade-offs to stakeholders.
• Lead estimation activities and ensure plans reflect technical complexity and maintainability.
• Apply Agile methods to software development on the backlog.
• Deliver resilient software and adapt to future needs.
• Drive architecture coherence and emergent design through prototyping.

Skills

Java technologies

Microservices

Distributed systems

Software architecture

Relational databases

Oracle/PostgreSQL

AWS

Spring Boot

Kafka

Kubernetes

Agile delivery

AI technologies

Tools

Azure

Job description

Join us as a Software Engineer, Backend

• This is an opportunity for a technically minded individual to join us as a Software Engineer
• You’ll be designing, producing, testing and implementing working software, working across the lifecycle of the system
• Hone your existing software engineering skills and advance your career in this critical role

What you'll do

Working in a permanent feature team, you’ll lead the technical delivery of a software engineering team, developing knowledge of aspects of the associated platform across the disciplines of business, applications, data and infrastructure. You’ll also be liaising with principal engineers, architects in the domain and other key stakeholders to understand how the platform works and how it supports business objectives.

You’ll also be:

• Supervising solution design options and explain the pros and cons to key stakeholders for appropriate decision making
• Leading estimation activities, ensuring delivery plans reflect technical complexity, maintainability and supportability requirements
• Applying Agile methods to the development of software on the backlog
• Producing resilient and long-lived software and acting flexibly to cope with future needs
• Delivering intentional architecture and formulating emergent design through innovative ideas, experimentation and prototyping
• Designing and developing software with a focus on the automation of build, test and deployment activities, using executable patterns

The skills you'll need

We’re looking for someone with experience of working in banking or financial services, alongside strong hands‑on experience developing and delivering solutions using modern Java technologies. You’ll also need experience designing and developing microservices and distributed systems, with a strong understanding of software architecture and design principles.

You'll bring expertise working with relational databases, ideally Oracle or PostgreSQL, alongside experience building cloud‑based solutions in AWS.

Additionally, you’ll demonstrate:

• Experience of leading the implementation of programming best practice, especially around scalability, automation, virtualisation, optimisation, availability and performance
• Strong problem‑solving skills, with the ability to translate complex business requirements into scalable technical solutions
• Sound collaboration skills with the ability to work with business teams to produce pragmatic solutions that work for the business
• Experience of information security policies and practices within the financial sector
• Exposure to AI technologies such as LLMs, machine learning, or agentic systems, alongside experience leading or mentoring engineers
• Strong stakeholder management skills and communication skills with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts in a simple way
• Familiarity with Spring Boot, Kafka, Kubernetes, and Agile delivery practices would also be beneficial