Software Engineer - Backend (up to £160k)

Dex; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Dex is partnering with a pioneering AI software company delivering real-time defence intelligence. Join a team where backend systems run in high-stakes environments, focusing on reliability and fault-tolerant design.

You will work with a Rust and Python stack, contribute to open-source, and operate under rigorous RFCs and code reviews. Expect to design features for mission-critical backends, tackle extreme conditions like intermittent connectivity, and push the boundaries of distributed systems

Qualifications

• Backend development experience with a systems language (Rust/Java/Go/C++).
• Proven ability to build and operate complex distributed systems focusing on failure modes.
• Experience in edge computing, latency optimization or platform engineering.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement features, algorithms, and infrastructure for a mission-critical backend.
• Engineer for extreme conditions: intermittent connectivity and embedded systems.
• Ensure system robustness via testing and benchmarking.
• Contribute to a Rust and Python-based stack with open-source collaboration.
• Solve complex distributed systems problems with degradation and failure modes.

Skills

Backend development

Distributed systems

Rust

Latency optimization

Tools

REST

GraphQL

gRPC/Protobuf

Apache Arrow

Job description

This role is with one of Dex's trusted partner companies. We work closely with their teams to truly understand their culture, goals, and what they're looking for, so we can match you with the right opportunity and give you context about the role before you commit to a process. Dex is an AI recruiter agent that helps you run your job search. Tell Dex your stack, seniority, and what you want to build. We will manage your applications and surface other opportunities that are a fit.

The role

This company builds AI software for real-time defence intelligence. Their systems operate on semi-autonomous platforms, turning raw sensor data into actionable insights. The backend infrastructure faces extreme constraints: intermittent connectivity, embedded compute, low-bandwidth radios, and air-gapped networks where trust is never assumed. They're backed by leading investors and are one of Europe's fastest-growing companies.

You'll join a team where reliability isn't a feature, it's the product. Your code will run in high-stakes environments, directly impacting people in critical situations. This isn't about scaling typical web services; it's about engineering robust, fault-tolerant systems for the most challenging operational contexts. Expect a culture built on rigorous RFCs, code review, and a shared commitment to unblocking colleagues.

The work

• Design and implement features, algorithms, and infrastructure for a mission-critical backend.
• Engineer for extreme conditions: intermittent connectivity, resource-constrained embedded systems, and untrusted networks.
• Ensure system robustness and reliability through comprehensive testing and benchmarking.
• Contribute to a Rust and Python-based stack, with opportunities to learn from prominent open-source contributors.
• Solve complex distributed systems problems where partial degradation and failure modes are the default.

What You Bring

• Strong backend development experience in a systems language (Rust, Java, Go, C++, or similar).
• Proven ability to build and operate complex distributed systems, with a focus on failure modes.
• Deep expertise in at least one area: edge computing, latency optimization, or platform engineering.
• Familiarity with backend interface tools like REST, GraphQL, gRPC/Protocol Buffers, and Arrow.

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