Tech lead

Calyptus; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A technology company in the United Kingdom is looking for a hands-on builder-leader to stabilize and evolve their platform. This role requires a strong senior engineer or tech lead with 6–12+ years in software engineering, proven technical leadership experience, and a background in backend-heavy systems. Ideal candidates will be product-minded individuals who emphasize customer impact and have the ambition to grow into broader engineering leadership over time. High potential and effective leadership during ambiguity are crucial for success.

Qualifications

• 6–12+ years in software engineering, with technical leadership experience.
• Proven track record in maintaining and improving production systems.
• Strong understanding of system design, scalability, and architecture.

Responsibilities

• Stabilise and evolve the platform.
• Lead by example as the complexity grows.
• Foster a product-minded engineering approach.

Skills

Software engineering

Technical leadership

Backend engineering

System design and architecture

Debugging and maintenance

Tools

Cloud-native platforms

APIs

Microservices

Data systems

Job description

We are seeking a builder‑leader: someone who codes today, fixes what matters, and grows with the company into a long‑term engineering leader.

This role is hands‑on with core systems, focused on stabilising and evolving the platform, and leading by example as the team and system complexity grow. It is ideal for a strong senior engineer or tech lead who wants real ownership, technical depth, and a clear path to broader engineering leadership.

Experience

• 6–12+ years in software engineering, with experience taking on technical leadership responsibilities
• Proven experience building, maintaining, and improving production systems in fast‑moving environments
• Background in backend‑heavy, platform, or marketplace products
• Experience with B2C, B2B2C, or marketplace business models preferred

Technical Background

• Strong hands‑on backend engineer who still codes and enjoys solving real problems
• Experienced in debugging, fixing, and improving existing systems (not just greenfield work)
• Solid understanding of system design, scalability, and architecture — pragmatic and outcome‑driven
• Experience with cloud‑native platforms, APIs, microservices, and data systems
• Actively up to date with modern development tooling and practices
• Uses AI daily to improve engineering efficiency (coding, debugging, analysis, documentation) and helps others adopt these tools effectively

Leadership & Mindset

• Leads by example: sets the bar through action, quality, and ownership
• Calm, structured, and effective in ambiguous or high‑pressure situations
• Product‑minded engineer with a strong focus on customer and business impact
• Pragmatic builder who values shipping, learning, and impact over process for its own sake
• High‑potential leader with the ambition and capability to grow into a broader engineering leadership role over time
• Trusted sparring partner to founders and senior leadership

Disclaimer: Calyptus uses an automated assessment tool that scores applicants.