Technical Lead Python & AI at Nearform | £90k+ UK

Nearform; United States; Remote; USD 107,000 - 131,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Private healthcare

Pension match

Remote working allowance

Job summary

Nearform seeks a Technical Lead to guide development teams, work directly with clients, and translate business requirements into scalable AI-enabled applications. You will drive architecture, code quality, and delivery while mentoring engineers in a hands-on, client-facing role.

Based in the UK, this full-time position offers remote work with travel to client sites. Expect competitive compensation, profit-sharing potential, and a comprehensive benefits package as part of Nearform's flexible,

Qualifications

• Significant experience in software engineering and 2+ years of experience leading projects and mentoring as a Technical Lead.
• Professional experience in Python for this role.
• Experience with AI application development and agentic frameworks (e.g., LangGraph, Agentspace).
• Experience working directly with clients to understand technical requirements.
• Proven experience with Kubernetes for container orchestration.
• Strong CI/CD experience with Terraform, Helm, and other cloud-native IaC technologies.
• Deep observability knowledge with OpenTelemetry and related tooling.
• Experience leading software engineering teams through technical delivery and mentoring.
• Deep understanding of agile methodologies, design patterns, and testing practices.
• Understanding of DevOps and cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Knowledge of GDPR and operational concerns.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical and line-management leadership to development teams.
• Ensure successful delivery of projects and manage blockers.
• Uphold best practices in software development, DevOps, and Agile methodologies.
• Work directly with clients to translate requirements into technical briefs.
• Shape architectural decisions for scalability, security, and maintainability.
• Provide updates to client and Nearform leadership on project status.

Skills

Python

AI development

Kubernetes

CI/CD

Terraform

Helm

OpenTelemetry

Git

Client leadership

Agile methods

Cloud: AWS/Azure/GCP

Tools

LangGraph

Agentspace

Job description

Technical Lead Python & AI at Nearform | £90k+ UK in Newark

This is a senior-level Technical Lead role at a well-established consultancy with 500+ engineers across 20+ countries and clients including Walmart, Starbucks, and Lululemon. It sits at the intersection of hands-on engineering and people/client leadership — a strong career accelerator for engineers ready to step into or grow within a lead role.

Compensation: The £90,000+ base (plus bonus and benefits including 5% pension match and private healthcare) is competitive for a UK Tech Lead. Market benchmarks for Senior/Lead Engineers in the UK typically range from £80,000–£115,000 depending on sector and location; this starting point is solid, with upside via the annual profit-share bonus.

• AI/Agentic systems (LangGraph, Agentspace) — one of the hottest skill sets in 2024–2025
• Client-facing leadership — high-value consulting skills that transfer across industries
• Line management and mentoring — formal people leadership experience

Green flags: Genuine remote flexibility, profit-sharing culture, training budget, and a diverse client portfolio mean you'll rarely stagnate. Working across enterprise projects (Walmart, Starbucks scale) adds impressive scope to your CV.

Watch points: Consultancy roles can mean context-switching between projects and clients. The "line management" responsibility alongside hands-on coding is demanding. Confirm how much greenfield AI work vs. legacy modernisation you'll encounter in practice.

Overall, strong choice for engineers targeting leadership roles in AI-enabled enterprise software.

This is a full-time, permanent opportunity for candidates based in the UK and authorised to work without sponsorship.

This position also requires travel to client sites with travel expenses covered by the company.

Nearform is an independent team of data & AI experts, engineers, and designers who build intelligent digital solutions and capability at pace. We create AI-enabled solutions that enhance digital experiences, empower developers, and deliver measurable results. In these ways, we partner with ambitious enterprises to deliver enduring impact.

Our deep expertise in solving the world's most complex digital problems, along with our collaborative, people-first approach, enables enterprises to build breakthrough products and modernise legacy systems by unleashing the power of AI.

Learn more

Replay

Learn more

Today, our team of 500 experts in 20+ countries is trusted by leading enterprises including Lululemon, Puma, Sun Life, Starbucks, Travelex, Virgin Media O2, and Walmart.

As part of our Engineering function, you will work closely with clients to translate complex business requirements into innovative digital products. Whether you are a Senior Engineer, Tech Lead, or DevOps Engineer, you will collaborate with distributed teams, leveraging cutting‑edge technologies to build secure, high‑performance applications. Our Nearform engineers are known for building high quality, scalable solutions that solve real world problems.

About the Technical Lead Role:

As a Technical Lead at Nearform, you will be responsible for leading and guiding development teams while working directly with clients to translate business and technical requirements into impactful applications. Your responsibilities may include:

• Provide technical and line‑management leadership to your development team.
• Take responsibility for the successful delivery of projects.
• Identify and resolve blockers before they become issues.
• Ensure best practices in software development, DevOps, and agile methodologies are upheld within the team.
• Work directly with clients, translating requirements into technical briefs.
• Shape and define architectural decisions ensuring scalability, security, and maintainability.
• Provide updates to client and Nearform leadership to ensure clear understanding of project status and drive good decision‑making.

What We Are Looking For:

• Significant experience in software engineering and 2+ years of experience leading projects and mentoring as a Technical Lead. For this particular role, we are looking for professional experience in Python.
• Experience with AI application development and Agentic frameworks and platforms (e.g., LangGraph, Agentspace, etc.)
• Experience working directly with clients or customers to understand technical requirements.
• Proven experience working with Kubernetes for container orchestration.
• Strong CI/CD experience, including hands‑on work with Terraform, Helm, and other cloud‑native IaC technologies.
• Deep understanding of observability practices, with practical experience using OpenTelemetry (OTel) and related tooling.
• Experience leading software engineering teams through technical delivery and either direct line management or mentoring.
• Deep understanding of agile ways of working, best practices and design patterns.
• Deep understanding of test‑driven development and testing best practices.
• Deep understanding of version control tools, e.g. Git.
• Understanding of DevOps practices and cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Understanding of operational concerns (such as monitoring, performance testing, security considerations, accessibility, GDPR).
• Empathy and people skills.

Benefits and Perks at Nearform:

• Annual Company Bonus – We all help Nearform hit company goals, so we all receive a share of the profits on an annual basis in line with company performance.
• Work Remotely and Flexibly – We have a genuine dedication to work/life balance. Our flexible working culture allows you to work around what matters – school run, no problem!
• Paid Time Off Package – We offer an annual leave of 25 days plus public holidays. We also offer sick leave, marriage leave and many more.
• Remote Working Allowance – Every 2 years, you will have a budget of up to €1,250 (equivalent in GBP) to help you set up a comfortable and productive workspace, in addition to essential equipment provided by Nearform when you join.
• Training and Development Allowance – Nearform is committed to supporting and investing in employees' ongoing learning and professional development. You will be encouraged to pursue relevant learning opportunities that support your growth and the growth of others, subject to manager approval.
• Healthcare – Additional private healthcare is offered at Nearform. Reach out to our team for more details on the plan.
• Pension & Insurances – We offer a pension match of up to 5%, and Income Protection and Death in Service for peace of mind.

Our Interview Process:

• Talent Call (30 mins via Zoom)
  An initial conversation with a member of our Talent Team to explore your background, leadership experience, and career goals. We'll provide an overview of Nearform, discuss potential alignment, and answer any questions you may have.
• Panel Interview (60 mins via Zoom)
  A conversation with two of our Technical Directors focused on your approach to teamwork, client collaboration, and problem‑solving in an enterprise development setting. We'll also share more details about Nearform and the potential projects you may join.
• Technical Lead Assessment (90 mins via Zoom)
  A structured assessment led by a senior Technical Lead or Head of Engineering, designed to evaluate key aspects of a Technical Lead role. This session includes tasks covering:
  • Architecture Design – How you approach a high‑level problem, demonstrating design thinking and decision‑making.
  • Technical Implementation – How you turn a design into reality, taking into account business needs.
  • Code Standards and Feedback – Not just your own skills, but how you improve those around you.

There may also be an additional interview with the client depending on the project.

Ready to Join Us?

If you're passionate about building high-quality applications, solving complex challenges, and driving innovation in enterprise development, we'd love to hear from you.

Our salary range starts from £90,000 + bonus & benefits and will be discussed during the initial interview based on your experience.

Is this Technical Lead role fully remote? The role is remote and flexible within the UK, but it also requires occasional travel to client sites, with travel expenses covered by Nearform. You must be based in the UK. What is the salary for this Technical Lead position? The salary starts from £90,000 per year, plus an annual company bonus and a full benefits package including private healthcare, 5% pension match, and a remote working allowance. The exact figure is discussed during the initial interview based on experience. Can Nearform sponsor a UK work visa for this role? No — the job posting explicitly states candidates must be based in the UK and authorised to work without sponsorship. What AI and cloud experience is required for this role? Nearform is looking for experience with AI application development and agentic frameworks (e.g., LangGraph, Agentspace), as well as Kubernetes, Terraform, Helm, and OpenTelemetry. Cloud knowledge across AWS, Azure, or GCP is also expected. What does the interview process look like? There are three stages: a 30-minute Talent Call via Zoom, a 60-minute Panel Interview with two Technical Directors, and a 90-minute Technical Lead Assessment covering architecture design, technical implementation, and code review/feedback. A client interview may also be added depending on the project.

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