Lead Backend Engineer
You'll use Python, FastAPI, Pydantic, Pandas and SQLAlchemy to build API-first backend services. The platform replaces legacy wealth-management systems for financial advisers, and you'll lead a small team of 3–4 engineers as a player-coach.
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Lead Backend Engineer (Python)
📍 London hybrid (3 days onsite)
💸Up to £140k
💻Python • FastAPI • Pydantic • Pandas • SQLAlchemy
We’re partnering with a fast-growing fintech rebuilding the infrastructure behind modern wealth management.
Their platform is replacing legacy adviser and investment systems with API-first tooling designed for speed, transparency, and automation, giving financial advisers a far better way to manage investments at scale.
Following a major funding round, they’re now hiring a Lead Backend Engineer to help shape the next phase of the platform and lead a small, high-performing engineering team.
What makes this role interesting
You’ll work on core platform architecture, not peripheral features
High ownership environment with direct influence on product and technical direction
Opportunity to modernise systems in an industry still dominated by outdated technology
Small engineering team where strong technical decisions have immediate impact
Blend of hands-on engineering and leadership, ideal for someone who still loves building
The role
This is a true player-coach position: around 50% hands-on engineering and 50% technical leadership.
You’ll:
Lead and mentor a team of 3–4 engineers
Design and scale backend services powering an API-driven investment platform
Translate ambiguous business problems into clear technical execution plans
Drive engineering standards, architecture decisions, and delivery practices
Partner closely with product and leadership teams as the platform scales
What they’re looking for
8+ years of commercial Python engineering experience
Strong experience building backend systems and APIs in production environments
Previous experience leading engineering teams
Background in insurance, trading, fintech, or other regulated financial environments
Ability to balance short-term delivery with long-term technical quality
Comfortable operating in fast-moving, high-ownership environments
This role will suit an experienced backend engineer who enjoys solving complex domain problems, leading from the front, and building systems that directly shape a company’s future.