Lead Software Engineer

Lead Backend Engineer

Node.js, TypeScript, PostgreSQL, APIs, Microservices, Docker, Kubernetes, AI/LLM Integration.

London, United Kingdom

Permanent Role: Competitive Salary + Equity

A fast-growing AI startup is looking to hire a Lead Backend Engineer to help build and scale the backend infrastructure powering its next-generation AI operations platform.

This is an exciting opportunity to join an early-stage company already working with pilot customers and building toward significant scale. You’ll work closely with experienced founders and a high-performing engineering team to design and deliver resilient, scalable systems that automate complex operational workflows.

Key responsibilities:

• Architect, develop, and maintain scalable backend systems using Node.js and TypeScript
• Design and build RESTful APIs, microservices, and event-driven architectures
• Integrate backend services with AI/LLM workflows and automation systems
• Build reliable data pipelines, background jobs, and operational services
• Lead backend engineering best practices, code reviews, and technical direction
• Mentor engineers and contribute to a strong engineering culture
• Collaborate closely with Product, AI, and Data teams on system design and delivery
• Monitor, maintain, and improve performance, reliability, and observability across production systems

Benefits of the role:

• Competitive salary + meaningful equity package
• Flexible hybrid working structure
• Opportunity to shape architecture and engineering culture from an early stage
• Direct exposure to founders and strategic technical decisions
• Fast-moving, high-impact startup environment
• Career growth within a scaling AI business

What skills, experience and qualifications required:

• 7+ years commercial backend or full-stack engineering experience
• Strong commercial experience with Node.js and TypeScript
• Excellent understanding of APIs, distributed systems, and PostgreSQL
• Experience building scalable microservice or event-driven architectures
• Strong experience with Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud infrastructure (AWS/GCP/Azure)
• Experience mentoring engineers and leading technical projects
• Comfortable working in fast-paced startup environments
• Experience with AI/LLM integrations is highly desirable
• Python backend experience (FastAPI, Flask, Django) is beneficial
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

This role offers hybrid working, with an office location based in London.

For any additional questions, please contact me directly via LinkedIn or email @ollie.bluck@harringtonstarr.com