Senior Python Backend Engineer

Job title: Senior Python Backend Engineer

Will the role be 100% remote, hybrid or 100% office? Onsite

Location: London, UK

Duration of assignment: 6 months contract InsideIR35

The Role:

As a Senior Python Backend Engineer specializing in GenAI Solutions, you will play a critical role in designing, developing, and optimizing advanced cloud-based applications that leverage generative AI capabilities. This hands-on position requires deep technical expertise to translate business needs into robust, scalable, and intelligent software solutions.

Key responsibilities:

Software Design & Development:

Design, develop, and maintain high-quality, scalable, and efficient software applications and services.

Write clean, well-documented, and maintainable code following established best practices.

Translate complex business requirements into detailed technical specifications, architectural designs, and API contracts.

Create and implement microservice architectures via APIs and services, ensuring seamless integration and data flow.

GenAI Application Development:

Develop and integrate advanced Generative AI models and Agentic AI approaches into new and existing applications.

Optimize application code and architecture for performance, scalability, security, and cost-effectiveness.

Work with data scientists to integrate Agents into application endpoints and user interfaces (fastAPI, uvicorn)

Quality Assurance:

Develop and execute comprehensive unit tests, integration tests, and functional tests to ensure software quality and reliability.

Debug and resolve software defects and issues promptly within application codebase.

Collaboration & Documentation:

Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including product managers, data scientists, designers, and DevOps engineers, to deliver features iteratively.

Participate actively in agile ceremonies (e.g., stand-ups, sprint planning, retrospectives).

Create and maintain comprehensive technical documentation, including code documentation, system designs, and API specifications.

Security & Compliance (Application Layer):

Ensure all software solutions adhere to secure coding practices, data privacy regulations, and compliance standards.

Implement robust security measures within the application code, including secure authentication and authorization mechanisms.

Continuous Improvement & Mentorship:

Stay abreast of the latest industry trends, programming languages, and advancements in software engineering and Generative AI application development.

Continuously seek opportunities to improve application development practices and code quality.

Mentor junior developers, provide technical guidance, and assist in onboarding new team members regarding application design and coding standards.

Key skills/knowledge/experience:

Education and Experience:

5+ years of experience in software development, with significant experience in cloud-based application development and API design.

Technical Skills:

Strong software engineering background, including developing applications, RESTful APIs, and integrating front-end technologies (if applicable to the role).

Proficiency in modern programming languages (e.g., Python).

Experience with designing, building, and optimizing scalable, secure, and cost-effective cloud-native applications.

Understanding machine learning lifecycle, MLOps principles, and responsible AI/ML practices from an application integration perspective.

Experience with database technologies (SQL/NoSQL) and data integration patterns.

Familiarity with cloud services relevant to application development (e.g., Azure Webapps, Azure Functions, Azure API Management, Azure Cosmos DB, Azure Databricks, Azure ML services for model consumption).

Good experience in configuring and managing CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Azure DevOps Pipelines, GitHub Actions) for complex application landscapes, including monorepos and multi-application deployments.

Basic proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., PowerShell, Bash) for automating operational tasks, deployments, and creating standardized project templates ('cookie-cutter' style automation).

Good understanding of containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).

Experience with monitoring and logging tools to manage application and infrastructure health (e.g., Azure Monitoring, Azure AppInsights)

Desirable skills/knowledge/experience:

Soft Skills:

Demonstrated strong analytical and problem-solving abilities focused on application logic and design.

Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts clearly and concisely to diverse audiences.

Proactive, self-motivated, and able to work effectively in a fast-paced, iterative environment.