Backend Developer

About Scrumconnect Consulting
Scrumconnect Consulting is a multi-award-winning digital consultancy whose work has positively influenced the lives of over 40 million UK citizens. We deliver impactful technology solutions across UK government departments, working at the forefront of user-centred design, agile delivery, and scalable digital services that genuinely make a difference.

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Backend Developer with strong expertise in Java and Spring Boot to design, develop, and maintain scalable Back End systems. The ideal candidate combines solid software engineering fundamentals with the ability to effectively leverage AI-powered development tools and coding assistants to accelerate delivery, improve code quality, and enhance engineering productivity.

Key Responsibilities

Design, develop, and maintain scalable Back End services using Java (8/11/17+) and Spring Boot
Build, optimize, and maintain RESTful APIs and microservices-based applications
Collaborate with Front End, DevOps, product, and AI engineering teams
Use AI-assisted development tools (eg, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, etc.) to accelerate development, debugging, testing, and documentation
Review, validate, and refine AI-generated code to ensure maintainability, security, and performance
Design robust system architectures and contribute to technical decision-making
Implement automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, and deployment processes
Monitor application performance, troubleshoot issues, and optimize system reliability
Conduct code reviews and mentor team members on engineering best practices and AI-assisted development workflows
Document technical solutions and architecture using AI-assisted productivity tools where appropriate

Required Skills & Qualifications

5+ years of hands-on Back End development experience
Strong expertise in Java and Spring Boot
Solid understanding of microservices architecture and distributed systems
Experience designing and developing REST APIs
Strong knowledge of Hibernate/JPA and relational database design
Experience with messaging systems such as Kafka or RabbitMQ
Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
Experience with Docker and Kubernetes
Strong database experience with PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, or similar technologies
Experience with Git, CI/CD pipelines, and Agile development practices
Understanding of application security, secure coding practices, and performance optimization
Demonstrated experience using AI-assisted software development tools in daily engineering workflows
Ability to critically evaluate, test, and improve AI-generated code and technical solutions

Preferred Qualifications

Experience building AI-powered applications or integrating LLM APIs
Familiarity with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), vector databases, embeddings, and AI agent architectures
Experience integrating services from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, or similar AI platforms
Experience working in regulated, standards-driven, or public sector environments
Familiarity with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CloudFormation, etc.)
Relevant certifications in Java, cloud technologies, or AI engineering
Experience measuring and improving engineering productivity through AI-assisted development practices

Strong Back End engineering fundamentals

Quality and maintainability of delivered code
Effective use of AI tools to increase productivity without compromising quality
System design and architectural thinking
Problem-solving and debugging capabilities
Ability to mentor others in AI-assisted software engineering practices

Our interview process

We keep things straightforward. Following an initial CV review, successful candidates will be invited to a short screening call with our recruitment team, followed by a two-stage process comprising a technical assessment and a values-based interview with the hiring team. We aim to move quickly and will keep you informed at every stage.

Equal Opportunities

Scrumconnect Consulting is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and welcome applications from all backgrounds, regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation.