At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead backend platform development and set coding standards using Go and TypeScript.
- Company: Fast-growing tech scale-up with a dynamic team and ambitious growth plans.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, free parking, and on-site health facilities.
- Other info: Great opportunities for mentorship and career growth in a supportive culture.
- Why this job: Join a passionate team and make a real impact in a thriving tech environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in backend engineering, especially with Go, TypeScript, and AWS.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 80000 £ per year.
Our client is a successful tech scale-up, a cash-generative SME currently at c.£10m turnover and c.80 staff, looking to double in size in the next five years under the guidance of its experienced, highly charismatic and driven owner, supported by a first-class senior leadership team including a new CEO. We are looking to strengthen the company’s Engineering capability, working closely with a world-class CTO who heads a high-performing technology function, by appointing a new Senior Backend Engineer.
As Senior Backend Engineer, based at the company’s North East headquarters, you’ll take hands-on technical ownership and leadership of one of our client’s backend platform domains acting as the trusted technical authority, setting direction, defining standards and ensuring quality across Go and TypeScript services on AWS. This position is crucial for driving our engineering excellence and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Your responsibilities as Senior Backend Engineer will include:
- Own technical direction for the backend platform architecture, coding standards, and how services are designed and evolved
- Build and evolve production-grade services in Go and TypeScript across AWS Lambda, ECS/EKS, and RDS/Aurora
- Make architectural decisions with clear reasoning, balancing delivery pace with long-term maintainability
- Drive quality through code review, testing culture, and engineering practices
- Mentor and coach backend engineers helping them grow their skills and careers
- Collaborate with Engineering Managers, Product and other platform Leads to align on shared standards
- Manage technical debt strategically and champion continuous improvement
As Senior Backend Engineer you’ll need:
- Strong technical, commercial experience as a Backend Engineer, Senior Backend Engineer or Lead Backend Engineer, ideally gained in a fast-paced, growing technology-driven business leading, setting standards and raising the bar for others
- Experience in an agile, product-led environment is desirable
- Production-grade experience in Go - designed and shipped backend services at scale
- Experience with TypeScript in a backend context (Node.js, shared libraries, or tooling)
- Deep familiarity with core AWS infrastructure - Lambda, ECS/EKS and RDS/Aurora - specialised knowledge in Aurora performance tuning is a significant plus
- Proficiency with AWS messaging services, specifically SQS, SNS and EventBridge
- Strong communication skills across technical and non-technical audiences
Rewards and Benefits:
- Basic salary between £65,000 and £80,000 (plus benefits)
- Maximum pay/rewards, dependent on all outlined experience, skills, knowledge and qualifications
- Full-time, permanent role based in Gateshead
- Hybrid and flexible working available
- Free parking
- On-site health facilities, staff events and discounts, training and more
Please note: we review applications on receipt and aim to get back to shortlisted candidates within 5 days. You must be eligible to work in the UK.
Senior Backend Engineer in Sheffield employer: Catalyst
As a leading international technology manufacturer based in County Durham, our company is committed to fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where innovation thrives. We offer competitive benefits, a strong focus on employee development, and the opportunity to lead high-impact projects in a collaborative setting. Join us to be part of a culture that values accountability, continuous improvement, and cross-site collaboration, ensuring your contributions are recognised and rewarded.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Backend Engineer in Sheffield
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Catalyst or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Catalyst.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Catalyst.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Catalyst that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Backend Engineer in Sheffield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Catalyst.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Catalyst and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Catalyst
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Catalyst uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
