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- Tasks: Lead a team to build scalable backend systems and mentor engineers.
- Company: Join a dynamic B2B FinTech startup transforming financial advisory with AI-driven solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, equity, and hybrid remote work options.
- Why this job: Be part of a fast-paced environment, shaping the future of finance with innovative technology.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in JVM Engineering and 1+ year leading teams required.
- Other info: No visa sponsorship available; apply with an impactful CV!
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 140000 £ per year.
Lead Backend Engineer (Kotlin) in a B2B FinTech startup.
Hands-on, leading a team of 4.
Up to £100,000 + Equity + Benefits.
Hybrid Remote: 3 Days in Central London office, 2 days working from home.
Join a B2B FinTech startup backed by a global bank, that is transforming the financial advisory space. They’ve created a unified, scalable, AI-driven platform that’s moving the industry away from using outdated data storage and communication systems like spreadsheets.
As Lead Backend Engineer, you’ll be the technical authority for all backend, architectural and infrastructure decisions. Reporting directly to the CEO, you'll lead and grow a high-performing engineering function, while staying deep in the code as an Engineer.
In this role you will:
- Lead architecture to build scalable, event-driven backend systems.
- Own and evolve the cloud and infrastructure stack (Terraform, Kubernetes, GCP).
- Line manage and mentor 4 Engineers, hiring more later in 2025.
- Lead daily standups, drive delivery, and maintain a high bar for code quality.
- Partner with the CEO on roadmap priorities and hiring strategy.
- Be comfortable switching hats. Player/coach, architect, hands-on builder.
This isn’t a greenfield 0→1, the foundations are in place. Your challenge is 1→10, 1→100. You’ll be building a system that unlocks the product roadmap, allowing the business to scale with confidence. Think: backend overhaul, introducing messaging layers (Kafka or PubSub), scaling infra, and embedding clean Engineering practices.
Tech Stack: Kotlin, Grails, Vert.x, gRPC, microservices, event-driven architecture, GCP, Kubernetes, Terraform, Kafka, BigQuery, PostgreSQL.
Ideal Candidates will have:
- 5+ years in Backend-focused JVM Engineering.
- 1+ year leading engineering teams of 4+ people.
- Experience designing event-driven systems, microservices and using gRPC.
- Experience in a startup environment: building fast, wearing many hats.
- Hands-on DevOps experience: Terraform, GCP, Kubernetes.
- Experience building data-heavy products (e.g. CRMs, forms, internal tools).
- AI / FinTech experience a bonus.
No Visa Sponsorship Available.
4-stage Interview Process.
Please apply with an updated CV displaying your impact & we’ll be in touch!
Lead Backend Engineer (JVM) - FinTech Startup - £100k + Equity employer: Few&Far
Contact Detail:
Few&Far Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Backend Engineer (JVM) - FinTech Startup - £100k + Equity
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific technologies mentioned in the job description, such as Kotlin, Terraform, and Kubernetes. Being able to discuss your hands-on experience with these tools during the interview will demonstrate your technical expertise and readiness for the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare to showcase your leadership skills by thinking of examples where you've successfully led a team or project. Highlighting your ability to mentor others and drive delivery will resonate well with the hiring team, especially since this role involves managing engineers.
✨Tip Number 3
Research the company’s current products and their impact on the financial advisory space. Understanding their mission and how your role as a Lead Backend Engineer can contribute to their growth will help you articulate your value during the interview.
✨Tip Number 4
Be ready to discuss your experience with scaling systems and implementing clean engineering practices. The role focuses on taking existing foundations to the next level, so demonstrating your strategic thinking and problem-solving skills will be crucial.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Backend Engineer (JVM) - FinTech Startup - £100k + Equity
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience with JVM engineering, particularly in Kotlin. Emphasise your leadership roles and any hands-on experience you have with the tech stack mentioned, such as Terraform, Kubernetes, and GCP.
Showcase Relevant Experience: In your application, detail your experience in building scalable, event-driven systems and microservices. Provide specific examples of projects where you've led teams or made significant architectural decisions.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that not only outlines your technical skills but also conveys your passion for the FinTech industry. Mention how your background aligns with the company's mission to transform financial advisory services.
Highlight Soft Skills: Since this role involves leading a team and collaborating with the CEO, be sure to highlight your soft skills. Discuss your experience in mentoring engineers, driving delivery, and maintaining high code quality standards.
How to prepare for a job interview at Few&Far
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
As a Lead Backend Engineer, it's crucial to demonstrate your deep understanding of the tech stack mentioned in the job description. Be prepared to discuss your experience with Kotlin, microservices, and event-driven architecture in detail, as well as any hands-on projects you've led.
✨Highlight Leadership Experience
Since this role involves leading a team, share specific examples of how you've successfully managed and mentored engineers in the past. Discuss your approach to fostering a high-performing team and how you handle challenges in leadership.
✨Prepare for Architectural Discussions
Expect to engage in conversations about system architecture and infrastructure decisions. Brush up on your knowledge of cloud services like GCP, Terraform, and Kubernetes, and be ready to propose solutions or improvements based on your previous experiences.
✨Demonstrate Adaptability
This role requires wearing many hats, so be prepared to discuss how you've adapted to different roles in previous positions. Share examples of times when you had to switch between being a hands-on engineer and a strategic leader, showcasing your versatility.
