Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design of scalable backend systems and distributed data platforms.
- Company: Join a dynamic engineering team focused on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Enjoy growth opportunities, flexible work, and a strong engineering culture.
- Other info: Work in a fast-paced environment with a focus on scalability and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on complex systems and influence technical direction.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in backend engineering with expertise in distributed systems.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
We are looking for a Staff Software Engineer to help lead the evolution of a highly scalable distributed data platform powering large-scale enterprise systems. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys solving complex backend and infrastructure challenges, influencing technical strategy, and mentoring engineers while remaining hands-on with architecture and development.
You’ll work across engineering teams to design and build high-performance distributed systems, scalable data pipelines, and cloud-native services operating at massive scale. This position plays a key role in shaping long-term platform architecture, improving system reliability and observability, and driving engineering best practices across the organization.
What You’ll Do
- Lead the design and development of scalable backend systems and distributed data platforms
- Architect and optimize high-performance, high-availability cloud-native services
- Build and maintain large-scale ETL and data processing pipelines
- Design APIs, microservices, and service-to-service communication frameworks
- Develop scalable systems for processing large, streaming, and multi-tenant datasets
- Drive technical strategy and influence architecture decisions across teams
- Improve platform observability, monitoring, reliability, and operational performance
- Collaborate closely with engineering leadership, product teams, and stakeholders
- Mentor engineers and contribute to engineering standards and best practices
- Participate in system troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and performance tuning
- Create and maintain technical documentation and architectural standards
What We’re Looking For
- 10+ years of backend or platform engineering experience
- Strong experience building and operating distributed systems at scale
- Deep understanding of microservices architecture and service-oriented design
- Experience with containerized environments using Docker and Kubernetes
- Strong cloud experience with AWS, Azure, or GCP
- Expertise with relational and non-relational databases such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, Cassandra, or Elasticsearch
- Experience designing scalable APIs and backend services using gRPC and Protocol Buffers
- Strong programming experience with Java/Kotlin, Python, C#, or similar backend technologies
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines, automated deployments, and infrastructure automation
- Strong understanding of system design, scalability, security, and observability
- Ability to lead complex technical initiatives while collaborating across multiple teams
Nice to Have
- Experience working with large-scale data platforms or multi-tenant systems
- Familiarity with feature flags and release toggle strategies
- Experience evaluating or integrating third-party platforms and services
- Experience with service mesh technologies such as Envoy or AWS App Mesh
- Background in highly regulated or enterprise-scale environments
- Familiarity with Agile development practices
What’s Offered
- Opportunity to work on highly complex distributed systems and platform challenges
- Strong engineering culture focused on collaboration, scalability, and innovation
- High-impact role with influence on technical direction and architecture
- Growth opportunities within a fast-moving engineering organization
- Flexible and collaborative work environment
- Must be able to work in the UK without any sponsorship!
Senior Staff Software Engineer in London employer: Hirewell
Contact Detail:
Hirewell Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Staff Software Engineer in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage with online communities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your projects, especially those related to distributed systems and cloud-native services. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do beyond your CV.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on system design and architecture principles. Practice coding challenges and be ready to discuss your past experiences in detail, especially around scalable backend systems.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Staff Software Engineer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the job description. Highlight your backend engineering experience, especially with distributed systems and cloud-native services, as this is what we’re really looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re passionate about the role and how your background aligns with our needs. Share specific examples of your work with scalable systems and mentoring engineers to show us what you can bring to the team.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t forget to include any relevant technical skills in your application. Mention your experience with microservices, containerized environments, and the programming languages you excel in. We want to see your expertise shine through!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hirewell
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, like distributed systems, microservices, and cloud platforms. Brush up on your knowledge of Docker, Kubernetes, and the databases listed. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you’re not just a fit for the role but also passionate about the tech.
✨Prepare Real-World Examples
Think of specific projects where you’ve tackled complex backend challenges or led technical initiatives. Be ready to share how you approached system design, improved performance, or mentored other engineers. This will help demonstrate your hands-on experience and leadership skills, which are crucial for this position.
✨Understand Their Business
Research the company’s products and services, especially how they utilise distributed systems and data platforms. Understanding their business model and challenges will allow you to tailor your answers and show how your skills can directly benefit them. It’s all about connecting your experience to their needs!
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions that reflect your interest in the role and the company’s future. Inquire about their current technical challenges, team dynamics, or how they measure success in engineering projects. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the company is the right fit for you.