At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and development of innovative cloud-native data services.
- Company: Join a high-profile programme focused on data-driven research and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, flexible work environment, and potential for contract extension.
- Other info: Opportunity to mentor engineers and promote excellence in a collaborative team.
- Why this job: Shape the future of data services and make a real impact in a dynamic field.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in senior technical roles and strong server-side software engineering skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Location: London (2 days per week onsite)
Rate: £700–£800 per day (Outside IR35)
Duration: Initial 6-month contract with likely extension
Overview
We're looking for an experienced Lead Backend Software Engineer to join a high-profile programme building secure, cloud-native data services that will support data-driven research and innovation at national scale. This is a founding engineering role, offering the opportunity to shape the architecture, engineering standards, and core data services from the ground up. Working closely with the Engineering Manager and a small team of senior engineers, you'll establish the technical foundations for a complex federated data platform operating within a highly regulated environment. We're looking for someone who enjoys building from first principles, thrives in ambiguity, and can balance strategic architectural thinking with hands-on software engineering. This role is centred around designing and building distributed data services rather than traditional application development.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead the design and development of scalable, cloud-native data services supporting a federated platform.
- Define architectural patterns, engineering standards, and best practices that will scale across the wider organisation.
- Design and build distributed server-side services using modern software engineering practices.
- Architect and develop federated data services capable of securely querying and processing data across multiple environments.
- Design high-performance data processing and streaming workflows using technologies such as Apache Spark, Apache DataFusion, or similar distributed query frameworks.
- Design and implement Kubernetes-based services and containerised workloads.
- Build secure APIs and backend services supporting authentication, authorisation, governance, and audit requirements.
- Contribute to the design of distributed systems, data pipelines, and platform architecture.
- Establish CI/CD pipelines, Infrastructure as Code, automated testing, and deployment practices.
- Evaluate and integrate open-source technologies and distributed data frameworks.
- Mentor engineers and promote engineering excellence across the team.
- Work closely with architecture, product, security, and external stakeholders.
Skills & Experience
Essential
- Experience as a Lead Engineer, Principal Engineer, Staff Engineer, Software Architect, or similar senior technical role.
- Strong server-side software engineering experience, with flexibility across programming languages such as Python, Java, Go, Scala, C#, or similar.
- Experience designing and building distributed data services or large-scale backend platforms.
- Experience with Apache Spark, Apache DataFusion, Trino, Presto, or similar distributed data processing technologies.
- Strong architecture and design experience across distributed systems and data services.
- Experience designing scalable data processing or data streaming workflows.
- Experience building cloud-native applications on AWS, Azure, or GCP.
- Experience with Kubernetes, Docker, and containerised environments.
- Experience building and operating CI/CD pipelines and Infrastructure as Code.
- Strong understanding of distributed systems, scalability, resilience, and secure-by-design principles.
- Comfortable making architectural decisions within evolving, fast-paced environments.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to work across technical and non-technical teams.
Desirable
- Experience building federated data services or federated data platforms.
- Experience within healthcare, life sciences, research, government, or other highly regulated environments.
- Knowledge of Trusted Research Environments (TREs), Secure Data Environments (SDEs), or similar secure data platforms.
- Experience with data governance, metadata services, data catalogues, or secure data access models.
- Exposure to event-driven architectures and streaming technologies such as Kafka, Flink, or Spark Streaming.
- Experience evaluating or contributing to open-source technologies.
Senior Software Engineer employer: Intec Select Ltd
Join a pioneering team in London as a Senior Software Engineer, where you'll have the unique opportunity to shape the future of cloud-native data services that drive national research and innovation. Our collaborative work culture fosters creativity and technical excellence, offering robust growth opportunities through mentorship and hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies like Apache Spark and Kubernetes. With a flexible hybrid working model and a focus on building secure, scalable solutions, we are committed to supporting your professional journey in a dynamic and impactful environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Software Engineer
✨Make Your Portfolio Shine
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We think you need these skills to ace Senior Software Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your GitHub Projects:When applying for a freelance software engineering gig at Intec Select Ltd, make sure to include your GitHub link in your application. Highlighting your code repositories, contributions to Open Source, and any personal projects can really set you apart and give us insight into your skills and coding style.
Tailor Your CV with Relevant Skills:In software development, the specifics matter! Make sure your CV lists the programming languages and technologies you excel at. Focus on the ones that align with the projects Intec Select Ltd is working on. Listing your tech stack clearly will help us understand how you fit into our team.
Include a Portfolio of Your Work:A solid portfolio is a must when applying for freelance roles. Include links to any apps, websites, or software you've developed. Highlight any projects that reflect a strong user experience, efficiency, or innovative solutions—this is your chance to shine and show us what you can bring to the table!
Mention Your Availability and Rates:Since this is a freelance role, we want to know when you’re available and what your rates are like! Be upfront about your typical work hours and project timelines. This transparency will help us see if we can sync up for future projects at Intec Select Ltd.
How to prepare for a job interview at Intec Select Ltd
✨Showcase Your Code Wizardry
Since you're going for a freelance role in software engineering, have a solid portfolio ready to flaunt your best work. Include projects that highlight your coding skills, frameworks you excel in, and any problem-solving feats you've pulled off. This is your chance to shine, so choose pieces that reflect your unique style and expertise!
✨Prepare for Technical Challenges
Freelance gigs often involve tech assessments or coding challenges, so be ready to tackle some hands-on problems. Brush up on common algorithms, data structures, and any languages/frameworks relevant to the role at Intec Select Ltd. Being comfortable with platforms like HackerRank or LeetCode can give you an edge and showcase your skills under pressure!
✨Be Clear About Your Rates and Flexibility
As a freelancer, be prepared to discuss your rates upfront. It's crucial to communicate your pricing structure clearly and whether you're open to negotiation. Do your homework on industry standards to ensure you pitch a fair and competitive rate that reflects your skills and experience!
✨Understand Their Tech Stack
Before the interview, get familiar with the tools and technologies used at Intec Select Ltd. Whether it's a particular framework or a specific coding methodology, being knowledgeable about their tech stack not only shows your interest but also helps you present how you could fit seamlessly into their existing projects. Demonstrating you’ve done your homework can set you apart from other candidates!
