At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to design scalable backend systems and integrate AI tools for legal automation.
- Company: Fletchers Solicitors, a pioneering law firm transforming the legal sector with AI.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, access to proprietary datasets, and direct impact on innovative projects.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities to shape technical standards and culture.
- Why this job: Join a fast-paced AI startup with real-world applications and significant growth potential.
- Qualifications: Extensive backend engineering experience, leadership skills, and proficiency in Python and Azure.
Fletchers Solicitors is a leading private-equity-backed UK law firm currently spinning out its specialist AI team to build Fletch AI, a suite of Natural Language Processing and LLM-based tools designed to automate and transform the legal sector for personal injury and clinical negligence claims.
You will own the backend architecture and infrastructure for Fletch AI, a high-growth spin-out within Fletchers Solicitors. As a player-coach, you’ll lead a team of 8+ engineers to build scalable data pipelines and deploy production-grade ML models that automate complex legal claims, driving innovation for both internal users and external law firms.
Location: London, UK
Why this role is remarkable:
- Join a high-velocity AI "startup" with the unique advantage of massive proprietary datasets and immediate access to hundreds of domain experts and real-world legal cases.
- Direct reporting line to the executive team and CEO, offering a mandate to move fast from ideation to production with secure private-equity backing.
- Transition from an internal innovation team to a commercialized entity, shaping the technical standards and culture for a team scaling from 10 to 20 engineers.
What You Will Do:
- Design and implement scalable backend applications and data integration pipelines to process unstructured documents, legal case systems, and SQL databases.
- Own technical direction and infrastructure (Azure, Fly.io), overseeing site reliability, disaster recovery, and the transition of data science code into robust production systems.
- Lead and mentor a growing team of 8+ engineers, establishing rigorous software development practices and driving the adoption of AI-enabled coding agents.
The ideal candidate:
- Extensive professional experience in backend engineering with a track record of owning production systems, ideally using Python, FastAPI, and Azure.
- Proven leadership capability in a technical lead or mentoring capacity, with the ability to define backend architecture and set long-term technical standards.
- Strong communication skills for "forward-deployed" engineering, comfortable engaging directly with customers and internal stakeholders to scope integrations and resolve issues.
Lead Backend Engineer (£70k-£110k) at Fletchers Solicitors employer: Jack & Jill
At Jack & Jill, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and innovative work culture. Our team enjoys a range of benefits including flexible working arrangements, professional development opportunities, and a collaborative environment that encourages creativity and growth. Located in a vibrant area, we offer unique advantages such as access to cutting-edge technology and the chance to work with industry leaders in AI-driven marketing strategies.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Backend Engineer (£70k-£110k) at Fletchers Solicitors
✨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 Jack & Jill 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 Jack & Jill.
✨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 Jack & Jill.
✨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 Jack & Jill 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 Lead Backend Engineer (£70k-£110k) at Fletchers Solicitors
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 Jack & Jill.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Jack & Jill 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 Jack & Jill
✨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 Jack & Jill 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.
