Lead Developer

Lead Developer

Full-Time 80000 - 120000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
London Stock Exchange

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the development of cutting-edge AI solutions and enhance global financial platforms.
  • Company: Join a leading financial services firm driving innovation in technology.
  • Benefits: Attractive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on mentorship and career advancement.
  • Why this job: Be at the forefront of AI technology and make a significant impact on global markets.
  • Qualifications: 12+ years in backend software engineering with strong Java and Python skills.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 120000 £ per year.

Requirements:

  • 12+ years of hands-on backend software engineering experience.
  • Support the organisation’s AI adoption journey. Develop and enhance intelligent solutions using LLMs, LangChain/LangGraph, and agentic AI frameworks.
  • Establish engineering best practices for safe, scalable, traceable and production ready AI deployments across internal platforms and external product suites.
  • Strong algorithms, data structures, problem solving skills, and ability to translate business problems into scalable solutions.
  • Good command of coding standards and strong understanding of both high level and low level software design.
  • Expertise in:
    • Core Java
    • Python
    • Building highly distributed, data intensive systems
    • Microservices
    • REST APIs
    • RDBMS (Oracle/SQL Server/Postgres)
    • CI/CD tools (Jenkins/GitLab)
    • DevOps automation
    • Docker
    • Kubernetes
    • JVM profiling & performance optimisation
  • Prior exposure to Level 3 production support.
  • (Desirable) Experience leading or mentoring a team of engineers.
  • (Desirable) Experience within financial services or with financial market data.
  • (Desirable) Familiarity with in-memory caching, Spring Boot, Redis, Kafka.
  • (Desirable) Experience with BDD frameworks such as Cucumber, JBehave, or Karate.
  • (Desirable) Experience running Agile teams.
  • A proactive, creative engineering leader who enjoys solving complex problems, working hands-on with modern technologies, and driving AI enabled innovation.

What the job involves:

We are seeking a highly skilled and hands-on Lead Java Engineer with AI proficiency to help build the next generation FTSE Russell Index Platform. This platform underpins the calculation and distribution of FTSE Russell’s global family of indexes and requires advanced engineering, high precision data processing, and deep collaboration across global teams.

This is a deeply technical role focused on designing, building, integrating, and operationalising modern software and AI driven capabilities across internal platforms and client facing products. You will work with innovative technologies, contribute to complex algorithmic design, and drive engineering excellence in a high performance, data intensive environment.

Core Engineering & Platform Delivery:

  • Design, develop, and maintain complex Java and Python applications using modern engineering practices.
  • Build / embed AI powered features into mission critical systems.
  • Architect and enhance services that support large scale, performance critical index computations.
  • Collaborate with Product Managers, UX, and engineering teams globally to deliver high quality products.
  • Lead projects end-to-end through requirements, design, development, testing, deployment, and operations.
  • Build and maintain automated test suites to ensure performance, scalability, and security.
  • Diagnose production issues, identify root causes, and deliver Level 3 support and fixes.
  • Conduct peer reviews, provide technical leadership, and mentor junior engineers.

Lead Developer employer: London Stock Exchange

As a Lead Developer at our company, you will be part of a dynamic and innovative team dedicated to driving AI adoption in the financial services sector. We offer a collaborative work culture that values creativity and technical excellence, alongside opportunities for professional growth through mentorship and leadership roles. Located in a vibrant area, our workplace fosters a supportive environment where your contributions directly impact the development of cutting-edge solutions for global financial markets.

London Stock Exchange

Contact Details:

London Stock Exchange Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Lead Developer

Network Like a Pro

Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend meetups, tech conferences, or even online webinars. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly to hiring managers.

Show Off Your Skills

Don’t just talk about your experience; demonstrate it! Create a portfolio showcasing your projects, especially those involving AI and backend systems. Share your GitHub or any relevant contributions to show potential employers what you can do.

Ace the Interview

Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on algorithms, data structures, and system design. Practice coding challenges and be ready to explain your thought process. Remember, they want to see how you solve problems, so think aloud!

Apply Through Us!

We’ve got some fantastic opportunities waiting for you on our website. Don’t hesitate to apply directly through us – it’s the best way to get noticed and land that dream role as a Lead Developer!

We think you need these skills to ace Lead Developer

Backend Software Engineering
AI Adoption
LLMs
LangChain/LangGraph
Agentic AI Frameworks
Algorithms
Data Structures

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Lead Developer role. Highlight your 12+ years of backend software engineering experience and any relevant AI projects you've worked on. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!

Showcase Your Projects:Include specific examples of projects where you've developed intelligent solutions or worked with technologies like Java, Python, or microservices. This helps us understand your hands-on experience and problem-solving skills.

Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points for easy reading and make sure to highlight your expertise in algorithms, data structures, and coding standards. We appreciate straightforward communication!

Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!

How to prepare for a job interview at London Stock Exchange

Know Your Tech Inside Out

Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, like Core Java, Python, and microservices. Brush up on your knowledge of AI frameworks and be ready to discuss how you've used them in past projects.

Showcase Problem-Solving Skills

Prepare to tackle some technical problems during the interview. Think about how you can translate complex business problems into scalable solutions. Practise explaining your thought process clearly and concisely.

Demonstrate Leadership Experience

If you have experience leading or mentoring teams, be sure to highlight this. Share specific examples of how you’ve guided junior engineers or led projects, especially in high-pressure environments.

Engage with the Interviewers

Don’t just answer questions—engage with your interviewers. Ask insightful questions about their AI adoption journey and how they envision the future of their platform. This shows your genuine interest and helps you assess if it’s the right fit for you.