At a Glance
- Tasks: Design, build, and maintain innovative applications for AI transformation in financial services.
- Company: Join Nile, a leading UK design consultancy focused on AI and quality.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on continuous learning and quality improvement.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of AI technology and make impactful contributions to real-world projects.
- Qualifications: Proven full-stack development experience with strong skills in modern frameworks and APIs.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 € per year.
Nile is a UK strategic design consultancy helping regulated enterprises navigate AI transformation. We believe the decisions organisations automate become permanent - our job is to make sure those decisions deserve to be. We work primarily in financial services and are a small, senior team that takes quality seriously.
We are looking for a Lead Engineer to come on board, responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the internal and client-facing applications that power Nile's work. This is a hands-on engineering role at the heart of Nile's technology function - spanning everything from polished, accessible front-end experiences to robust back-end services and integrations.
You will work across Nile's growing suite of internal tools (including Workbench, Fleming, and the Project Hub), build prototypes and proof-of-concept applications for clients, and contribute to the technical infrastructure that makes Nile a genuinely AI-native consultancy. You bring strong engineering instincts, care about craft, and understand that in a design consultancy, the experience layer is never an afterthought. This role sits at the intersection of product thinking and engineering rigour. You'll work closely with designers, strategists, and AI engineers - translating ideas into working software quickly, then iterating until it's right.
Key Areas of Responsibility- Product & Application Development (55%)
- Design, develop, and maintain full-stack web applications across Nile's internal tooling and client-facing prototypes.
- Build clean, accessible, responsive front-end interfaces using modern frameworks (React, Next.js, or equivalent), with a high bar for UX quality and WCAG 2.2 compliance.
- Develop and maintain back-end services, APIs, and data integrations - including RESTful and GraphQL APIs, serverless functions, and cloud-based services (AWS preferred).
- Integrate with third-party platforms and APIs (e.g. Google Workspace, ClickUp, Tick, Slack, Fireflies, OpenAI) as part of Nile's connected tooling ecosystem.
- Write clean, well-documented, maintainable code - applying appropriate testing strategies and reviewing others' work thoughtfully.
- Contribute to architectural decisions, helping the team make pragmatic choices that balance velocity with long-term maintainability.
- Internal Tooling & AI Integration (25%)
- Build and extend Workbench and Fleming - Nile's internal AI platform - including new skills, integrations, and UI components.
- Implement and maintain MCP (Model Context Protocol) server integrations that connect Workbench to external tools and data sources.
- Collaborate with the AI Solutions Engineer to bring AI capabilities into product surfaces in ways that feel natural and human-centred.
- Identify opportunities to improve internal workflows through automation, tooling, and smarter integrations - and build them.
- Client Prototyping & Delivery Support (10%)
- Rapidly prototype working software to support client engagements - turning design concepts into interactive, testable experiences.
- Contribute to client deliverables where working prototypes or technical demonstrations add strategic value.
- Support technical scoping conversations, helping the team understand what's buildable and at what cost.
- Collaboration & Continuous Improvement (10%)
- Work closely with designers and strategists in a cross-functional, project-based environment - comfortable picking up context quickly and contributing across disciplines.
- Participate in code reviews, engineering discussions, and retrospectives — helping build a culture of quality and continuous learning.
- Stay current with relevant technologies, frameworks, and AI developments — sharing what you learn with the broader team.
- Contribute to Nile's engineering standards: documentation, conventions, and deployment practices.
- Essential
- Proven full-stack development experience, with a strong portfolio of shipped web applications.
- Proficiency in a modern front-end framework - React or Next.js strongly preferred.
- Solid back-end development skills - Node.js, Python, or similar; experience with REST and/or GraphQL APIs.
- Comfortable working with cloud infrastructure, particularly AWS, ideally Bedrock and AgentCore.
- Experience integrating third-party APIs and building connected, data-driven applications.
- Working knowledge of accessibility principles and WCAG compliance in front-end development.
- Familiarity with generative AI models, frameworks and services, ideally including Anthropic and LangChain Deep Agents.
- Experience with version control (Git), CI/CD pipelines, and modern deployment practices.
- A genuine interest in design quality - able to implement interfaces that match design intent, not just approximate it.
- Desirable
- Experience with MCP (Model Context Protocol) or similar agent/tool integration patterns.
- Familiarity with Google Workspace APIs (Drive, Docs, Sheets, Calendar, Gmail).
- Experience working in a consultancy, agency, or product studio environment.
- Exposure to regulated industries (financial services, healthcare, or similar) and the constraints that come with them.
- Contributions to open-source projects or internal tooling at a previous employer.
In the first three months, you'll have shipped meaningful improvements to Nile's internal tooling, demonstrated that you can work effectively in a cross-functional team, and established yourself as someone the rest of the team can rely on - both for the quality of your code and your contribution to how we think about what we're building. Over time, you'll be a core part of how Nile builds software - raising the bar on quality, bringing engineering instinct to strategic conversations, and helping the team move faster without cutting corners that matter.
Lead Engineer in Edinburgh employer: Nile
Nile is an exceptional employer, offering a collaborative and innovative work culture where engineers can thrive at the forefront of AI transformation in financial services. With a strong emphasis on quality and craftsmanship, employees benefit from hands-on experience in a supportive environment that encourages continuous learning and professional growth. Located in the UK, Nile provides unique opportunities to work closely with a senior team, contributing to impactful projects that shape the future of technology in regulated industries.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Engineer in Edinburgh
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, attend meetups, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your best projects, especially those that align with what Nile is doing. This will give you a chance to demonstrate your engineering instincts and design quality right from the get-go.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and coding challenges. Make sure you can talk through your thought process clearly, as collaboration is key at Nile. We want to see how you think, not just what you know!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Nile team and contributing to our mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Engineer in Edinburgh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Skills:When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight your full-stack development experience. Share specific examples of web applications you've shipped and the technologies you used. We want to see your engineering instincts in action!
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! Tailor your cover letter and CV to reflect how your skills align with our needs at Nile. Mention your experience with modern frameworks like React or Next.js, and how you’ve tackled accessibility in your projects.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points for your skills and experiences to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate well-structured applications that get straight to the heart of what you can bring to the team.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Nile
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, especially React, Next.js, and AWS. Brush up on your full-stack development skills and be ready to discuss your past projects that showcase your proficiency in these areas.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to discuss specific challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you overcame them. Think about examples where you had to balance speed with quality, especially in a consultancy setting, as this will resonate with Nile's focus on delivering high-quality solutions.
✨Understand Accessibility Standards
Since Nile values accessible design, be prepared to talk about WCAG compliance and how you’ve implemented accessibility features in your past projects. This shows that you care about user experience and understand the importance of inclusivity in design.
✨Be Ready for Collaboration Questions
Nile emphasises teamwork across disciplines, so expect questions about how you work with designers and strategists. Have examples ready that demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively and contribute to a cross-functional team environment.
