At a Glance
- Tasks: Design, build, and maintain innovative applications for internal and client use.
- Company: Join Nile, a leading UK consultancy transforming AI in financial services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on quality and continuous learning.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of AI technology and make impactful decisions.
- Qualifications: Proven full-stack development experience and strong engineering instincts.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 employer: Nile
Nile is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where innovation meets quality. As a Lead Engineer, you'll collaborate with a talented team in a consultancy that prioritises design excellence and AI integration, while enjoying opportunities for professional growth and development. Located in the UK, Nile fosters a culture of continuous learning and encourages employees to stay at the forefront of technology, making it a rewarding place to advance your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. 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 best projects, especially those that align with Nile's focus on AI and design. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can do and how you think.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and coding challenges. Make sure you can explain your thought process clearly, as communication is key when working in cross-functional teams.
✨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.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Engineering:When writing your application, let us see your enthusiasm for engineering! Share specific projects or experiences that highlight your skills and how they align with our mission at Nile. We love to see candidates who are genuinely excited about the work they do.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the key areas of responsibility mentioned in the job description. Highlight your experience with full-stack development, cloud services, and any relevant tools or frameworks. This shows us you’ve done your homework and understand what we’re looking for.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where appropriate to make it easy for us to read through your qualifications and experiences. Remember, we appreciate well-structured applications that get straight to the heart of your skills!
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 don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it shows us you’re keen to be part of the Nile team!
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.
✨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, as this is crucial for a consultancy like Nile.
✨Understand the Design Perspective
Since Nile values design quality, be prepared to talk about how you ensure your code aligns with design intent. Bring examples of how you’ve collaborated with designers or contributed to user experience improvements in your past work.
✨Be Ready for Technical Questions
Expect to dive deep into technical discussions, including coding challenges or system design questions. Practise articulating your thought process clearly, as communication is key in a cross-functional team environment.
