At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and development of bespoke OSINT platforms and tools.
- Company: Join Praetorian Connections, a leader in language-enabled Open Source Intelligence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and a supportive environment.
- Other info: Collaborative culture that values innovation and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on global intelligence with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in technical development management, ideally in OSINT or online data.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 88000 £ per year.
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Working Pattern: Monday to Friday, hybrid working with three days per week in our London office
About Us
Praetorian Connections Ltd (PCL) is a leading provider of language-enabled Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), supporting geopolitical, security, and risk-focused decision making. We deliver high-quality OSINT reports and intelligence analysis across countries, regions, and thematic areas. With a team of around 150 talented professionals, we have grown year-on-year to become a trusted partner for clients seeking clarity and confidence in a complex global landscape. As we continue to expand, we’re now seeking a Lead Developer to join our growing development team. This is a superb opportunity to be at the forefront of OSINT development, and to shape and lead the development of new capabilities.
The Role
The Lead Developer will provide technical leadership within the Data & Technical Development Team, taking responsibility for the design, architecture and delivery of bespoke software platforms and tools. This includes defining technical direction, development standards and system architecture for platforms that support OSINT data collection, processing, analysis and visualisation. Alongside strategic and architectural responsibilities, the role is highly hands-on. The Lead Developer will actively contribute to coding and development, helping to build business platforms, automation capabilities and technical solutions that meet operational requirements.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the design and development of bespoke platforms supporting OSINT data collection, processing, automation and analytical workflows.
- Define the technical architecture for new development projects, including infrastructure, data pipelines and platform integrations.
- Write and maintain production-grade code for internal tools and platforms.
- Responsible for direction to the development team in terms of technical implementations and coding approaches.
- Guide the adoption of agentic coding and AI-assisted development tools to accelerate software development workflows.
- Lead the integration of APIs and external data sources relevant to OSINT operations.
- Implement scalable data pipelines and processing systems for structured and unstructured data.
- Oversee code quality, testing standards, documentation and deployment practices.
- Support the mentoring and technical development of junior developers within the team.
- Ensure systems are reliable, secure and scalable across cloud infrastructure environments.
About You
You have a strong mixed portfolio of technical literacy, and depth of experience leading development workstrands; ideally combined with OSINT or general intelligence understanding. You are looking for an interesting and challenging role, where your creativity, passion for technical development, and depth of experience will allow you to lead the development of cutting edge capabilities. You have an eye for detail, and for technical opportunities, and want to apply these to make a real difference in a business that provides critical intelligence insights. You are a proactive and highly motivated individual who wants to build and lead a high performing team.
We’re looking for someone who brings:
- Over five years of demonstrable experience in technical development management roles, ideally in OSINT or related to online data and platforms.
- Strong technical literacy and focussed understanding of the contemporary online, data, and AI landscapes.
- Good understanding of intelligence methodologies and outputs.
- Outstanding communication and relationship building skills.
- A passion for innovation and building new technical exploits and workflows.
Why Join Us?
At Praetorian, you’ll join a collaborative, forward-thinking organisation where integrity, curiosity, and professionalism drive everything we do. You’ll be part of a team that values innovative and agile thinking. We offer a supportive working environment, competitive remuneration, and the opportunity to make a genuine impact on the global intelligence landscape.
Lead Developer employer: Praetorian Connections Ltd
At Praetorian Connections Ltd, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of Central London. Our hybrid working model promotes a healthy work-life balance while fostering collaboration and innovation among our talented team. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we provide ample opportunities for professional development and encourage our staff to stay at the forefront of GIS technologies, making us an ideal place for passionate individuals looking to make a meaningful impact in the field of geospatial intelligence.
Contact Details:
Praetorian Connections Ltd Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Developer
✨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 Praetorian Connections Ltd 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 Praetorian Connections Ltd.
✨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 Praetorian Connections Ltd.
✨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 Praetorian Connections Ltd 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 Developer
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 Praetorian Connections Ltd.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Praetorian Connections Ltd 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 Praetorian Connections Ltd
✨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 Praetorian Connections Ltd 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.
