Lead Software Engineer (Python) in London

Lead Software Engineer (Python) in London

London Full-Time 75600 - 92400 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a team of engineers to build cutting-edge financial systems for US investments.
  • Company: Join a profitable fintech scale-up with a successful UK investment platform.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on mentorship and continuous improvement.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in the fintech space while leading innovative projects.
  • Qualifications: Strong Python skills and experience in backend system development required.

The predicted salary is between 75600 - 92400 £ per year.

We are partnering with a profitable fintech scale-up seeking a Lead Python Engineer to play a key role in building its US investment infrastructure. The business has established a successful investment platform in the UK and is now building the technology, workflows and financial infrastructure required to support investing across US markets. This is a hands-on leadership role where you'll lead a small pod of engineers whilst remaining deeply involved in architecture, design and software development.

The Opportunity

You'll help design and build the systems that underpin trading, execution, settlement, portfolio management and investment operations for US-listed products. You'll join a highly collaborative engineering team and have significant influence over technical direction, architecture and delivery as the platform continues to scale.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead a pod of 3-4 engineers whilst remaining hands-on in the codebase
  • Design and build core financial infrastructure supporting US investment products
  • Develop systems covering trading, execution, settlement, brokerage, portfolio and investment workflows
  • Drive architectural decisions and technical direction within your team
  • Work closely with Product and Engineering leadership to shape solutions and delivery plans
  • Mentor engineers through code reviews, technical guidance and best practices
  • Balance rapid delivery with long-term scalability, maintainability and reliability
  • Contribute to the continuous improvement of engineering standards, tooling and development processes

Requirements

  • Strong commercial experience building backend systems with Python
  • Proficiency with Pandas/NumPy
  • Previous experience leading engineers or acting as a technical lead
  • Strong understanding of architecture, system design and software engineering best practices
  • Experience building and supporting production-grade applications
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
  • Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-ownership environment

Lead Software Engineer (Python) in London employer: Understanding Recruitment

As a leading GreenTech company based in London, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that prioritises innovation and sustainability. Our employees enjoy a competitive benefits package, flexible working arrangements, and ample opportunities for professional growth, all while contributing to impactful clean energy projects that make a difference in the world.

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Contact Details:

Understanding Recruitment Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Lead Software Engineer (Python) in London

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 Understanding Recruitment 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 Understanding Recruitment.

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 Understanding Recruitment.

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 Understanding Recruitment 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 Software Engineer (Python) in London

Python
FastAPI
SQLAlchemy
Pandas
NumPy
Backend Systems Development
Architecture Design

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 Understanding Recruitment.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Understanding Recruitment 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 Understanding Recruitment

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 Understanding Recruitment 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.