At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build cloud-based identity services, focusing on authentication and MFA.
- Company: Join Vanguard, a mission-driven tech company with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with excellent career growth opportunities in a regulated setting.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by enhancing security for hundreds of thousands of clients.
- Qualifications: Strong full-stack fundamentals, cloud experience, and a methodical engineering mindset required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Job Description hackajob is collaborating with Vanguard to connect them with exceptional professionals for this role.
- Project Contractor
- Project Contractor
About the Role In the European Client Identity team, we are building and operating Vanguard's authentication and MFA platform used by hundreds of thousands of clients across the UK and Europe.
This is a hands-on senior full-stack role focused on designing, building, deploying, and operating cloud-based identity services.
You will contribute across backend APIs, cloud infrastructure, and frontend experiences — with React as the preferred frontend framework for new UI work.
You will work in a highly regulated environment where security, reliability, and operational discipline matter.
You don't need to be an identity expert on day one — but you do need strong full-stack fundamentals, cloud experience, and a responsible, methodical engineering mindset.
- What You’ll Do
- Build and evolve backend services that support login, MFA, and client authentication
- Design and implement REST APIs using Nest JS / Type Script
- Build frontend experiences using React where new UI development is required
- Integrate with identity and MFA platforms (e. g.
- Transmit Security, Auth0)
- Deploy and operate services on AWS, using Infrastructure as Code
- Run and maintain services in production, including: ○ Database migrations and updates ○ Manage vendor-specific software services running in AWS
- Write automated tests and contribute to improving test coverage and quality
- Participate in CI/CD pipelines, deployments, and operational procedures
- Work closely with product and security stakeholders to translate requirements into technical solutions
- Continuously improve engineering standards, tooling, and reliability
- What We’re Looking For (Must-Have)
- Strong backend engineering fundamentals with Node. js and Nest JS or Express
- Type Script across frontend and backend
- Experience designing and building REST APIs
- Understanding of authentication protocols: OAuth 2.0, JWT, MFA flows
- Hands-on experience with AWS (ECS, Lambda, Cloud Front, S3, Secrets Manager)
- Familiarity with Infrastructure as Code (Cloud Formation or Terraform)
- Experience with containerised workloads (Docker)
- Strong Git practices and CI/CD experience (Git Hub Actions or similar)
- Experience writing unit and integration tests (Jest) Nice to Have
- React experience for frontend development — preferred for any new UI work
- Experience with identity, authentication, or MFA systems
- Familiarity with Kong API Gateway or similar
- Exposure to Aurora Postgre SQL or Dynamo DB
- Knowledge of microservices architectures
- Exposure to security concepts (IAM, encryption, networking)
- Experience with observability tooling (Open Telemetry, Honeycomb, Grafana)
- Experience in regulated or enterprise environments Our Tech Stack AWS
- Type Script
- React
- Node. js (Nest JS)
- REST APIs
- Auth0
- Transmit Security
- Kong Gateway
- Git Hub
- Git Hub Actions
- Cloud Formation
- How We Work
Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection.
We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Software Engineer - Identity & Authentication (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 Vanguard 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 Vanguard.
✨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 Vanguard.
✨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 Vanguard 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 Senior Software Engineer - Identity & Authentication (London)
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 Vanguard.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Vanguard 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 Vanguard
✨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 Vanguard 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.
