Lead Engineer, Back End
Lead Engineer, Back End

Lead Engineer, Back End

London Full-Time 60000 - 84000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the development of Python microservices and collaborate on innovative products.
  • Company: WPP Media is a creative transformation company focused on building better futures through creativity.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive medical plans, significant paid time off, and a hybrid work environment.
  • Why this job: Join a passionate team shaping the future of media with cutting-edge technology and AI integration.
  • Qualifications: Experience in software development, leading teams, and strong Python skills are essential.
  • Other info: This role is UK-based; applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 84000 £ per year.

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About WPP Media
WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit wpp.com.

About WPP Media
WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit wpp.com.
WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit wppmedia.com
About Choreograph: A Leading WPP Media Brand
Choreograph is WPP’s global data products and technology company. We’re on a mission to transform marketing by building the fastest, most connected data platform that bridges marketing strategy to scaled activation.
We work with agencies and clients to transform the value of data by bringing together technology, data and analytics capabilities. We deliver this through the Open Media Studio, an AI-enabled media and data platform for the next era of advertising.
We’re endlessly curious. Our team of thinkers, builders, creators and problem solvers are over 1,000 strong, across 20 markets around the world.
Who we are looking for
Choreograph is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Back-End Engineer to lead the development of our ecosystem of (primarily) Python microservices. You\’ll build leading edge capabilities, collaborating with other teams to develop services that contribute to a range of innovative products, with a particular focus on integrating and optimising AI and agentic intelligence capabilities. Your deep understanding of microservices architectures will enable you to operate autonomously, tackling complex problems described in high-level functional terms. You\’ll be acutely aware of the risks to API integrity and champion a strong separation of concerns. As a leader, you\’ll guide a team of senior developers, defining processes, shaping architecture, and collaborating on implementation. You\’ll also contribute to the higher-level architecture of interconnected systems. We\’re particularly interested in candidates with a passion for Generative AI, LLMs, and agentic workflows, and a desire to build the next generation of intelligent applications.
Skills And Experience
At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared core values:

  • Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity.
  • Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.
  • Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.
  • Lead a cross-functional team of developers.
  • Drive the development of architecture for systems you build and maintain, with a focus on AI integration.
  • Collaborate with Product leaders to develop and execute roadmaps for services and products, incorporating AI and agentic intelligence strategies.
  • Build and deploy back-end services communicating over a range of APIs with other services, including those leveraging language models.
  • Write clean, well-designed, and reusable code. Test your code appropriately and collaborate with Developers in Test to create robust testing frameworks.
  • Acknowledge and explain the trade-offs associated with any technical decision. Participate in specification workshops to define functional and non-functional characteristics of our systems, including AI-related requirements.
  • Demonstrate a solid understanding of separation of concerns, APIs as contracts, and the importance of preventing implementation details and side effects from crossing the API boundary.
  • Design and implement agentic workflows and supporting infrastrucuture, including workflow design, tool calling and model evaluation pipelines Collaborate with data scientists and other product teams to develop common services that can support agentic capabilities within our product suite.
  • Extensive experience in software development.
  • Proven track record of leading small or large development teams.
  • Strong familiarity with Python 3 (the primary development language for this role).
  • Familiarity with agile development patterns.
  • Essential SQL/Database knowledge (including understanding the trade-offs of using ORMs).
  • Experience working with and integrating complex external REST APIs. Experience working with one or more of the leading cloud platforms (GCP, AWS, Azure).
  • Experience with serverless architectures (Lambda, Fargate, Cloud Run, et al.) and a clear understanding of when not to use them.
  • Experience with message queues (SQS, PubSub, RabbitMQ etc.) and data pipelines (Kafka, Beam, Kinesis, etc.). Effective team player with excellent communication, presentation, and influencing skills.
  • Passion for improving coding and development practices. Experience working with microservices communicating over a range of interfaces.
  • Understanding of how the web works, REST APIs, OpenAPI spec/Swagger, GraphQL, and the difference between REST and RPCs. Understanding of TDD, BDD, unit testing, integration testing, and when to use them.
  • Familiarity with trunk-based development in Git.
  • Experience with back-end web application frameworks (Django, FastAPI, etc.).
  • Experience with language models and agentic workflows (e.g., Langchain, AutoGPT). Knowledge of model evaluation metrics and techniques.
  • Google Cloud (Cloud Functions, AppEngine, PubSub, Stackdriver, etc.). Docker, Kubernetes. Typescript, NodeJS, React, Webpack, etc. Java, C#.
  • Experience within the advertising/media agency space. Terraform

Life at WPP Media & Benefits
Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.
WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.
We believe the best work happens when we\’re together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That\’s why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.
Please note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location
Please read our Privacy Notice ( for more information on how we process the information you provide.
While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
requisitionid:19630

Seniority level

  • Seniority level

    Mid-Senior level

Employment type

  • Employment type

    Full-time

Job function

  • Job function

    Engineering and Information Technology

  • Industries

    Advertising Services, Marketing Services, and Technology, Information and Internet

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Lead Engineer, Back End employer: WPP Media

WPP Media is an exceptional employer that prioritises creativity, collaboration, and employee growth. With a strong commitment to fostering a supportive work culture, employees benefit from competitive medical and retirement plans, significant paid time off, and opportunities for professional development within a hybrid working environment. Located in the UK, WPP Media encourages innovation and teamwork, making it an ideal place for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the advertising and media industry.
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Contact Detail:

WPP Media Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Lead Engineer, Back End

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in AI and agentic intelligence, as these are key areas for the Lead Engineer role. Being able to discuss recent advancements or projects you've worked on in these fields can set you apart during interviews.

✨Tip Number 2

Showcase your experience with Python microservices by preparing examples of past projects where you've successfully implemented them. Be ready to explain your thought process and the challenges you faced, as this demonstrates your problem-solving skills.

✨Tip Number 3

Network with current or former employees of WPP Media or similar companies. Engaging in conversations about their experiences can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations, which you can leverage during your application process.

✨Tip Number 4

Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you've guided teams in previous roles. Highlight specific instances where you've fostered collaboration and innovation, as this aligns with WPP's core values of collective leadership and creativity.

We think you need these skills to ace Lead Engineer, Back End

Extensive experience in software development
Strong familiarity with Python 3
Experience with microservices architectures
Knowledge of AI integration and agentic intelligence
Proven track record of leading development teams
Familiarity with agile development patterns
Essential SQL/Database knowledge
Experience with REST APIs and external integrations
Experience with cloud platforms (GCP, AWS, Azure)
Understanding of serverless architectures
Experience with message queues and data pipelines
Effective communication and presentation skills
Passion for improving coding and development practices
Understanding of TDD, BDD, unit testing, and integration testing
Familiarity with back-end web application frameworks (Django, FastAPI)
Experience with language models and agentic workflows
Knowledge of model evaluation metrics and techniques
Experience with Docker and Kubernetes
Understanding of Git and trunk-based development
Experience within the advertising/media agency space

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in back-end engineering, particularly with Python and microservices. Emphasise any leadership roles you've held and projects that showcase your skills in AI integration.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for generative AI and agentic workflows. Discuss how your experience aligns with WPP Media's mission and values, and provide specific examples of how you've led teams or projects in the past.

Showcase Technical Skills: Clearly list your technical skills related to the job description, such as familiarity with cloud platforms, REST APIs, and serverless architectures. Use bullet points for clarity and ensure you mention any relevant frameworks like Django or FastAPI.

Highlight Collaboration Experience: WPP Media values teamwork, so include examples of how you've successfully collaborated with cross-functional teams. Mention any experiences where you worked closely with product leaders or data scientists to achieve project goals.

How to prepare for a job interview at WPP Media

✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise

As a Lead Engineer, Back End, it's crucial to demonstrate your deep understanding of Python and microservices architectures. Be prepared to discuss specific projects where you've successfully implemented these technologies, focusing on the challenges you faced and how you overcame them.

✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills

WPP Media values teamwork, so highlight your experience in leading cross-functional teams. Share examples of how you've collaborated with product leaders and other developers to shape architecture and implement solutions, especially those involving AI integration.

✨Discuss Your Approach to Problem-Solving

Be ready to explain your thought process when tackling complex problems. WPP Media is looking for forward-thinking candidates, so share instances where you've innovatively solved issues, particularly in relation to API integrity and separation of concerns.

✨Express Your Passion for AI and Innovation

Given the focus on Generative AI and agentic workflows, convey your enthusiasm for these areas. Discuss any relevant projects or research you've undertaken, and how you envision contributing to the next generation of intelligent applications at WPP Media.

Lead Engineer, Back End
WPP Media
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  • Lead Engineer, Back End

    London
    Full-Time
    60000 - 84000 £ / year (est.)

    Application deadline: 2027-07-15

  • W

    WPP Media

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