Job title: Backend Software Engineer - Python
Job type: Permanent
Emp type: Full-time
Salary type: Annual
Salary from: GBP £80,000.00
Salary to: GBP £90,000.00
Location: London
Job published: 15/04/2026
Job ID: 42826
Contact name: Georgia Field, Martyn Hurricks
Phone number: , +441962442039
Contact email: Georgia@Talentlocker.co.uk, martyn@talentlocker.co.uk

Job Description

Backend Software Engineer - Python 

Location: London (in-office 4 days per week, non-negotiable) - Office is near Holborn EC1 - Please do not apply if you cannot get to the office 4 days (Mon-Thursday) per week

Type: Full-time

Reports to: Head of Engineering

Salary: £90,000-£105,000 + benefits

Are you a Senior Python Backend Engineer who thrives on designing and scaling complex systems? Do you enjoy working on data-intensive platforms involving real-time pipelines, streaming architectures, and graph-based services?

This is a hands-on role within a small, research-driven engineering team working on high-complexity systems. You will take ownership of key components from architecture through to production, while contributing to the overall technical direction.

Key Responsibilities

  • Design, build, and own backend services and data pipelines in Python
  • Develop and operate streaming systems using Kafka or similar technologies
  • Work with graph-based data structures and algorithms to support analytics and decision-making
  • Build reliable, scalable systems that process real-time data from distributed edge devices
  • Lead technical decisions across architecture, tooling, and system design
  • Collaborate with data scientists and ML engineers to deploy models into production
  • Mentor engineers and contribute to engineering best practices
  • Improve observability, monitoring, and incident response processes
  • Write maintainable, well-tested code and contribute to code reviews

Requirements

  • In depth experience of building and operating backend systems in production
  • Strong proficiency in Python
  • Experience with streaming systems (Kafka, Pulsar, or similar)
  • Familiarity with graph data structures and algorithms
  • Experience working with databases (MongoDB or similar)
  • Solid understanding of distributed systems concepts and trade-offs
  • Proven experience owning systems end-to-end
  • Experience with Git and collaborative development workflows
  • Ability to make independent technical decisions and clearly communicate trade-offs
  • Comfortable working in a small, high-ownership team environment

Compensation & Benefits

  • Private health and dental coverage
  • 25 days holiday
  • Enhanced parental leave
  • High-quality hardware
  • Additional perks (workspace benefits, team events, and more)