Lead Backend Engineer (Java, Python & AWS)

Long-term B2B Contract | Remote within EU
Role Overview
We are looking for an experienced Java Tech Lead / Lead Backend Engineer who combines strong hands-on backend engineering with technical leadership and architectural ownership.
You will work on cloud-native, distributed systems, taking ownership of complex technical problems from design through implementation and production. This is a hands-on engineering role: you will actively develop software while helping shape architecture, engineering standards and technical direction across the team.
The environment is best suited to someone who enjoys solving difficult backend and platform problems, working across team boundaries, mentoring other engineers and taking responsibility for the long-term quality, scalability and reliability of the systems they build.
Key Responsibilities:
Design, develop and evolve backend services using Java and modern JVM technologies
Remain hands-on with implementation, testing, debugging and production problem-solving
Own technical design and architecture decisions for complex backend and distributed systems
Design scalable microservices, APIs and event-driven architectures
Contribute to services, automation or data workflows using Python
Build and operate applications in AWS and Kubernetes-based environments
Take ownership of systems throughout their lifecycle, from initial design through production operation
Identify performance, scalability, reliability and maintainability improvements
Establish strong engineering practices around automated testing, integration testing and code quality
Review code and technical designs and provide clear technical guidance to other engineers
Mentor engineers and help raise engineering standards across the team
Collaborate closely with Product, Platform and other engineering teams
Communicate technical decisions, trade-offs and risks clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders
Contribute to CI/CD, observability and production-readiness practices
Requirements:
5+ years of professional software engineering experience
Excellent, recent hands-on Java development experience
Strong experience with Spring / Spring Boot
Professional production experience with Python
Strong experience designing microservices and distributed systems
Experience with event-driven architectures and technologies such as Kafka
Strong commercial experience with AWS
Hands-on experience with Kubernetes and Docker
Experience designing and integrating REST APIs
Strong knowledge of relational databases and SQL
Experience with CI/CD and modern software delivery practices
Strong automated testing practices, including unit and integration testing
Proven experience making meaningful architecture and system-design decisions
Experience mentoring engineers, conducting code/design reviews or acting as a technical lead
Experience owning complex features or services end-to-end, including their operation in production
Strong communication skills and confidence working across teams and with stakeholders
Fluent English (C1+)
Nice to have:
Experience with Azure alongside AWS
Experience building or integrating AI-enabled products
Knowledge of analytics, data-processing or event-driven systems
Experience working in an international, distributed engineering environment
Previous experience supporting several engineering teams or product areas
What's on Offer:
Long-term B2B engagement
Hands-on role with genuine influence over technical direction
Opportunity to work on AI-powered systems used internationally
Collaboration with experienced, multidisciplinary engineering teams
More than 20 days of paid time off
Apple equipment
Training and professional-development budget
Diversity and Inclusion Commitment
We are dedicated to creating and sustaining an inclusive, respectful workplace for all -regardless of gender, ethnicity, or background. We actively encourage applicants from all identities and experience levels to apply and bring your authentic self to our fast-paced, supportive team.

Work arrangement
No