SR2 | Socially Responsible Recruitment | Certified B Corporation™
Principal Product Engineer
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🚀 Principal Backend Engineer | London | Hybrid
We’re working with an exciting high-growth FinTech looking for a Principal Backend Engineer to lead the technical evolution of their backend platform.
This is a deeply technical, hands-on role for someone who enjoys making difficult architectural decisions, setting a high engineering bar and building systems that can scale with confidence.
What you’ll be working with
- TypeScript / Node.js / NestJS
- AWS & Docker
- MySQL / relational databases
- High-volume data processing and distributed workflows
- Typed APIs and integration contracts
- Event-driven architecture and reliable processing
- Observability, resilience and operational excellence
What you’ll be doing
- Own the technical direction and architecture of the backend platform
- Design scalable systems capable of handling millions of records and events
- Establish clear boundaries between application, data and delivery layers
- Build robust, well-typed APIs and processing workflows
- Improve reliability through idempotency, retries, observability and failure isolation
- Lead technical design reviews and raise engineering standards
- Mentor engineers through code reviews and technical pairing
- Drive improvements across scalability, security and maintainability
- Use AI-assisted and agentic engineering tools to improve development, testing and technical workflows
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What we're looking for
- Principal / Staff-level backend engineering experience
- Deep experience with NestJS, Node.js and TypeScript
- Strong AWS and Docker experience
- Experience designing high-scale backend and data systems
- Excellent API and systems architecture skills
- Strong understanding of distributed/event-driven systems
- Experience with relational databases such as MySQL
- Strong understanding of reliability, observability and failure modes
- Ability to influence technical direction without needing formal people management
- Excellent engineering judgement and a pragmatic approach to technical decisions
- An AI-native mindset and interest in using AI to increase engineering leverage
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The opportunity
This isn't a traditional management role. You'll remain highly technical and hands-on, while having significant influence over the architecture, engineering standards and future direction of the platform.
If you're a Principal/Staff Engineer who enjoys solving complex backend problems, scaling systems and shaping technical direction, this could be a great opportunity.
London Hybrid Interested? Drop me a message for more information.
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