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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Lead Backend Engineer - Fletchers AI - **Company:** Fletchers Solicitors - **Location:** Manchester, UK (Remote available) - **Experience:** Expert - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Microsoft Azure, Cloud Computing, Code Review, Data Infrastructure, Data Integration, Disaster Recovery, Python (Programming Language), Natural Language Processing, Software Architecture, Reliability Engineering, Software Engineering, SQL Databases, TypeScript, ReactJS, Large Language Models, Backend, Build Management, Machine Learning Operations, Front End Software Development - **Published:** July 26, 2026 - **Apply:** https://uk.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=847c2f038037bf46 ## About the Role * Strong degree qualification(s) in a STEM subject from a top-tier university * Strong professional experience in software development (ideally as a backend engineer/with Python, but we prioritise general technical ability and leadership over specific skills) * Track record of owning the backend of production systems * Experience defining backend architecture, standards, and setting technical direction * Experience leading development efforts or acting as a technical lead, including reviewing code and mentoring other engineers * Strong interpersonal and communication skills that make you comfortable working side by side with users and customers, including in pre-sale, onboarding, and integration settings * Comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment where requirements may evolve rapidly * Based near London or Manchester (although the role can be primarily remote, we anticipate meeting with the whole team twice/month in Manchester, and a local team two or three times/week in a London office) * Fluency in English, * Start-up experience (building backends and data environments completely from scratch) * Previous experience with Azure (Container Apps, endpoints, and cloud deployment) * Experience working with frontend technologies (TypeScript, React, others) * Prior exposure to NLP, LLMs, and ML tools * Experience in professional services domains ## Description This is the lead backend engineering role, reporting into the Director of AI. Youll own the backend systems, services and infrastructure that enable the development, testing and deployment of our AI tools, and their transformation into marketable products. Alongside hands-on delivery, youll provide technical leadership for the backend team, setting standards, shaping architecture and mentoring other engineers and youll lead on doubling that team in the next year. Its also a forward-deployed role: as well as building, youll work side by side with our internal users and external customer firms to ideate solutions, solve integrations and drive adoption., Engineering delivery, excellence & infrastructure * Design and build the applications and services at the heart of production AI apps * Build the systems that deploy, test, and improve those apps while theyre used at scale * Build efficient and scalable data integration pipelines from a range of sources (legacy legal case management systems, unstructured Word documents, PDF files, SQL DBs, etc.) * Own backend architecture across core projects and lead on infrastructure and architecture design decisions, with a strong understanding of the business problem * Own infrastructure, site reliability, and disaster recovery for our production systems * Work closely with our infra and infosec teams: within their frameworks, advising them and adhering to their requirements, while also constructively challenging and defining our own standards for AI People, Leadership and Collaboration: * Own the software development standards for backend engineering, including how we use AI * Review code, manage, and provide technical guidance and mentorship to other engineers and establish best practices across the team * Grow the engineering team from 10 to 20+, with the right structures and processes in place to ensure technical excellence as we expand * Work side-by-side with internal users and engage directly with external customers, across pre-sale, setup and integrations * Collaborate with and maintain close productive relationships with technical and non-technical teams across multiple projects in parallel (product; data science; infrastructure; frontend, as well as legal; nursing, etc.) ## Related Videos - [Your next 10x engineer isn't in your city. Refactor accordingly.](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100103-your-next-10x-engineer-isn-t-in-your-city-refactor-accordingly) - [Do TypeScript without TypeScript](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/327-do-typescript-without-typescript) - [Watch Tests Go Brrrr! : Getting Started with Cypress in ReactJS](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/282-watch-tests-go-brrrr-getting-started-with-cypress-in-reactjs) - [Developing the Backend with Stefan Lingler, CTO at Shpock](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100360-developing-the-backend-with-stefan-lingler-cto-at-shpock) - [Meet Your New BFF: Backend to Frontend without the Duct Tape](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/682-meet-your-new-bff-backend-to-frontend-without-the-duct-tape) - [Nest.js - TypeScript in the backend can also be clean](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1033-nest-js-typescript-in-the-backend-can-also-be-clean) ## Related Articles - [Fully Remote Software Engineer Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/447-fully-remote-software-engineer-jobs) - [Frontend Developer Salary in The UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/233-frontend-developer-salary-in-the-uk) - [Software Engineer Salary London](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/252-software-engineer-salary-london) - [Best Companies to work for in London: Top 25 Companies in 2023](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/187-best-companies-to-work-for-in-london-top-25-companies-in-2023) - [Find a Developer Job: 12 Best Job Sites For Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/165-find-a-developer-job-12-best-job-sites-for-developers) - [Data Engineer Salary UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/253-data-engineer-salary-uk)