> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/2856811-principal-backend-engineer-push](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/2856811-principal-backend-engineer-push). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal Backend Engineer, Push - **Company:** Aave Labs - **Location:** London, UK - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** £70,638.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Java (Programming Language), Audit Trail, C++ (Programming Language), Relational Databases, Digital Assets, PostgreSQL, Enterprise Messaging Systems, Migration Manager, Blockchain, Secure Coding, Data Streaming, System Availability, Backend, Event Driven Architecture, Build Management, Api Design, Golang - **Published:** September 12, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.adzuna.co.uk/jobs/details/5879881029 ## About the Role * 8+ years of backend engineering experience, including senior technical leadership of production systems and teams * Experience designing distributed, event-driven systems that move or account for real money, with a strong understanding of failure modes and operational risk * Experience with regulated financial products and understanding how to balance compliance and regulatory requirements with product features and goals * Strong backend programming skills. Production experience with Rust is highly desirable; deep experience with Go, Java, C++ can substitute * Strong knowledge of API design, PostgreSQL or another relational database, messaging systems, and service-to-service integration patterns * Experience in regulated fintech, payments, banking, digital assets, or another environment requiring auditability, controls, and high availability * Excellent system-design judgement, including migration strategy, build-versus-buy decisions, security boundaries, and the long-term operational cost of architecture choices * A track record of leading engineers through ambiguous, high-impact work while remaining close to implementation and production operations ## Description We're hiring a Principal Backend Engineer to lead the engineering team behind Push, Aave Labs' regulated, non-custodial on-ramp and off-ramp. This is a hands-on technical leadership role spanning the systems that connect banking and open-banking partners, identity and compliance controls, payment processing, blockchain settlement, customer wallets, and the applications through which customers access Push. You'll set the technical direction for a high-stakes financial product where correctness, security, auditability, and operational resilience directly affect customer funds and regulatory obligations. Alongside designing and building critical systems, you'll provide day-to-day leadership to the engineering team, create clarity from product and regulatory requirements, and ensure the team can deliver safely at pace. How you can make an impact: * Own the technical direction and architecture for Push across backend services, external integrations, data flows, and onchain settlement * Translate product, regulatory, and operational requirements into a clear engineering roadmap, well-scoped projects, and sound technical decisions * Design and build resilient services for on-ramp and off-ramp transaction lifecycles, including payment initiation, status tracking, settlement, exception handling, and customer notifications * Lead integrations with open-banking, payments, identity, compliance, and blockchain infrastructure providers * Define secure boundaries between fiat systems, non-custodial wallets, and onchain execution, ensuring sensitive data, permissions, and signing-related flows are handled appropriately * Set and uphold standards for secure development, architecture review, testing, observability, incident response, deployment, and sustainable on-call ownership * Partner closely with Product, Compliance, Legal, Security, Operations, Finance, and application engineers Remain hands-on in the codebase, particularly for complex architecture, high-risk changes, and critical production issues ## Related Videos - [API Design - Getting Started](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/33-api-design-getting-started) - [Inside Bitpanda's Tech Stack: Scaling a European Fintech Leader - Markus Dorner](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1979-inside-bitpanda-s-tech-stack-scaling-a-european-fintech-leader-markus-dorner) - [Developing the Backend with Stefan Lingler, CTO at Shpock](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100360-developing-the-backend-with-stefan-lingler-cto-at-shpock) - [Go with the Flow: Stop the Leaks Before Your Memory's a Waterfall!](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100073-go-with-the-flow-stop-the-leaks-before-your-memory-s-a-waterfall) - [Rest API Antipatterns](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100208-rest-api-antipatterns) - [Throwing off the burdens of scale in engineering](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/608-throwing-off-the-burdens-of-scale-in-engineering) ## Related Articles - [Navigating the AI Shift](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/629-navigating-the-ai-shift) - [How We Built a Worry-Free System That Runs for 10+ Years – And What We’d Do Again](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/751-how-we-built-a-worry-free-system-that-runs-for-10-years-and-what-we-d-do-again) - [The 7 Most Popular Backend Frameworks for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/403-the-7-most-popular-backend-frameworks-for-developers) - [The Best X (Twitter) Accounts for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/294-the-best-x-twitter-accounts-for-developers) - [Highest Paying Tech Companies for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/220-highest-paying-tech-companies-for-developers) - [What’s the Difference Between Frontend and Backend Development?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/240-what-s-the-difference-between-frontend-and-backend-development)