Senior Backend Developer

Are you an experienced backend engineer with a deep background in FinTech, ready to architect a new payments platform from the ground up?

We are representing a well-funded FinTech startup seeking a foundational Lead Backend Engineer. This is a unique greenfield opportunity to be the technical authority, making key architectural decisions that will shape the future of a new, cutting-edge payment aggregator.

You will join a stable, well-capitalised company with a 3-year financial runway and existing international traction, offering the perfect blend of startup agility and long-term security.

About Our Client

Our client is on a mission to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with seamless, secure, and scalable payment solutions. Backed by experienced directors, their vision is to build a high-quality product supported by exceptional customer service, challenging the models built for large corporations.

They are building the nucleus of a product ecosystem that will redefine FinTech for SMEs in the UK and beyond.

What You'll Be Doing

As the Lead Backend Engineer, you will be the cornerstone of a new development team. You will:

• Lead the Architecture: Design and develop the core backend of the payment platform, including the API gateway, transaction management layer, and merchant services.
• Mentor & Guide: Act as a technical mentor to another backend developer, fostering a culture of high-quality engineering and collaborative growth.
• Own Security & Compliance: Take the lead on implementing robust security measures (e.g., AES-256 encryption, OAuth/JWT) and ensuring the platform is compliant with PCI-DSS and GDPR.
• Shape the Stack: Play a key role in making final technology decisions. The preference is for a modern stack utilising Kotlin (Ktor) and/or Node.js.
• Automate & Deploy: Set up and manage the cloud infrastructure (AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure) and CI/CD pipelines to automate builds and deployments.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a technical leader whose experience is rooted in the complexities of FinTech and who has embraced modern technologies.

• You have 6+ years of experience in backend development, with a significant background in the FinTech or financial services sector.
• Your career likely started with a strong foundation in Java, building secure, enterprise-grade financial systems.
• You have since evolved your skills and are now an expert in modern backend technologies, with deep professional experience in Node.js and/or Kotlin.
• You possess deep knowledge of PostgreSQL and modern database design for transactional systems.
• You have proven experience architecting systems on a major cloud platform (AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure) and setting up CI/CD pipelines.
• You are a natural leader, comfortable making key architectural decisions and mentoring other developers.

What's On Offer

• A competitive salary of up to £100,000 per annum.
• The opportunity to be a foundational member of a well-funded startup with a clear 3-year runway.
• A high-impact role with the autonomy to make key technical decisions and shape the company's future.
• A modern office in a prime London location.

My client is an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All applications will be judged on merit and skill, regardless of background.

Ripple Recruitment is acting as an employment agency for this vacancy. Please note that due to the high volume of interest, we can only respond to shortlisted applicants. Thank you for your understanding.