Lead Backend Engineer (Payments Team)

Lead Backend Engineer (Payments Team)
About InvestEngine
InvestEngine is a fast-growing fintech based in London, on a mission to make ETF investing simple and accessible. Over 150,000 clients have trusted us with more than £3 billion in assets — and we're just getting started.
About the Role
We're looking for a Lead Backend Engineer to join and lead our Payments Team.
This is a hands-on leadership role combining backend engineering, technical ownership, and team leadership. The Payments Team owns one of the most business-critical domains at InvestEngine, responsible for payment flows, external provider integrations, transaction reliability, and operational efficiency.
The team is entering an exciting stage where we are looking for a strong technical leader who can help simplify complex systems, improve reliability, drive architectural improvements, and scale both the platform and the team.
What You'll Do
- Design, develop, and maintain backend services in Python 3.11 using Django / DRF
- Lead technical initiatives across payments infrastructure and integrations
- Drive improvements in system reliability, observability, and operational excellence
- Work closely with Product, Operations, Compliance, and external partners
- Investigate production issues and identify root causes rather than temporary fixes
- Improve legacy systems and reduce technical debt
- Lead architectural discussions and technical decision-making
- Mentor engineers through code reviews, pairing, and technical guidance
- Take ownership of delivery, planning, and execution of complex projects
- Help grow and develop the engineering team
What We're Looking For
- 5+ years of backend development experience
- Strong Python and Django experience
- Experience leading projects or engineering teams
- Strong understanding of distributed systems, integrations, and system reliability
- Experience working with complex legacy systems and technical debt
- Ability to drive clarity in ambiguous situations
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- Strong ownership mindset and proactive approach to problem-solving
- English (B2 level or higher) and fluent Russian
Nice to Have
- Experience in fintech, payments, banking, or other highly regulated industries
- Experience with AWS, Docker, MySQL, Redis, RabbitMQ, or Kafka
- Experience leading modernization or system migration initiatives
How We Work
We’re a lean, collaborative team where developers help shape architecture, product direction, and engineering culture. You’ll have real impact, autonomy, and the trust to build solutions that scale with the business — without micromanagement or heavy bureaucracy.
What We Offer
- Direct impact — work on business-critical systems and influence core architecture
- Strategic leadership opportunities — grow into a central technical role as we scale
- Modern tech stack — Python 3.11, Django, MySQL, Redis, AWS, GitHub, TeamCity
- Remote-first and flexible — work from anywhere, on your own schedule
- Unlimited vacation — take the time you need, when you need it
- A supportive, experienced team that values quality, learning, and delivering results
Hiring Process
- Intro call with our Talent team
- Technical interview with the Backend team
- Gamified cognitive assessment to understand how you think and problem-solve
- Final conversation with our CTO
Fast and clear process — typically 1–2 weeks from first call to offer.
- Department
- Engineering
- Remote status
- Fully Remote
About InvestEngine
InvestEngine is an award‑winning, industry‑leading investment platform that champions the use of exchange‑traded funds (ETFs).
We are a team of industry experts with a passion for building great investment products. A powerful investment solution, we think everyone could benefit from using ETFs as a part of their financial strategy.