Principal Backend Engineer

About the role

SchemeServe is looking for an exceptional Principal Backend Engineer to help shape the technical direction and engineering principles of their insurance software platform. This role focuses on influencing and mentoring the engineering team to improve architectural decision-making and software quality rather than individual feature delivery. You will partner with the CTO to balance long-term platform evolution with pragmatic business needs.

Responsibilities

• Shape backend engineering strategy, architecture and technical direction.
• Coach and mentor engineers to develop their technical skills and judgement.
• Review significant designs and architectural decisions to challenge unnecessary complexity.
• Champion security, quality, testing, observability, resilience and performance.
• Identify technical risks and help teams navigate them.
• Evaluate technologies and patterns based on their value to the business.
• Balance long-term engineering quality with short-term business needs.

Required skills

• C#
• .NET
• Software architecture
• Distributed systems
• API design
• Azure
• Database design
• Technical leadership
• Mentoring

Nice to have

• Monolithic application modernisation
• TypeScript
• Cloudflare
• SaaS
• Financial services
• Observability
• Platform engineering
• SRE
• AI-assisted development

Benefits

• Flexible working
• Professional development support
• Paid charity days
• Company retreats

About the Company

SchemeServe provides cloud-based insurance software for MGAs, brokers and insurers. Founded in 2000, the company has grown without outside investment and maintains a focus on core values, self-development and a collaborative, remote-first culture.