Title: Lead Backend Engineer (Nodejs) Salary: Up to £90,000 D.O.E Location: Belfast (2 days on site) Are you a Lead Engineer ready to take on more technical leadership and help shape the future of AI-driven software? if so iO Associates is exclusively working with a rapidly scaling AI consultancy headquartered in Belfast that's building secure, high-performance solutions for clients across government, defence, and industry. They're at the forefront of AI innovation, developing platforms that bring trusted, explainable AI into real-world, mission-critical environments. They're now looking for a Lead Backend Engineer to head up a small, high-performing team, setting standards, driving design decisions, and mentoring others, while staying hands-on with development. What You'll Be Doing Lead and mentor a talented backend team, setting coding and design standards. Develop and maintain scalable backend services and APIs in Node or Python. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate complex requirements into technical solutions. Ensure code quality, reliability, and performance across all services. Shape architecture decisions and influence the roadmap for AI-driven products. What You'll Bring 5 years of backend development experience with Node.js or Python. Strong grasp of scalable server-side architecture and cloud-native design. Proven ability to mentor engineers and lead technical delivery. Familiarity with AI technologies or interest in working within the AI/ML space. Excellent communication skills and a collaborative mindset. Must be eligible for SC Clearance. Our client has a 2 stage interview process, if you're interested in this role or know anyone who would be, then please apply with an updated CV and reach out to a. methula@io associates.co. uk