Lead Full Stack Software Engineer
Location: Hertfordshire (Hybrid)
Salary: £100,000 + bonus + benefits
We’re partnering with a growing, engineering-led company building real-world monitoring and data systems used across critical infrastructure environments.
This is a rare opportunity to step into a true “owner” role, taking over responsibility for a complex, live platform where you’ll shape architecture, lead technical direction, and work closely with senior leadership as the business scales.
If you’re looking to move beyond feature delivery and API building, into end-to-end system ownership, long-term technical decision-making, and high-impact work, this is that step.
About the Company
* Established, profitable UK business entering a high-growth phase
* Engineering-led, with a strong focus on building robust, real-world systems
* Small, highly technical team with significant autonomy and influence
* No external investor pressure → stable, long-term environment
The Role
This is not a typical “senior developer” position. You’ll be stepping into a lead / successor role, taking responsibility for a core platform currently owned by a founding technologist.
You’ll:
* Own the full software lifecycle; design, build, deployment, and ongoing operation
* Lead and guide a small team of developers and support engineers
* Drive stability, security, and performance of a live production system
* Work on complex, data-heavy systems with real-time inputs and high availability requirements
* Define technical direction and roadmap in collaboration with leadership
This is a role for someone who wants to run systems, not just build features.
Tech Stack (High-Level)
* Backend: Java / enterprise middleware environment
* Infrastructure: Linux-based, privately hosted systems
* Integration: APIs, messaging (e.g. MQTT), distributed systems
* Data: High-volume, real-time data processing and storage
The platform operates across multiple layers. From data ingestion and processing through to end-user applications, requiring strong system-level thinking.
Requirements
Must-have:
* Strong experience in Java or similar backend systems
* Proven track record across the full software/system lifecycle
* Experience building and running high-availability, production systems
* Strong understanding of databases, system performance, and architecture
Nice-to-have:
* Experience with messaging systems (e.g. MQTT) or distributed systems
* Exposure to containerisation / cloud / infrastructure
* Experience mentoring or leading developers
What You’ll Get
* Salary: £100,000
* Bonus: Performance-related
* Working setup: Hybrid (Hertfordshire-based office)
* Benefits: Pension, private healthcare, additional perks
More importantly:
* A genuine “step up” into ownership
* Direct influence on technical and business direction
* The chance to work on real-world systems with tangible impact
* A stable environment with long-term growth potential
If you’re looking for a role where you can take real ownership of a complex system and grow into a strategic technical leader, apply directly or get in touch for a confidential discussion.