Senior/ Lead Python Developer Hybrid, 2 days per week in Leeds We're recruting for a highly skilled Senior Software Engineer with a strong foundation in Python and a passion for leading modern software projects to join our client. This role combines hands-on technical development with leadership responsibilities, guiding teams, shaping technical direction, and delivering robust, scalable solutions across complex environments. What You'll Do Take ownership of the design, build, and delivery of sophisticated back-end systems using Python and frameworks such as FastAPI, Django, or Flask. Apply solid software engineering principles, from clean code and error handling to data modelling and object-oriented design. Collaborate closely with front-end teams working with React, Vue.js, or vanilla JS, ensuring smooth integration between client and server layers. Design and optimise relational database schemas, write efficient SQL, and maintain data integrity across systems. Build and manage cloud-native applications using AWS services, employing Terraform for provisioning and automation. Contribute to DevOps practices, including Docker containerisation and serverless deployments. Provide technical leadership: support code reviews, maintain development standards, and mentor junior engineers. Implement automated testing strategies, including unit and API test coverage, to maintain high-quality releases. What You'll Bring 5 years of experience delivering production-grade software in Python. A strong understanding of modern web frameworks, database design, and API development. Practical experience with cloud infrastructure (AWS preferred) and infrastructure as code tools such as Terraform. Hands-on experience with containerisation and microservices. Familiarity with continuous integration and delivery pipelines and Agile delivery environments. Ability to analyse complex technical problems, identify root causes, and propose innovative solutions. Excellent communication skills and a collaborative mindset, with a track record of guiding others and influencing technical decisions. Desirable Extras Experience working with ORM frameworks (e.g., SQLAlchemy) and templating engines. Deep knowledge of AWS best practices and scalable system design. Awareness of software architecture patterns and principles for maintainable systems. Background in Agile coaching or process improvement initiatives. You'll be part of a forward-thinking engineering team that values innovation, autonomy, and technical excellence. This is an opportunity to work on impactful projects, shape architectural decisions, and help define the future of scalable, cloud-first applications.