Lead Backend Engineer

Lead Backend Engineer — Climate Tech Nonprofit

£90-£95k per year

London Hybrid — 2 days in London / 3 remote

Python · FastAPI · PostgreSQL · GCP · Docker · Terraform

Climate impact · Energy-system modelling · Backed by major philanthropic funders

I’m working with a climate-tech nonprofit building software that helps countries plan cleaner, more reliable electricity systems.

This isn’t a standard CRUD backend role.

The team is building Scenario Builder — a platform used for energy-system modelling, grid planning, decarbonisation analysis and long-term infrastructure decisions.

The engineering problems are genuinely interesting: data-heavy backend systems, performance challenges, APIs, infrastructure, modelling workflows and computational problems that have real-world climate impact.

They’re now looking for a Lead Backend Engineer who can stay hands-on with Python while managing a small team of 3–5 engineers.

This is not a big-company Backend Lead IC role. It’s more of a hands-on backend squad lead position where you’ll set technical direction, improve backend systems, coach engineers and help scale the platform behind Scenario Builder.

Could be a strong fit if you:

• 7+ years of experience in back-end software development

• Have strong Python backend experience

• Have worked with FastAPI, Django or Flask

• Are comfortable with PostgreSQL, APIs, cloud infrastructure and CI/CD

• Have some technical leadership or line-management experience

• Enjoy mentoring engineers while still staying close to the code

• Care about climate, energy systems or software with real-world impact

• Can balance strong engineering standards with pragmatic delivery

This is a good opportunity for someone who wants more ownership, a stronger leadership path and engineering work that matters beyond commercial optimisation.

Apply to learn more.