Engineering Lead

The RoleWe’re looking for a hands-on Engineering Lead who combines technical depth with product intuition. You’ll guide a team of junior engineers (currently India-based), set the standard for modern software practices, and deliver robust tools that enable brokers to submit deals, SMEs to provide data, underwriters to assess risk, and internal teams to manage loans across their lifecycle. You’ll also drive adoption of automation and AI where it meaningfully enhances speed, accuracy, or user experience.You Will ● Set technical direction and long-term vision for the platform, aligning engineering efforts with business objectives ● Lead design and development of front-end and back-end features across the full SME lending platform, including onboarding, underwriting, funding, and loan servicing modules ● Work closely with product leadership to shape features, scope timelines, and deliver iteratively ● Mentor junior developers, review code, and enforce high standards across the team ● Drive mobile-friendly UI development using React (or similar frameworks) ● Own integration of external APIs for Open Banking, KYC/KYB, credit scoring, and more ● Establish CI/CD pipelines, testing frameworks, and modern release practices ● Implement robust monitoring, alerting, and incident response processes to maintain system reliability ● Push innovation—whether it’s using AI tools to accelerate dev cycles or improving data pipelines for underwriters ● Act as technical point of contact for both Albatross and Recognise Bank, collaborating across teamsYou Should Have ● 7–12 years of experience in full-stack or front-end development roles ●Front end experience, especiallyCMS-based websites ● 3+ years leading engineering teams or mentoring junior developers ● Proven ability to uplift inexperienced teams and introduce structured engineering practices from scratch ● Deep familiarity with React and JavaScript/TypeScript (Node.js, Python, or Java on the back-end a plus, but not required) ● A track record of shipping responsive, mobile-first web applications ● Experience designing and working with relational databases (e.g. PostgreSQL, MySQL) and understanding of data modeling for lending workflows. ● Experience integrating third-party APIs (Open Banking, KYC/KYB, Credit Bureaus) ● Solid grasp of Git, CI/CD, DevOps, and testing frameworks ● Familiarity with banking or fintech—especially onboarding flows, CRMs, or SME lending ● Experience building platforms with multiple user types (e.g. brokers, SMEs, underwriters) ● Understanding of secure development practices and sensitivity to data privacy in financial applications ● A strong sense of product—able to work without rigid specs and propose better solutions ●Proven managerial skills and talent developmentBachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience Bonus: Experience leveraging AI/automation tools (e.g. Claude, internal LLMs) to improve development velocity or reduce manual effort.What Success Looks Like ● Junior team becomes high-performing under your leadership ● Front-end and back-end codebases are clean, scalable, and documented ● New features are released regularly without regressions or quality issues ● Product team and stakeholders view you as a proactive problem-solver ● Mobile UI feels seamless; users don’t complain about broken layouts or clunky flows ● You raise the bar for the team across quality, velocity, and technical thoughtfulnessInitial Screening Criteria Essential Experience 1. Years of experience: 7-12 years in software engineering, 3+ years leading a team 2. Frontend skills: Strong React experience with portfolio examples or shipped products 3. Mobile responsiveness: Proven delivery of mobile-friendly apps (ask for visual examples or links) 4. API integrations: Hands-on experience integrating 3rd-party APIs (Open Banking, KYC, etc.) 5. Product types: Has built CRMs, onboarding platforms, dashboards, or lending portals 6. Fintech exposure: Worked at a fintech, neobank, or lending platform (ideally UK-focused) 7. Code leadership: Led code reviews, set architecture, mentored junior devs, owned quality 8. DevOps awareness: Comfortable with CI/CD pipelines, GitHub Actions, version control best practicesNice-to-Have Enhancers 1. SME lending familiarity: Understands workflows like DIP, underwriting, and BDM sales pipelines 2. AI/automation curiosity: Has used GitHub Copilot, custom LLM tools, or similar productivity boosters 3. Multi-role platforms: Designed for multiple users (e.g. broker, SME, underwriter, compliance) 4. Experience with junior teams: Proven ability to coach or uplift less-experienced developers 5. Fintech compliance awareness: Knows basic standards around data privacy, audit trails, or FSCS/AML concerns