Senior Backend Engineer | Defense-tech Startup

GT was founded in 2019 by a former Apple, Nest, and Google executive. GT’s mission is to connect the world’s best talent with product careers offered by high-growth companies in the UK, USA, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands.

On behalf of our partner in the defence-tech domain, GT is looking for a Senior Backend Engineer interested in AI, ML and aerospace.

About the Client:

Our client is a cutting-edge Aerospace and Defense company committed to delivering innovative, secure, and compliant solutions for our customers. They specialize in mission-critical technology services for government and private sector customers, ensuring excellence in aerospace systems design, performance, and compliance.

About the Project & the Role:

This team is building secure, cloud-native infrastructure that powers mission-critical aerospace and defense systems for government and private sector clients. The backend systems they develop must meet the highest standards of reliability, performance, and compliance — supporting everything from real-time data processing to ML-integrated features used in the field.

They are now looking for a skilled and mission-driven Senior Backend Engineer to join the product engineering team. In this role, you’ll take ownership of designing, building, and scaling backend services that are both secure and high-performance. You’ll work across cloud infrastructure, data systems, and ML integration to support modern defense and aerospace applications where resilience and precision are non-negotiable.

Responsibilities:

• Architect Secure Systems: Design, build, and maintain secure backend services and APIs using Python.

• Design Scalable Infrastructure: Define system architecture with a focus on reliability, fault tolerance, and long-term scalability.

• Data Modeling: Create and manage performant, auditable database schemas in Postgres.

• Support ML Integration: Collaborate with the AI Architect to support data pipelines and deploy ML-powered features; understand model serving and inference integration.

• Cloud & DevOps: Deploy cloud-native services using GCP (or AWS/Azure), Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipelines.

• Event-Driven Workflows: Build reactive systems using Kafka, Redis Pub/Sub, or similar tools.

• Security-First Engineering: Adhere to security and compliance standards (DoD, FedRAMP, NIST); implement authentication, encryption, and audit controls.

• Cross-Functional Work: Partner with product managers, QA, and front-end teams to deliver end-to-end features.

• Code Quality: Lead and participate in peer reviews to uphold code reliability, clarity, and maintainability.

• Documentation: Produce high-quality documentation for APIs, system architecture, and backend workflows.

Essential knowledge, skills & experience:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Mathematics, or a related technical discipline.

• 5–8+ years of backend engineering experience, ideally in regulated or high-availability environments (e.g., defense, aerospace, finance, or healthcare).

• Proficiency in Python for backend development and API design.

• Strong mathematical foundation (e.g., applied math, probability, data modeling).

• Familiarity with machine learning processes — understands common model types, inference workflows, and how to interface with ML systems.

• Hands-on experience with Postgres and scalable data models.

• Proficiency in Kubernetes, Docker, and CI/CD pipelines.

• Experience with cloud platforms, ideally GCP (AWS or Azure also acceptable).

• Working knowledge of event-driven systems (Kafka, Redis, or equivalents).

• Solid understanding of secure software development, encryption, and authentication standards.

• Strong communication and collaboration skills — comfortable working cross-functionally and mentoring junior engineers.

Interview Steps:

1. GT interview with Recruiter

2. Technical interview

3. Final interview

4. Security Check

We go beyond usual perks… By working with us, you will get:

• Health insurance.

• Psychotherapy coverage.

• Sport coverage.

• Learning budget.

• Paid vacations

• Paid sick leaves.

• All public holidays are paid days off.

GT working model:

You will work directly with a client through our Extended Team model. We try to do things differently and put our efforts into integrating you as deeply as possible into the client’s team. You work with the same tools and technologies as they do and are managed directly by the client without any intermediary in between. We help you build relationships and create an environment where you genuinely feel like a member of the client’s team. We also encourage trips to a client and join teambuilding and after-work activities. Our Extended Team model is focused on long-term projects that last over several years.