Senior Back End Developer

• Location: Newcastle upon Tyne / Hybrid Working
• Type: Full Time 
• Note: We are seeking candidates based in the North East and are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
• To apply, please send your CV to careers@zerolight.com

We are looking for a high calibre Senior Back End Developer who thrives on technical ownership and architectural challenges. This role requires a unique blend of product and project thinking. You will be equally comfortable architecting systems for our core platform as you are pivoting to deliver bespoke technical solutions for our global automotive partners.

• You have previously held sole or primary responsibility for the technical delivery of at least one large and complex project.
• You don’t just fix bugs; you identify root causes and design elegant, long-term solutions for complex data and rendering pipelines.
• You enjoy the variety of moving between long-term product roadmaps and high-velocity client-facing work.

• Lead the delivery of major back-end workstreams, ensuring code quality, security, and performance.
• Design and maintain high availability and self-healing, fault-tolerant systems to support global launches.
• While back-end focused, you will utilise your fullstack web development skills to ensure seamless integration and occasionally lead end-to-end feature development.
• Build and optimise distributed systems capable of handling massive concurrent users across different global regions.

We are looking for a versatile engineer with a deep knowledge base in:

• Python: Deep expertise in building scalable services.
• Node.js: Proficiency in asynchronous programming and API development.
• MongoDB: Strong experience in No-SQL schema design and performance tuning.
• Linux: Comfort working within and optimizing Linux-based environments.
• Kubernetes & Docker: Expert-level containerization and orchestration for cloud-native applications.

• 5–10 years of professional experience in software engineering.
• A solid understanding of distributed systems and the challenges of data consistency and latency.
• Proven experience in building systems that can automatically recover from failure.
• Experience working with AWS or similar cloud providers.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical decisions to non-technical stakeholders or clients.

At ZeroLight, we value innovation and creativity, shaping our lifestyle and professional benefits around a supportive, collaborative, and rewarding environment.

Reward & Contribution:

• Hybrid working
• Annual salary review process
• Contributory Pension Scheme 
• Life Assurance program
• Provision of all the tools you need to perform your best work 
• Fully stocked kitchen with free drinks, crisps, fruit, yoghurts, biscuits, chocolate bars, porridge and granola. 

Development & Progression:

• A comprehensive onboarding process to ensure you hit the ground running
• Quarterly Collaboration Weeks where teams gather to share knowledge and best practices
• One to one coaching sessions with qualified coaches
• Company-wide personal development sessions on topics such as psychological safety and overcoming imposter syndrome
• Mentorship from a team of seasoned professionals across different disciplines
• Travel & conference opportunities 

Time:

• Generous holiday allowance: 25 days holiday, which rises to 30 days based on length of service
• Additional free holidays over the Christmas period when the studio closes.
• All standard bank holidays 
• Flexible working hours with start and finish times between 8am - 10am / 4pm - 6pm

Wellbeing & Culture

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) access for mental health and wellbeing support including access to therapy sessions
• Free fruit and healthy snacks, running and sports clubs, Cycle to Work Scheme, and showers in the studio
• Quarterly social gatherings, including our famous Christmas Party
• Enjoy a creative, inclusive, and collaborative culture