Back-end Engineer

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. For 90 years we have shaped brighter futures through education, arts, culture, language, and creativity.

Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries.

We connect. We inspire.

• Design, develop, test, and document backend systems using agreed specifications, standards, and tools.
• Collaborate with product managers and stakeholders to plan and deliver backend engineering stories aligned with project milestones and quality standards.
• Contribute to the technical design and implementation of scalable, reliable backend solutions that support global product and service delivery.
• Promote an inclusive team culture through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement.
• Stay informed on emerging technologies and recommend their adoption where beneficial.
• Engage with stakeholders and business partners to understand backend engineering needs and deliver tailored technical solutions.
• Ensure backend systems comply with industry standards, data privacy regulations, and security protocols.
• Implement robust monitoring and logging to proactively detect and address potential security or compliance issues.
Work with data and business analysts to gather requirements and develop data-driven backend optimisations that enhance system performance and value.

• Technical Expertise: Solid understanding of backend technologies, frameworks, and system architectures to build scalable and secure solutions.
• Problem Solving & Critical Thinking: Ability to analyse complex issues, identify patterns, and develop innovative, practical solutions.
Adaptability: Comfortable working in dynamic, fast-paced environments with shifting priorities and evolving requirements.

• Experience in Backend engineering, involved in implementing scalable and high-performance systems.
• Strong experience in PHP development with a focus on the Symfony framework and knowledge of OOPS concepts
• Proficiency in PostgreSQL – writing efficient queries, stored procedures, and performance optimization
• Exposure to HubSpot or Similar APIs and integration Project
• Exposure to cloud services (such as AWS, Azure), and microservices architecture.
• Solid knowledge of RESTful APIs, caching systems, and any other Backend technologies.
• Experience of unit and integration testing.
• Knowledge of resource allocation and management.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Experience of agile development (Scrum/Kanban), software patterns, test and behaviour driven development, ITIL and version control
• Experience in supporting and maintaining middleware applications, including issue investigation and resolution
Familiarity with asynchronous data processing

• Knowledge of containerization and orchestration platforms (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes) and related technologies.
• Knowledge of with end-to-end testing (e.g., Cypress or Playwright)
• Understanding of DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and infrastructure-as-code tools (e.g., Jenkins, Terraform).
• Exposure to event-driven architecture and stream processing frameworks (e.g., Kafka, Apache Flink).
Understanding of security best practices, authentication, and authorisation protocols (e.g., OAuth, JWT).

Minimum

• Continuous learning through online courses, workshops, and industry conferences to stay updated with emerging technologies and best practices in Backend development.
Strong foundation in computer science fundamentals, including algorithms, data structures, and software design principles.

Desirable

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community as we believe that a diverse workforce gives added depth to our work. The British Council is a Disability Confident Employer. The Disability Confident scheme helps challenge attitudes, increase understanding of disability and ensure staff are drawn from the widest possible pool of talent. We guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the minimum role requirements. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

Safeguarding Statement

The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with. We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989. Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you experience any difficulties with submitting your application, please email askhr@britishcouncil.org