Backend Systems Engineer

Backend Systems Engineer
UK/EU - Fully Remote – Outside IR35
Flexi contract in blocks – project end date March 2026

Who are we?
We're a leading software development company focused on building the world's Elastic Workforce. We’re reshaping how work is done by challenging the traditional notion that a local team equals the best team. Through our platform and on-demand Elastic Teams™, we help businesses deliver technical projects with increased efficiency and innovation.

What's in it for you?
Our mission is to create freelance roles with more benefits than permanent positions.
Want to know more? Read about us here

About this role
As a Back-end Systems Engineer, you’ll be responsible for devising and implementing solutions and systems that run both in Google Cloud and on machines locally or at the customer edge. You’ll collaborate with fellow engineers to align on system boundaries, interfaces, deployment, and change methodologies.

Your Responsibilities
• Design and implement solutions for systems running both in the cloud and on local machines.
• Collaborate with engineers to define system boundaries and interfaces, ensuring proper integration.
• Implement and maintain microservices architectures and RESTful APIs.
• Apply server-side best practices using Java or Kotlin, including object-oriented and functional programming techniques.
• Engineer containerized solutions using Docker and Kubernetes in both local and cloud environments.
• Manage and implement GCP services, such as Folders, Projects, IAM, VPCs, Storage, Cloud SQL, Cloud Spanner, and GKE.
• Implement cryptographic and security protocols, ensuring data encryption, session management, and authentication solutions are in place.
• Work closely with Senior Systems Security Engineers to apply security recommendations to your work.

About You
We’re looking for skilled back-end engineers who thrive in a collaborative environment. You’ll be a proactive communicator and detail-oriented in your approach to design, implementation, and deployment. We’re seeking professionals who excel both in high-level architecture and day-to-day coding.

• Experience with software engineering source-code management using Git, GitHub, and GitLab, and familiar with branching, tagging, and integration strategies like Git-flow and Trunk-based Development.
• Strong expertise in server-side languages, particularly Java or Kotlin, with a deep understanding of object-oriented and functional programming, domain-driven design, and microservices.
• Proficient in containerization and orchestration strategies using Docker and Kubernetes, both locally and in the cloud.
• Hands-on experience with GCP services and organizational structures (Folders, Projects, IAM, VPCs, Cloud Storage, Cloud SQL, Cloud Spanner, GKE).
• Knowledge and practical application of cryptographic and security protocols (encryption, TLS, HSTS, certificates, authentication, and authorization).
• Ability to implement security recommendations from Senior Systems Security Engineers.

It would be beneficial if you also have experience with:
• Knowledge of C or Rust for high-performance coding in resource-constrained environments, though this is unlikely to be a frequent requirement.
• Experience with Python, particularly for frameworks or content management systems.

About us
Distributed is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We value diversity and are committed to providing an inclusive environment for all employees and contractors. We ensure no less favourable treatment based on any protected characteristics under the UK Equality Act 2010 or equivalent local legislation.

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