Senior Lead - Staff Software Engineer

ON.com; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - GBP 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A global sportswear company based in London seeks a Staff Software Engineer to lead the development of data streaming within event-driven architectures. This role involves hands-on coding, mentoring engineers, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure effective technical solutions. With 5+ years of experience, the ideal candidate will have a strong focus on Apache Kafka, data governance, and influencing technical direction within the organization. Join a culture centered around growth and innovation while contributing to a sustainable business model.

Benefits

Supportive team-oriented atmosphere

Access to personal self-care for well-being

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience building and operating large scale event-driven systems in production.
• Extensive hands-on experience with Apache Kafka in production.
• Experience leading complex technical initiatives with multiple stakeholders.
• Exceptional communication skills for articulating technical concepts.

Responsibilities

• Drive the development of data streaming across event-based architecture.
• Own technical knowledge and guidance on data streaming standards.
• Write and own production code, ensuring high quality and reliability.
• Mentor engineers on event-driven architecture and data governance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define technical solutions.

Skills

Event-driven architecture

Apache Kafka

Data streaming

Node.js

Technical mentorship

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Our Product R&D business is performing and growing strongly, which is why we are looking for a Staff Software Engineer with a strong focus on event-driven architectures to help scale On’s business to the next level. As a key member of our engineering team, you will play a pivotal role in leading the development of data streaming for product data throughout its lifecycle. In addition to being hands‑on, you will mentor team members, share your knowledge and expertise, and influence the technical direction of the organization. You will be based in London (or within commutable distance) and are willing to be in the office two days per week. You will collaborate closely with teams in Zurich, Berlin, Ho Chi Minh and London, and work with Technology and Product Development departments across On’s global office locations.

Your Mission

• Drive the development of data streaming across our event-based architecture, using technologies such as Kafka and Node.js.
• Own technical knowledge across multiple domains, retaining architectural context while providing guidance on data streaming standards, governance, and best practices across the ensuring effective application of organizational data streaming standards, governance, and best practices within team codebases and projects.
• Be hands‑on by writing and owning production code, setting a high quality bar through thoughtful PR reviews, debugging production issues, and continuously improving reliability, operability, and observability across data streaming pipelines.
• Act as a technical mentor to engineers across multiple teams on event‑driven architecture, streaming patterns and anti‑patterns, schema design and evolution, and data contracts and ownership.
• Influence the technical direction of the organization by collaborating with senior leadership, helping to establish well‑designed and well‑documented architectures, and bringing systems into production.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to define technical solutions for data streaming and data governance, aligning with business goals and stakeholder needs.

Your story

• 5+ years of experience building and operating large scale event‑driven systems in production.
• Extensive hands‑on experience with Apache Kafka in production, including modeling data pipelines and applying streaming patterns and anti‑patterns.
• Experience leading complex technical initiatives, partnering with multiple stakeholders and teams, and providing technical direction to others.
• Experience mentoring and coaching engineers, providing guidance and feedback to support growth and development.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex technical concepts to senior leaders, technical stakeholders, and cross‑functional teams.

Nice to have

• AI and Data engineering fundamentals and exposure to BigQuery.
• Previous experience in manufacturing lifecycle or production of physical goods, and exposure to Computer Vision or an interest in learning.

About the Team

At On, we believe everyone in the world should have access to the best sportswear. For this to happen, we need high performing solutions to ensure that the right product gets to the right customer at the right time, while making the overall process efficient, environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Home to nearly 3000 parks, a population speaking more than 300 languages, and a vibrant art and music scene, London is one of the world’s most loved cities for good reason.

On is a place that is centered around growth and progress. We offer an environment designed to give people the tools to develop holistically – to stay active, to learn, explore and innovate. Our distinctive approach combines a supportive, team‑oriented atmosphere, with access to personal self‑care for both physical and mental well‑being, so each person is led by purpose.

On is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a work environment that is fair and inclusive, where all decisions related to recruitment, advancement, and retention are free of discrimination.