Lead Backend Engineer - Python

Kingfisher Plc; London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading home improvement group is seeking a Lead Platform Engineer focusing on backend Python to guide platform development for data science applications. You will collaborate across teams and provide technical leadership to enhance product offerings. Ideal candidates possess strong Django experience and leadership skills. The role offers competitive benefits and is based in London.

Benefits

Private Health Care with AXA

Kingfisher Pension Scheme

25 Days' Holiday

20% Staff Discount

Competitive bonus scheme

Kingfisher Share Save

Qualifications

• Excellent knowledge and experience in Django and Python backend.
• Proven experience delivering high-quality software products and productionisation.
• Strong management and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Tech and Data teams to develop engineering platforms.
• Support teams in translating between business and data.
• Provide technical leadership and support for junior team members.

Skills

Django and Python expertise

Cloud service development

Management and leadership skills

Tools

GCP

Job description

Kingfisher is a leading home improvement group with brands including B&Q, Screwfix, Brico Depot, Castorama and Koctas. We are committed to equality and inclusion for colleagues and applicants across age, gender, marital status, colour, ethnicity or national origin, culture, religious or philosophical belief, political opinion, disability, gender identity or gender expression or sexual orientation. We offer flexible and agile working, with a blend of home and office locations in London, Southampton and Yeovil. We welcome conversations about how we can best support you.

We are looking for a Lead Platform Engineer (backend Python focus) to join our Group Data Science function, to lead and trailblaze the development and building of software platforms. Working across our retail banners and group functions, you will build platform roadmaps that minimise time to value, maximise long term effectiveness and help us achieve our commercial goals.

Overview

We’re Kingfisher, a team of over 74,000 people bringing Kingfisher and its brands to life. We aim to become the leading home improvement company and grow the largest community of home improvers in the world. You will contribute to this through building and guiding platform development that supports data science across our products and processes.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Tech, Product and Data teams to develop engineering platforms that allow us to apply and embed data science directly in our products and processes.
• Support diverse teams in translating between business and data in the design of project work, and in the synthesis and communication of recommendations and results.
• Support the Data Science Leadership Team in developing a “data culture” and demonstrating the value of data in decision-making.
• Provide technical leadership and support for junior members of the team.

Qualifications

• Excellent knowledge and experience in Django and Python backend.
• Excellent understanding of computer science fundamentals and machine learning.
• Proven experience delivering high-quality software products and productionisation.
• Proven experience developing cloud-based services using one or more cloud providers (preferably GCP).
• Strong management and leadership skills, including the ability to build, organise, motivate, mentor and manage a Platform Engineering team that supports diverse initiatives.
• Sensitivity and excellent influencing skills to work with stakeholders across functions and levels of seniority.

Be Values

Be Customer Focused – constantly improving our customers’ experience. We listen to our customers and colleagues. We innovate products and experiences to stay ahead.

Be Human – leading with purpose, humanity and care. We do the right thing and invest in our people and build great teams.

Be Curious – thrive on learning, thinking beyond the obvious. We focus externally, globally and build the long term. We experiment and share our learnings.

Be Agile – building trust and empowering people to work with agility. We act with pace, not perfection, 80/20. We take risks, fail fast and adapt quickly.

Be Inclusive – inspiring diverse teams to achieve together. We celebrate difference as a strength and collaborate, breaking down silos.

Be Accountable – owning the plan, delivering results and growth. We focus on performance outcomes and prioritise and simplify for others.

We value the perspectives that new team members bring and encourage applicants who feel they meet 100% of the requirements to apply.

What we offer

• Private Health Care: Up to family level cover with AXA. Join within three months of starting or at annual renewal in April. Benefits may be subject to taxation.
• Kingfisher Pension Scheme: Immediate eligibility through auto-enrolment. Contribute 8% to receive up to 14% from the Company.
• 25 Days' Holiday: 25 days per annum plus bank holidays, pro-rated for part-time colleagues.
• Staff Discount: 20% discount at B&Q and Screwfix, eligible after 3 months’ service.
• Kingfisher Share Incentive Plan (SIP): Tax-efficient share ownership; save £10–£150 per month. Eligible after 3 months’ service.
• Life Assurance: x4 salary if active in the plan; otherwise x1 salary with the retirement account value.
• Bonus: Competitive bonus scheme aligned to the role.
• Kingfisher Share Save: Save to buy shares at the end of a 3 or 5 year period. Offered annually; three months service required at invitation date.

Our Behaviours

At Kingfisher, we are united by our 6 core behaviours:

• Constantly improving our customer experience
• Acting with humanity and care
• Be curious
• Thriving on learning, thinking beyond the obvious
• Be inclusive
• Acting inclusively in diverse teams to achieve together
• Be agile
• Working with trust, pace and agility
• Be accountable
• Championing the plan to deliver results and growth

We encourage you to apply even if you do not feel you meet 100% of the requirements. We offer an inclusive environment that supports new ideas and growth, with opportunities to stretch your career.

Interested? Apply now to Power the Possible.

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