Senior Backend Engineer - Storyfinding Team
Core
Designing, building, and operating backend systems and data pipelines that power investigative journalism and turn bespoke investigations into reusable data products for the Financial Times newsroom.
Role type
Senior Backend Engineer (Data Engineering focus)
Builds
Scalable backend services, APIs, and data pipelines for investigative reporting
Domain
Media & News / Data Engineering
Deliverable
production ML models | product features | dashboards & analysis
Required skills
Python, distributed systems design, data pipeline orchestration (Apache Airflow), cloud infrastructure (AWS), SQL, CI/CD practices
Preferred skills
Data Science background, experience with BigQuery/Redshift/PostgreSQL/SingleStore/MongoDB, building internal tools, interest in AI/Agentic AI
Technologies
Python, SQL, AWS, Apache Airflow, AWS ECS, BigQuery, Redshift, PostgreSQL, SingleStore, MongoDB, GitHub, CircleCI, Streamlit
Responsibilities
Design and maintain scalable backend services and APIs; build and maintain data pipelines for complex datasets; collaborate with journalists to translate editorial questions into data solutions; mentor junior engineers; propose ideas for AI integration in the newsroom
Seniority
Senior, hands-on IC with mentorship duties