Lead Developer - Consumer API Platform

About the role

An experienced Principal Developer / Lead Backend API Developer is sought to lead the design, development and ongoing evolution of a consumer API platform supporting web applications, portals and mobile apps in a highly governed environment. The role provides hands-on technical leadership, sets engineering standards and works with frontend, platform engineering, integration and enterprise platform teams. A major focus is building a new middleware platform between backend systems, MuleSoft services and customer-facing portals, and helping establish the backend team and its practices. The position is advertised as a 12-month contract, possibly extended, based in Parkes, Australia, with work rights restricted to Australian citizens and the ability to obtain an NV1 security clearance.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the establishment of the new middleware/backend development team.
• Provide technical leadership and set engineering standards and practices.
• Mentor and guide a small team of developers.
• Lead troubleshooting, debugging and production issue resolution.
• Drive high-quality software engineering outcomes.
• Support portal and mobile application teams through shared middleware services.

Required profile

• Experience leading design and delivery of enterprise-scale backend services, API platforms and integrations.
• Ability to obtain an NV1 security clearance; must be an Australian citizen.

Required skills

• Strong expertise in Golang, GraphQL, API architecture, authentication and authorisation patterns and service-to-service communication.
• Cloud-native delivery and operations with Kubernetes and AWS (including EKS).
• Setting engineering standards, code reviews, automated testing and delivery governance.
• Use of AI-assisted software engineering tools with strong oversight.
• Production support and debugging of complex systems.
• Integration experience with enterprise platforms such as Salesforce and MuleSoft (or equivalent).

Applications are made through the advert or by sending an updated resume to the recruiter, with reference to job number 27209; late applications after 12 noon on 30 October may not be considered. The employer may use AI-assisted screening.