Lead Python Developer

About the Role

Hippo is a rapidly growing digital consultancy passionate about building and delivering transformative digital solutions for a diverse range of Public and Private sector clients. We are recruiting for a Lead Python Developer to join our Hippo Herd. We work at the intersection of strategy, design, and technology to solve complex problems and create lasting value. Our collaborative and agile culture empowers our teams to make a genuine impact.

As a Lead Python Developer
, you will work as part of a multidisciplinary team combining data, design, product, delivery, analysis and engineering to deliver bespoke digital services that make a positive and meaningful impact on organisations and society. You will act as a Lead Consultant
, providing technical expertise in software engineering practices both internally and to our clients. You will lead people and teams, managing projects, driving technical deliverables, maintaining client relationships and passion for developing and upskilling others.

• Act as a technical SME within the squad to produce and ensure user‑centred software is developed based on business requirements and following best practice.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to explore, design and deliver solutions to client problems.
• Design and manage software development and deployment pipelines resolving issues and potential bottlenecks before they occur.
• Continuously review and prioritise the delivery team’s workload and anticipate the need for realignment with evolving operational priorities.
• Be a strong communicator and presenter, presenting prototypes, solutions and progress to internal and external stakeholders in a clear concise manner.
• Build great relationships with your team and stakeholders, identifying and ensuring that challenges are overcome.
• Involved in the recruitment, onboarding and line management of other engineers, and support other consultants in their professional development.
• Promote Hippo’s Engineering Herd externally (for example through writing blogs, workshops, seminars or conferences).

• Excellent experience in Python.
• Experience leading a delivery team to deliver high‑quality, robust solutions.
• Expertise in coaching and guiding others on the best way to achieve an optimal solution.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to articulate in both technical and non‑technical terms depending on audience.
• Expertise in the full development lifecycle delivering user‑centred digital solutions.
• Advanced full‑stack developer skills using Python, HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
• JavaScript library and framework experience is preferable – Node, React, Angular.
• Containerisation expertise – Docker, Kubernetes or similar.
• Expert knowledge of microservices design and architecture, including Restful API Services.
• Expertise working within agile methods and using techniques such as Scrum, Kanban and TDD.
• Skilled in designing and building native and web applications, across a variety of scales and platform environments.
• Expertise in infrastructure as code – Cloud formation, Terraform, ARM or similar.
• Expertise in public cloud (AWS or Azure) and Dev Ops.
• Mastery of CI/CD tools such as Jenkins, AWS Code Build, Azure Dev Ops and Atlassian.

• Previous experience of working on GOV or NHS projects is highly desirable.

• Contributory pension scheme (Hippo 6% & employee 2%).
• 25 days holiday plus UK public holidays.
• Perkbox access for a wide range of discounts.
• Critical illness cover.
• Life assurance and death in service cover.
• Volunteer days.
• Cycle‑to‑work scheme for avid cyclists.
• Salary sacrifice electric vehicle scheme.
• Season ticket loans.
• Financial and general wellbeing sessions.
• Flexible benefits scheme with options of private health cover, private dental cover, additional company pension contributions, additional holidays (up to an extra 2 days), wellbeing contribution, charity contributions, tree planting.

Hippo is dedicated to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace that works for everyone. We actively encourage applications from under‑represented…