Lead/Senior- Backend Developer

Job Description

Senior Backend Developer ? Lead Engineer Location: Gurgaon (WFO, 5 Days)** Department: Technology / Product Engineering Reporting To: CMO / CDO Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent Experience: 5+ Years Company Profile Ken Research is a global strategy consulting and market intelligence firm serving enterprises, investors, and government institutions across India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and global markets. Our technology team builds scalable platforms powering: Research & consulting automation Expert network systems Market intelligence engines AI-enabled workflows and internal productivity tools We operate with a high-ownership, fast-paced, startup mindset where engineering excellence, automation, and performance matter. Role Summary We are hiring a Senior Backend Developer (Lead Engineer) to architect, develop, and scale backend systems across our digital ecosystem. This role demands deep experience in: Python, Django, DRF MySQL & PostgreSQL Elasticsearch All types of API development & integrations DevOps, CI/CD, scalable deployments System architecture & backend design You will work directly with the CMO/CDO on product architecture, backend vision, AI integrations, and platform performance. This is a startup-like engineering ownership role with high autonomy and high accountability. Key Responsibilities 1. Backend Engineering & Architecture Architect and build scalable backend systems using Python, Django, DRF Design microservices, modular backend layers, domain-driven architecture Build robust systems with high fault tolerance and performance Conduct architectural reviews, suggest design optimizations 2. Database Engineering (MySQL/PostgreSQL) Design relational schemas with normalization and performance considerations Optimize SQL queries, indexes, and data pipelines Implement caching strategies using Redis/Memcached Handle migrations, data integrity, and transaction flows 3. API Engineering (All Types) You will build and maintain all kinds of APIs , including: REST APIs Internal service APIs Webhooks & event-driven APIs Authentication & RBAC APIs Reporting & analytics APIs Third-party integrations (CRM, analytics, tools) AI/LLM API integrations (OpenAI, Gemini, Claude, etc.) Responsibilities: Design API layers following best practices & security standards Handle throttling, rate limiting, versioning, API documentation Ensure high throughput and low-latency performance 4. Search Engineering (Elasticsearch) Implement Elasticsearch for high-speed search & filtering Design mappings, analyzers, indexing strategies Build search microservices with optimized queries Ensure query accuracy, speed, and relevance 5. DevOps, CI/CD & Deployment Set up and maintain CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions/Jenkins/GitLab) Manage automated deployments with rollback strategies Work with Docker , Nginx, Linux servers, and environment configs Implement logging, monitoring, alerting (ELK/Sentry) Improve system uptime, security, and release stability 6. Collaboration, Ownership & Leadership Own backend modules end-to-end from design ? development ? deployment Work closely with CMO/CDO on architecture, roadmap, and engineering priorities Collaborate with frontend, DevOps, data, AI, and product teams Review code, enforce quality standards, and mentor junior engineers Drive engineering improvements, documentation, and internal tooling Preferred Technical Exposure (Value-Add Bonus) (Not mandatory but highly beneficial) LLM integration, embeddings, vector search FastAPI or async Python frameworks Kubernetes / container orchestration Event-driven systems (Kafka, SQS, Pub/Sub) Large-scale caching strategies Qualifications & Skills Required Education Bachelor?s/Master?s in Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical fields Experience 5+ years backend engineering Experience building production systems from scratch (startup or high-growth preferred) Strong experience in Python, Django, DRF, MySQL, Elasticsearch Technical Skills Python, Django, DRF MySQL & PostgreSQL Elasticsearch Redis, Celery/RQ Docker, Nginx, Linux CI/CD (GitHub Actions/Jenkins/GitLab) REST APIs, service integrations, webhooks System architecture & debugging Version control (GitHub) Soft Skills & Mindset Startup mindset: speed, ownership, clarity, problem-solving Strong communication with cross-functional stakeholders Ability to translate business requirements into technical designs High accountability and engineering discipline Apply Send your CV to: [email protected]