Backend Engineer (Contract) | Java / Rust (Primary) | React (Secondary) | Ruby or Python (Exposure) | Fully Remote (UK/EU-based) | £550-650/day | Outside IR35 | 12-month contract at Owen Thomas | Pending B Corp™, United Kingdom, £550-£650 per day

Backend Engineer (Contract) | Java / Rust (Primary) | React (Secondary) | Ruby or Python (Exposure) | Fully Remote (UK/EU-based) | £550-650/day | Outside IR35 | 12-month contract

The Opportunity

We’re supporting a fast-scaling, globally distributed tech business that is evolving its backend architecture and investing heavily in performance, scalability, and long-term platform direction.

They’re looking for a Senior Backend Contractor with strong Java and/or Rust experience to help shape and build the next generation of backend services. Rust is particularly relevant to where the platform is heading, though Java remains important. On the frontend, the team works with React, and there is existing exposure to Ruby and Python, where a working, mid-level understanding is beneficial rather than core.

This is a high-impact, long-term contract within an experienced engineering team, ideal for a contractor who enjoys working close to product and infrastructure while influencing technical direction.

What You’ll Be Doing Backend Engineer (Contract) | Java / Rust (Primary) | React (Secondary) | Ruby or Python (Exposure) | Fully Remote (UK/EU-based) | £550-650/day | Outside IR35 | 12-month contract

• Designing and building high-performance backend services using Java and/or Rust
• Contributing to architectural decisions as the platform evolves toward more systems-level and performance-focused solutions
• Working alongside frontend engineers using React to deliver end-to-end features
• Supporting and integrating with existing services written in Ruby and Python
• Collaborating with product, platform, and infrastructure teams to scale critical systems
• Driving best practices around clean architecture, performance, reliability, and security

Core Skills & Experience Backend Engineer (Contract) | Java / Rust (Primary) | React (Secondary) | Ruby or Python (Exposure) | Fully Remote (UK/EU-based) | £550-650/day | Outside IR35 | 12-month contract

Essential

• Senior-level backend engineering experience in Java and/or Rust (production systems)
• Strong understanding of scalable backend architecture, APIs, and distributed systems
• Experience working in cloud-native environments
• Contractor mindset: able to onboard quickly, communicate clearly, and deliver value fast

Strongly Preferred

• Commercial experience with Rust, or a clear desire to work more deeply with it
• Experience working alongside React frontend teams (hands-on or close collaboration)

Nice to Have

• Mid-level exposure to Ruby or Python (not required to be expert-level)
• Experience working on systems at scale or within high-growth environments

Contract Details Backend Engineer (Contract) | Java / Rust (Primary) | React (Secondary) | Ruby or Python (Exposure) | Fully Remote (UK/EU-based) | £550-650/day | Outside IR35 | 12-month contract

• Contract Type: LTD Company (UK) / B2B
• Location: Fully remote (EU-based required for legal and timezone reasons)
• Rate: £550-650 per day (Outside IR35)
• Duration: 12 months, with strong extension potential
• Start Date: ASAP

If you’re a Backend Engineer contractor with a strong Java or Rust background, looking for a long-term, high-impact Full stack role in a team that’s moving toward modern, performance-focused architecture, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply here for the Backend Engineer (Contract) | Java / Rust (Primary) | React (Secondary) | Ruby or Python (Exposure) | Fully Remote (UK/EU-based) | £550-650/day | Outside IR35 | 12-month contract, and we’ll be in touch if it looks like a good fit 🙂