Senior Software Engineer - Identity & Authentication (Backend) - Contractor

About the Role

In the European Client Identity team, we are building and operating Vanguard’s authentication and MFA platform used by hundreds of thousands of clients across the UK and Europe.

This is a hands-on senior backend role focused on designing, building, deploying, and operating cloud-based identity services. You will work in a highly regulated environment where security, reliability, and operational discipline matter.

You don’t need to be an identity expert on day one — but you do need strong backend fundamentals, cloud experience, and a responsible, methodical engineering mindset.

This is a contractor role, available for up to 12-months.

In this role you will

• Build and evolve backend services that support login, MFA, and client authentication

• Design and implement REST APIs using NestJS / TypeScript

• Integrate with identity and MFA platforms (e.g. Auth0, Transmit Security)

• Deploy and operate services on AWS, using Infrastructure as Code

• Run and maintain services in production, including:

  • database migrations and updates

  • manage vendor-specific software services running in AWS

• Write automated tests and contribute to improving test coverage and quality

• Participate in CI/CD pipelines, deployments, and operational procedures

• Work closely with product and security stakeholders to translate requirements into technical solutions

• Continuously improve engineering standards, tooling, and reliability

Our Tech Stack
AWS • TypeScript • Node.js (NestJS) • REST APIs • Auth0 • Transmit Security • GitHub • GitHub Actions • CloudFormation

What it takes

• Build and evolve backend services that support login, MFA, and client authentication

• Design and implement REST APIs using NestJS / TypeScript

• Integrate with identity and MFA platforms (e.g. Auth0, Transmit Security)

• Deploy and operate services on AWS, using Infrastructure as Code

• Run and maintain services in production (including database migrations and update vendor-hosted services running in AWS)

• Write automated tests and contribute to improving test coverage and quality

• Participate in CI/CD pipelines, deployments, and operational procedures

• Work closely with product and security stakeholders to translate requirements into technical solutions

• Continuously improve engineering standards, tooling, and reliability

Desirable Criteria

• Experience with identity, authentication, or MFA systems

• Knowledge of microservices architectures

• Exposure to security concepts (IAM, encryption, networking)

• Experience in regulated or enterprise environments

Special Factors 

• Vanguard is not offering sponsorship for this position

• This role is open to our London and Manchester locations

• This role is being offered on day rate contractor basis and is for up to 12-months

• This is a hybrid position and would require you to work in the office 3 days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday) 

Why Vanguard? 

Vanguard is a different kind of investment company. It was founded in the United States in 1975 on a simple but revolutionary idea: that an investment company should manage its funds solely in the interests of its clients. 

This is a philosophy that has helped millions of people around the world to achieve their goals with low-cost, uncomplicated investments. 

It's what we stand for: value to investors. 

Inclusion Statement  

Vanguard’s continued commitment to diversity and inclusion is firmly rooted in our culture. Every decision we make to best serve our clients, crew (internally employees are referred to as crew), and communities is guided by one simple statement: “Do the right thing.”  

We believe that a critical aspect of doing the right thing requires building diverse, inclusive, and highly effective teams of individuals who are as unique as the clients they serve. We empower our crew to contribute their distinct strengths to achieving Vanguard’s core purpose through our values. 

When all crew members feel valued and included, our ability to collaborate and innovate is amplified, and we are united in delivering on Vanguard's core purpose: to take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success.

Our commitment to equal employment opportunity 

Vanguard is an equal opportunity employer. Vanguard is committed to providing all crew members a working environment that is free from discrimination, prejudice and bias. Through this Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy, Vanguard reaffirms its commitment to equal employment opportunity for all applicants and crew members without regard to race, color, national origin or ancestry, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, veteran or military status. In addition, Vanguard prohibits discrimination based on genetic information, as well as any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on Vanguard. Please inform [email protected] if you need assistance completing this application or to otherwise participate in the application process.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.