Backend Team Lead (ML)

Mayflower is a technology company building highload products used by millions of people worldwide. Operating at the scale of one of the world's top-50 websites, we solve complex engineering challenges and create solutions that power real-time entertainment for a global audience.

We are looking for a Backend Team Lead for our ML development team focused on building and delivering production-grade ML-powered applications .

This role is not about research or experimentation. You will be responsible for turning ML models into reliable, scalable, user-facing services .

You will work at the intersection of machine learning and backend engineering , owning the full lifecycle of ML-powered features — from integration to deployment and operation in production.

Interview steps

- HR Interview (45 min)
- Technical Interview (90 min)
- Live code-review interview (90 min)
- Final interview with the team (60 min)

Responsibilities

Design and build production ML services (APIs, microservices, real-time systems); Lead and grow a team of backend engineers : plan work, mentor team members, conduct code reviews, provide technical guidance, and foster engineering excellence.; Drive architectural decisions and ensure the scalability, reliability, and maintainability of ML services.; Integrate ML models into user-facing applications; Ensure reliability, scalability, and performance of ML-powered systems; Define and implement best practices for serving, versioning, and monitoring models in production; Collaborate closely with:; ML engineers / data scientists (who develop models); DevOps / MLOps team (who provide platform and infrastructure); Own the delivery pipeline of ML features into production; Lead and mentor engineers working on ML-powered applications; Drive architectural decisions around low-latency and high-load systems; Identify bottlenecks between experimentation and production and eliminate them

Requirements

5+ years of experience in backend/software engineering in a Lead or Senior role (mentoring, ownership, decision-making).; Strong commercial Python experience.; Managerial experience leading an engineering team.; Experience designing and building production backend systems and microservice architecture.; Strong understanding of system design, scalability and high-load systems.; Experience developing APIs (FastAPI, Flask, gRPC or similar).; Hands-on experience with code reviews, mentoring and technical decision-making.; Ability to drive cross-team collaboration and own complex technical integrations. That can be a plus:; Experience with real-time ML systems (recommendations, ranking, personalization); Experience in video streaming or high-throughput platforms; Familiarity with Kubernetes and cloud/on-prem environments; Experience with feature stores, model monitoring, A/B testing; Experience working alongside MLOps platforms (MLflow, Airflow, etc.) Conditions We know that great talent deserves great conditions, so here's what you can expect when joining us:; EU-based employment contract and a 3-year Cyprus work visa with full support for your relocation and visa processes, including assistance for your family.; EU passport. Opportunity to obtain an EU passport after 4 years of residence; Full relocation package: flights to Limassol for you and your family, a company-covered apartment for the first month, and full relocation support to make your move smooth and hassle-free.; Transparent performance reviews twice a year, with bonus opportunities and salary adjustments.; Private medical insurance for you and your family; Provident fund (Cypus): a long-term savings plan co-funded by you and the Company together (available after probation) that grows throughout your time with us in Cyprus.; Corporate mobile plan (unlimited in Cyprus with roaming included); Mindfulness & well-being support, including psychological assistance with 50% coverage.; 50% coverage of school and kindergarten fees for your children.; Fully covered sports benefits, and also access to in-house electric scooters and bike rentals; Professional growth support: language courses, conferences, training programs, and coaching.; Peer recognition program: receive and share kudos for great work.; A fully equipped office in Limassol’s city center, with everything you need for deep work and collaboration.; Free breakfasts and lunches in the office and an in-house coffee bar with high-quality drinks and a health bar stocked with nutritious snacks.; A strong engineering culture: international teams, corporate events, team buildings, and hackathons — because great work happens in great communities.