At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our backend team to lead services and produce high-quality code for millions of users.
- Company: Depop is a vibrant eCommerce platform connecting buyers and sellers in a unique marketplace.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, 25 days leave, health support, and a fully paid sabbatical after 5 years.
- Why this job: Be part of a collaborative culture focused on continuous improvement and impactful solutions.
- Qualifications: Proficient in Python, with experience in scalable web applications and distributed datastores.
- Other info: Dog-friendly offices and the chance to work abroad for 4 weeks each year!
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Depop is looking for an experienced Senior Backend Engineer to join us permanently. Within this role, you'll be working in a backend team leading multiple services at the core of Depop's architecture. As a member of a team of backend engineers, you will collaborate with other backend teams to establish and maintain standards for accessing data on our users and products.
Responsibilities:
- Work closely with Engineering Managers, Data Scientists, and other Backend Engineers to understand problems and to design solutions.
- Produce high-quality code that is well-structured and simple to understand that will be used by 1M+ active daily users.
- End-to-end application support, including production incident management.
- Embrace agile methodologies.
- Engage in a culture of continuous improvement by attending events such as blameless post-mortems, architecture reviews, etc.
- Collaborate every day with fellow engineers in the multi-functional environment to solve problems and write code.
- Own your code and workflows through their entire lifecycle.
Qualifications:
- Be capable of writing high-quality code in Python and ideally Scala or be interested in learning a functional language.
- Experience with distributed datastores (e.g., DynamoDB).
- Experience with message queues (e.g., RabbitMQ / Apache Kafka).
- Experience building scalable web applications serving 10,000s of requests per second.
- Experience working with RDBMS, ideally Postgres.
- Familiarity with DevOps culture (CI/CD pipeline).
- Ability to proactively find and solve complex problems independently, but also know when to seek guidance or help from your peers.
Must haves:
- Experience with Python.
- Willing to work in Python and Scala codebases.
- Proficient in testing solutions at different levels - unit, integration, etc.
- Experience with relational or non-relational databases, preferably PostgreSQL, DynamoDB, AWS Athena.
- Experience with Docker and Kubernetes.
Nice to haves:
- Experience with Java or Scala.
- Experience with Django framework.
- Experience with eCommerce.
- Experience with event-driven architectures, preferably using RabbitMQ or Kafka.
- Experience in using production AWS infrastructure, ideally with Terraform.
Additional information:
- Health + Mental Wellbeing: PMI and cash plan healthcare access with Bupa, subsidised counselling and coaching with Self Space. Cycle to Work scheme with options from Evans or the Green Commute Initiative. Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for 24/7 confidential support. Mental Health First Aiders across the business for support and signposting.
- Work/Life Balance: 25 days annual leave with option to carry over up to 5 days, 1 company-wide day off per quarter, and impact hours: up to 2 days additional paid leave per year for volunteering. Fully paid 4-week sabbatical after completion of 5 years of consecutive service with Depop, to give you a chance to recharge or do something you love.
- Flexible Working: MyMode hybrid-working model with Flex, Office Based, and Remote options (role dependent). All offices are dog-friendly. Ability to work abroad for 4 weeks per year in UK tax treaty countries.
- Family Life: 18 weeks of paid parental leave for full-time regular employees, IVF leave, shared parental leave, and paid emergency parent/carer leave.
- Learn + Grow: Budgets for conferences, learning subscriptions, and more. Mentorship and programmes to upskill employees.
- Your Future: Life Insurance (financial compensation of 3x your salary) and pension matching up to 6% of qualifying earnings.
- Depop Extras: Employees enjoy free shipping on their Depop sales within the UK. Special milestones are celebrated with gifts and rewards!
Senior Backend Engineer employer: Depop
Contact Detail:
Depop Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Backend Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the technologies mentioned in the job description, especially Python and Scala. If you haven't worked with Scala before, consider taking a short online course to get a basic understanding, as this will show your willingness to learn and adapt.
✨Tip Number 2
Engage with the Depop community on platforms like LinkedIn or GitHub. Follow their projects, contribute to discussions, and showcase your expertise in backend engineering. This can help you stand out and demonstrate your genuine interest in the company.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for technical interviews by practising coding challenges that focus on backend development. Websites like LeetCode or HackerRank can be great resources. Make sure to focus on problems related to distributed systems and databases, as these are key aspects of the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your experience with agile methodologies and DevOps practices during any conversations or interviews. Be ready to discuss how you've implemented CI/CD pipelines or participated in blameless post-mortems, as this aligns well with the culture at Depop.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Backend Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience with Python, Scala, and any relevant technologies mentioned in the job description. Emphasise your ability to write high-quality code and your experience with distributed datastores and message queues.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role at Depop and how your skills align with their needs. Mention specific projects or experiences that demonstrate your problem-solving abilities and familiarity with agile methodologies.
Showcase Relevant Projects: If you have worked on scalable web applications or have experience with Docker and Kubernetes, include these projects in your application. Provide links to your GitHub or portfolio to showcase your coding skills and contributions.
Highlight Continuous Improvement: Depop values a culture of continuous improvement. Mention any experiences you have with blameless post-mortems, architecture reviews, or other collaborative efforts that demonstrate your commitment to learning and growth within a team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Depop
✨Showcase Your Coding Skills
Be prepared to demonstrate your coding abilities, particularly in Python and Scala. You might be asked to solve problems on the spot, so practice coding challenges beforehand to ensure you can write clean, efficient code under pressure.
✨Understand the Architecture
Familiarise yourself with Depop's backend architecture and the technologies they use, such as DynamoDB, RabbitMQ, and Docker. Showing that you understand how these components interact will impress the interviewers and demonstrate your readiness for the role.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Highlight your experience working in multi-functional teams and your ability to communicate effectively with engineers, data scientists, and managers. Share examples of how you've collaborated to solve complex problems or improve processes in previous roles.
✨Prepare for Agile Discussions
Since the role embraces agile methodologies, be ready to discuss your experience with agile practices. Talk about how you've contributed to continuous improvement initiatives, such as blameless post-mortems or architecture reviews, to show your commitment to team growth.