At a Glance
- Tasks: Solve complex technical challenges and design scalable backend systems.
- Company: Join Acorns, a mission-driven fintech company focused on financial wellness.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, stock options, flexible work hours, and comprehensive benefits.
- Other info: Remote-first culture with opportunities for mentorship and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on people's financial lives while growing your career.
- Qualifications: 8-10 years in software engineering with expertise in backend systems.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
At Acorns, our mission is to look after the financial best interests of the up-and-coming, beginning with the empowering, proud step of micro-investing. Our values guide us, and our mission drives us. Come join us and help deliver financial wellness for the whole family, putting the tools of wealth-making into everyone’s hands.
Acorns is seeking a Senior Backend Engineer to serve as a technical pillar for the team that builds and scales our core investment offerings. In this role, you will go beyond execution—you will be responsible for the technical integrity and architectural evolution of systems that help millions of customers build long-term wealth. You will tackle sophisticated technical challenges, provide mentorship to emerging talent, and ensure our backend infrastructure remains resilient as we expand our suite of financial wellness tools.
Acorns is a remote-first organization, offering the flexibility to work remotely while providing optional access to office space in Irvine, CA.
What you will do at Acorns:
- Analyze and solve interesting business and technical challenges. You’ll dive deep into complex problems, using your experience to find elegant solutions that keep our systems running smoothly.
- Develop software architecture that stands the test of scale and time. You’ll design robust, sustainable systems that grow alongside our customers.
- Champion our customers at every turn. By approaching every architectural solution with empathy, you’ll ensure that the work we do directly improves the financial lives of the people we serve.
- Collaborate and lead with heart. You’ll partner closely with your manager and teammates to set priorities, helping us decide which new features, infrastructure improvements, and tools will have the biggest impact.
- Be a mentor and a guide. You’ll have the opportunity to support junior engineers through shorter projects, sharing your knowledge and helping them grow their technical skills and careers.
- Bridge the gap between tech and business. You’ll talk to people across the company, acting as a friendly expert who can explain complex backend concepts and help align our technical work with our big-picture mission.
What you will bring to Acorns:
- A substantial career history in software engineering, typically evidenced by 8–10 years of experience (or 5+ years with an advanced degree).
- Expert-level command of backend systems design and architectural best practices.
- Professional experience with Ruby on Rails is highly preferred (though not mandatory).
- Advanced proficiency with Postgres is highly recommended (though not mandatory).
- Experience navigating AWS environments is preferred to help us maintain a scalable cloud presence.
- Experience with TypeScript is a plus.
- Previous experience within the Financial Industry or fintech space is a plus.
- A track record of exercising sound judgment when selecting methods and techniques for solving non-routine engineering problems.
- Hunger to deliver game-changing products.
- Exceptional drive and precision in delivery.
- A belief that your work is tied to your life's mission.
- Optimistic about the potential of societal change.
What we offer:
- Competitive salary and stock options.
- A comprehensive benefits package for you and your family.
- Flexible work location, hours, and paid time off.
- 401(k) matching.
- Monthly Acorns.
Sr. Software Engineer, Backend in London employer: Acorns
Contact Detail:
Acorns Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Sr. Software Engineer, Backend in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at meetups. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Acorns, understand their mission, and think about how your skills can help them achieve their goals. Show them you’re not just another candidate.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your coding skills and system design. You might get asked to solve problems on the spot, so being sharp will give you an edge. Use platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to brush up!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Sr. Software Engineer, Backend in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see how your values align with ours at Acorns. Share why you’re excited about helping others achieve financial wellness.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in backend systems and any specific technologies mentioned in the job description. We love seeing how your unique skills can contribute to our mission!
Be Authentic: Don’t be afraid to show your personality! We appreciate authenticity and want to get to know the real you. Share your journey and what drives you in your career—this helps us see if you’d be a great fit for our team.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Acorns
✨Understand Acorns' Mission and Values
Before your interview, take some time to really understand Acorns' mission and values. They’re all about financial wellness and empowering customers. Think about how your own values align with theirs and be ready to share examples of how you've led with heart or made bold decisions in your previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
As a Senior Backend Engineer, you'll need to demonstrate your command of backend systems design. Prepare to discuss specific projects where you tackled complex technical challenges, especially if they involved Ruby on Rails or AWS. Bring along examples of your architectural designs that have stood the test of time.
✨Emphasise Collaboration and Mentorship
Acorns values teamwork and mentorship, so be prepared to talk about how you've collaborated with others in the past. Share instances where you’ve mentored junior engineers or worked closely with cross-functional teams to bridge the gap between tech and business. This will show that you can lead with heart and build trust.
✨Prepare Questions That Reflect Curiosity
During the interview, ask insightful questions that show your hunger for growth and understanding of the company’s future. Inquire about their plans for scaling their investment products or how they approach customer feedback. This not only demonstrates your interest but also aligns with their value of never stopping growing.