At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a cross-functional team to develop high-quality backend solutions for millions of users.
- Company: Depop, a vibrant community-driven fashion marketplace redefining consumption.
- Benefits: Health perks, flexible working, generous leave, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Dynamic, inclusive culture with excellent career progression and support for mental wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the fashion industry while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in backend development with a focus on scalable applications and problem-solving.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Company Overview
Depop is the community‑powered circular fashion marketplace where anyone can buy, sell and discover desirable secondhand fashion. With a community of over 35 million users, Depop is on a mission to make fashion circular, redefining fashion consumption. Founded in 2011, the company is headquartered in London, with offices in New York and Manchester, and in 2021 became a wholly‑owned subsidiary of Etsy. We are proud to be an equal‑opportunity employer, providing employment opportunities without regard to age, ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy or maternity, marriage and civil partnership, or any other protected status. We’re continuously evolving our recruitment processes to ensure fairness and are open to accommodating any needs you might have.
Role Overview
Depop is looking for an experienced Backend Software Engineer to join us permanently. Within this role, you’ll work in a cross‑functional team in partnership with mobile, web and machine learning/data science teams to drive the team to success.
Responsibilities
- Work closely with Product Managers, Designers, Data Scientists, Front‑End and other Backend Engineers to understand problems and design solutions.
- Produce high‑quality code that is well‑structured and simple to understand, to be used by 1M+ active daily users.
- Embrace agile methodologies.
- Engage in a culture of continuous improvement by attending events such as blameless post‑mortems, architecture reviews, etc.
- Collaborate on a daily basis with fellow engineers in the cross‑functional environment to solve problems and write code.
- Own, code, workflows and data through their entire lifecycle.
- Document any feature development.
Desired Experience
- Writing high‑quality code in Scala, Java, Kotlin or another JVM language.
- Experience building scalable applications serving 10,000s of requests per second.
- Relational databases, ideally Postgres.
- NoSQL datastores (e.g. DynamoDB).
- Stream processing (e.g. Kafka).
- DevOps culture (CI/CD pipeline).
- Ability to proactively find and solve complex problems independently, but also know when to seek guidance or help from peers.
- Product‑oriented mindset with a focus on solving real business problems rather than over‑engineering solutions.
- Experience with iterative development using A/B testing.
Must Haves
- Solid software engineering experience.
- Strong evidence that you can learn our TypeScript and Scala stack effectively.
- Willing to work across multiple paradigms and languages, such as backend or data work, using TypeScript, Scala and Python.
- Proficient in testing solutions at different levels — unit, integration, etc.
- Experience with relational or non‑relational databases, preferably PostgreSQL and DynamoDB.
Bonus Points
- Experience with eCommerce.
- Experience with Docker and Kubernetes.
- Experience with event‑driven architectures, preferably using RabbitMQ or Kafka.
- Experience using production AWS infrastructure, ideally with Terraform.
- Experience with Python.
- Experience with data engineering.
Benefits
- Health + Mental Wellbeing PMI 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.
- 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, to give you a chance to recharge or pursue interests.
- Flexible Working: MyMode hybrid‑working model with Flex, Office Based, and Remote options *role dependant.
- 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); 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.
Contact & Application Note
We are continuously evolving our recruitment processes to ensure fairness and are open to accommodating any needs you might have. If, due to a disability, you need adjustments to complete the application, please let us know by sending an email with your name, the role to which you would like to apply, and the type of support you need to complete the application to adjustments@depop.com. For any non‑disability related questions, please reach out to our Talent Partners.
Backend Engineer employer: Depop Limited
Depop is an exceptional employer that champions a vibrant and inclusive work culture, offering flexible working arrangements and a strong focus on employee wellbeing. With generous benefits such as a fully paid sabbatical after five years, extensive learning opportunities, and a commitment to work-life balance, Depop empowers its employees to thrive both personally and professionally in the heart of London’s dynamic tech scene.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Backend Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Depop on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the technical interview by brushing up on your coding skills. Practice common algorithms and data structures in Scala or Java, and don’t forget to review system design principles. We want to see how you think!
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your passion for circular fashion! Research Depop’s mission and values, and be ready to discuss how your skills can contribute to their goals. It’s all about aligning with their vision.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t just apply through job boards; head over to our website and submit your application there. It shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Depop community, and we love that!
We think you need these skills to ace Backend Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Backend Engineer role. Highlight your experience with Scala, Java, or Kotlin, and any relevant projects that showcase your skills in building scalable applications.
Show Off Your Code:If you have a GitHub or similar portfolio, link it! We love seeing real examples of your work. It gives us a better idea of your coding style and problem-solving abilities.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your cover letter, keep it clear and to the point. Explain why you're excited about the role at Depop and how your experience aligns with our mission to make fashion circular.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, we can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Depop Limited
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re well-versed in the languages and technologies mentioned in the job description, especially Scala, Java, and Kotlin. Brush up on your knowledge of relational databases like PostgreSQL and NoSQL options like DynamoDB, as these will likely come up during technical discussions.
✨Show Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to discuss specific examples where you've tackled complex problems in your previous roles. Be ready to explain your thought process and how you approached finding solutions, especially in a collaborative environment with cross-functional teams.
✨Embrace Agile Methodologies
Familiarise yourself with agile practices and be prepared to discuss how you've applied them in your past work. Highlight any experience you have with iterative development and A/B testing, as this aligns with the company’s focus on continuous improvement.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the team dynamics, the tech stack, and the company's approach to product development. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if the company culture is the right fit for you.
