At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a dynamic team to enhance our AI platform and drive impactful projects.
- Company: Encord, a leading AI data platform trusted by top companies.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity, 25 days leave, and a vibrant office culture.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for growth and learning.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in AI while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in backend development and a passion for building impactful products.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
About us
Encord is the universal data layer for AI that helps 300+ AI teams train and run models on the right data. Our platform indexes, curates, annotates, and evaluates data across the full AI lifecycle, from development through production. Trusted by Woven by Toyota, AXA, UiPath, Zipline, and more. We're an ambitious team of 100+ working at the frontier of AI and have raised $60M in Series C funding from Wellington Management, CRV, Next47 and Y Combinator.
The role
We're looking for an outstanding engineer to push our platform to the next level. You'll join us at a crucial stage of accelerated development for the company, product and team. As part of a small, highly collaborative group, you'll drive our product and team to new heights. Encord is growing rapidly, with our product as the key driver of that growth. A year ago, we were a team of 25; now, we’re 60 and continuing to accelerate.
What you'll do
- Be a part of the small team that has built a product that our customers love and consistently rate as the best in the market.
- Have a direct and tangible impact on customers and, in turn, noticeably affect the trajectory of the company.
- Work autonomously and take end-to-end ownership of your projects. From product, design and architectural decisions, all the way to deployment, monitoring and measuring impact on users. You will work across the stack, covering everything from deployment to styling. We expect each other to take initiative, be proactive in problem-solving, and continuously seek improvements.
- Tackle complex domains and immense scale with simple solutions.
Who we're looking for
- You've seen and built a lot. You have personally developed and maintained multiple systems from scratch, and you know what trade-offs are involved in building reliable, performant software at speed.
- You want your work to have a tangible outcome for people. You're not satisfied with building products that do not see the light of day.
- You are a builder. You enjoy all aspects of building not only software but a complete product, and are comfortable moving across the stack when necessary.
- You enjoy problem-solving and thinking from first principles, and are always ready to pick up new skills and build quickly.
- You're happy to tackle problems without a predefined, clear definition or obvious solution, and are excited to have autonomy to make decisions as you go.
- You understand that being a member of a high-performing team requires two things. You contribute your best work and help others contribute their best. You'll always lend a helping hand when needed and level up those around you.
Experience requirements
- Strong experience building large-scale backend infrastructure applications.
- Deep fluency in at least one high-level language (we use Python and TypeScript, but we care more about depth than the specific language).
- Experience improving quality through code reviews, testing, rollout, and monitoring.
- Experience with prompt engineering, agent orchestration, and the ability to integrate AI tools to optimise workflows and drive measurable impact.
- Experience in robotics, autonomous vehicles, or Physical AI is a plus.
Tech stack
We are technology-agnostic at Encord and are not looking for experience across all of these — as long as you're open to learning, please apply.
- Backend: Python
- Frontend: TypeScript and React
- Deployment: Kubernetes
- Infrastructure: GCP
- Machine learning: PyTorch, CUDA, Ray
Why Encord
- Competitive salary, commission, and meaningful equity in a high-growth startup.
- Strong in-person culture — most of the team works from our London office 4+ days/week.
- 25 days annual leave + UK public holidays.
- Annual learning & development budget.
- Travel for customer visits, events, and conferences across the UK and Europe.
- Company lunches twice a week.
- Monthly socials & bi-annual team offsites.
Backend Engineer, AI Platform — Equity + London Office employer: Encord
Encord is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where innovation thrives and every team member's contributions are valued. With a strong in-person culture in our London office, employees enjoy competitive salaries, meaningful equity, and ample opportunities for professional growth through an annual learning budget and engaging team activities. Join us to make a tangible impact in the AI space while collaborating with a passionate team dedicated to pushing boundaries.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Backend Engineer, AI Platform — Equity + London Office
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Encord on LinkedIn or other platforms. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing the job. Personal connections can make a huge difference!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your coding skills. Use platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to practice problems relevant to backend engineering. We want you to feel confident and ready to showcase your skills!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your projects! If you've built anything impressive, whether it's a personal project or something from work, be ready to discuss it in detail. Highlight how your contributions made a tangible impact, just like we do at Encord.
✨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 our ambitious team at Encord.
We think you need these skills to ace Backend Engineer, AI Platform — Equity + London Office
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for AI and backend engineering shine through. We want to see that you’re genuinely excited about the role and how you can contribute to our team at Encord.
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight your experience with large-scale backend infrastructure and any relevant projects you've worked on. We love seeing how your skills align with what we do, so don’t hold back!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate straightforward communication, so avoid jargon and focus on what makes you a great fit for the role. Remember, less is often more!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Encord
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the tech stack mentioned in the job description. Brush up on Python and TypeScript, and be ready to discuss your experience with backend infrastructure applications. They want to see that you can talk about your past projects and the trade-offs you made while building them.
✨Show Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to tackle some complex problems during the interview. Think through how you would approach undefined challenges and be ready to share examples of how you've solved tricky issues in the past. They’re looking for someone who enjoys thinking from first principles and can demonstrate initiative.
✨Demonstrate Team Spirit
Encord values collaboration, so be prepared to discuss how you’ve contributed to team success in previous roles. Share examples of how you’ve helped others level up their skills or how you’ve worked together to achieve a common goal. They want to see that you’re not just a lone wolf but a team player.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask questions that show your interest in the company and its culture. Inquire about their approach to AI development, team dynamics, or future projects. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if Encord is the right fit for you.
