At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build reliable backend services and APIs using Python and Flask.
- Company: Join a fast-growing fintech startup making a real impact in education payments.
- Benefits: ÂŁ60k salary, equity, 40 days holiday, and a pension scheme.
- Other info: Fully remote role with 3 annual meetups and excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape impactful features and work with cutting-edge technology in a supportive culture.
- Qualifications: 5+ years of backend experience, strong Python skills, and API design knowledge.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
About Esenda
Esenda powers over £1.5bn of inbound and outbound payments annually, in the education space - from tuition and catering fees to supplier payments and payroll. We’re a revenue-generating startup with strong product-market fit, and we’re growing fast. Join us now and you’ll work on impactful features that directly shape our platform and make a real difference to our customers.
What you’ll do
- Design, build, and ship reliable backend services and APIs in Python (Flask) that power core product functionality.
- Own features end-to-end: data modelling (Postgres), API design, testing, production rollout and ongoing improvements.
- Help uphold strong engineering standards through thoughtful code reviews, testing discipline, clean architecture, and pragmatic decision-making.
- Improve service reliability and operability: monitoring, alerting, logging, runbooks, and reducing on-call toil over time.
- Work closely with the technical team to scope product ideas, focused on delivering customer-facing outcomes (not just “tickets”).
- Contribute to delivery practices: CI/CD improvements, incremental shipping, and maintaining a high-quality codebase.
- You’ll join an on-call rotation (1 week in 4) compensation: paid as an extra £300 per on-call week.
What we’re looking for
- 5+ years experience building and operating production backend systems.
- Strong experience with Python, and hands-on use of Flask (or similar frameworks).
- Solid understanding of Postgres (schemas, migrations, query performance, transactions).
- Experience designing and maintaining APIs (REST; event-driven experience is a plus).
- Comfortable shipping in cloud environments—ideally AWS—and working with modern CI/CD pipelines.
- A strong quality mindset: you care about maintainability, security, reliability, and clear documentation.
Bonus points for
- Payments/fintech knowledge (reconciliation, idempotency, auditability, ledger concepts).
- Experience with distributed systems patterns (queues, background jobs, retries, rate limiting).
- Security experience (threat modelling, OWASP-style concerns, secure API design).
- Familiarity with Terraform.
Why join us?
- ÂŁ60k salary + equity
- 40 days holiday (incl. bank holidays)
- Pension scheme (3% employer contribution)
- Fully remote, UK-based, with 3 in-person meetups per year
- A transparent, collaborative, and supportive culture
Our stack (today)
- Backend: Python, Flask
- Data: Postgres
- Cloud: AWS
- Edge: Cloudflare
- Infrastructure as Code: Terraform
- Delivery: CI/CD, automated testing, observability tooling
How we work
- Pragmatic, high-ownership teams with a bias to shipping
- Clear communication, strong collaboration, and continuous improvement
- Code reviews and sensible standards that keep quality high without slowing delivery
Interview process
- 30-min intro call (role fit, values, ways of working)
- Practical exercise (small take-home or pairing session)
- Technical interview (backend fundamentals, API design, production thinking)
- Team chat + Q&A
Backend Software Engineer (Remote, UK) employer: esenda
Contact Detail:
esenda Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Backend Software Engineer (Remote, UK)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, especially those already at Esenda or similar companies. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info that could help you stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the technical interview by brushing up on your Python and Flask skills. Work on some personal projects or contribute to open-source to showcase your abilities. Real-world examples can make a big difference!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just focus on the tech side; show your passion for the education space and how your skills can impact it. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to Esenda’s mission of improving payment processes in education.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Backend Software Engineer (Remote, UK)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Backend Software Engineer role. Highlight your experience with Python, Flask, and Postgres, and don’t forget to mention any relevant projects that showcase your skills in building reliable backend services.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re excited about working at Esenda and how your background aligns with our mission. Be genuine and let your personality come through!
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, include examples of how you've tackled challenges in previous roles. We love seeing candidates who can think critically and come up with innovative solutions, especially when it comes to improving service reliability.
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 shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at esenda
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re well-versed in Python and Flask, as these are crucial for the role. Brush up on your Postgres skills too, especially around schemas and query performance, since you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of backend systems.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Be prepared to discuss how you've tackled challenges in previous projects. Think about specific examples where you improved service reliability or optimised APIs. This will show that you can think critically and contribute to their product effectively.
✨Understand the Company’s Mission
Esenda is all about making a difference in the education space through payments. Familiarise yourself with their products and think about how your skills can directly impact their customers. This will help you align your answers with their goals during the interview.
✨Prepare for Practical Exercises
Expect a practical exercise as part of the interview process. Practice coding challenges related to backend development and API design. This will not only boost your confidence but also help you showcase your technical abilities in real-time.