At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build reliable backend services and APIs using Python and Flask.
- Company: Join Esenda, a fast-growing startup revolutionising payments in education.
- Benefits: Enjoy a £60k salary, 40 days holiday, and equity options.
- Other info: Fully remote with a supportive culture and excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on our platform and shape customer experiences.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in backend systems, strong Python skills, and API design experience.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 60000 € 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?
- £60k 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
Locations
Backend Software Engineer (Remote, UK) in Hampshire, Portsmouth employer: esenda
Esenda is an exceptional employer that offers a dynamic and supportive work environment, perfect for Backend Software Engineers looking to make a significant impact in the fintech space. With a competitive salary of £60k plus equity, 40 days of holiday, and a strong emphasis on employee growth through collaborative practices and transparent communication, you will thrive in a culture that values high ownership and continuous improvement. The fully remote setup, combined with regular in-person meetups, ensures a flexible yet connected team atmosphere, making it an ideal place for professionals seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Backend Software Engineer (Remote, UK) in Hampshire, Portsmouth
✨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 sometimes lead to referrals, which can give you a leg up in the hiring process.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for your interviews by brushing up on your Python and Flask skills. Make sure you can talk confidently about your past projects and how you've tackled challenges in backend development. We want to see your passion and expertise shine through!
✨Tip Number 3
Show us your problem-solving skills! During technical interviews, don’t just focus on getting the right answer; explain your thought process. We love seeing how you approach problems and make decisions, so let that creativity flow!
✨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 us you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Esenda.
We think you need these skills to ace Backend Software Engineer (Remote, UK) in Hampshire, Portsmouth
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 Projects:If you’ve worked on any interesting projects, especially those involving APIs or cloud environments, make sure to include them in your application. We love seeing real-world examples of your work and how you tackle challenges.
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 Inside Out
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. Being able to discuss your past experiences with these technologies will show that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
During the interview, 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 demonstrate your ability to own features end-to-end and contribute to the team’s success.
✨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. Showing genuine interest in their mission can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Prepare for the Practical Exercise
The practical exercise is your chance to shine! Make sure you practice coding challenges related to backend systems and API design. Focus on clean architecture and maintainability in your solutions, as this aligns with the company’s engineering standards.
