At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build reliable backend services and APIs using Python and Flask.
- Company: Join a fast-growing fintech startup revolutionising education payments.
- Benefits: £60k salary, 40 days holiday, pension scheme, 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
Backend Software Engineer (Remote, UK) in Manchester 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 fully remote setup, generous benefits including 40 days of holiday and a pension scheme, and a culture that prioritises collaboration and continuous improvement, employees are empowered to grow and thrive. Join us to work on meaningful projects that directly influence our platform and contribute to the education sector while enjoying the flexibility of remote work and equity opportunities.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Backend Software Engineer (Remote, UK) in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend meetups, or join online communities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects, especially those using Python and Flask. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do beyond just a CV.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common technical questions and coding challenges. Use platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to sharpen your skills. Remember, confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team at Esenda.
We think you need these skills to ace Backend Software Engineer (Remote, UK) in Manchester
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, give examples of how you've tackled challenges in past roles. We love seeing candidates who can think critically and come up with pragmatic 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 engineering standards.
✨Understand the Business Context
Esenda operates in the education payments space, so having a grasp of fintech concepts like reconciliation and auditability can set you apart. Show that you understand how your work impacts customers and contributes to the company's success.
✨Prepare for the Practical Exercise
The practical exercise is your chance to shine! Practice coding challenges related to backend development and API design. Make sure you can explain your thought process clearly, as communication is key in collaborative environments.
