At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop backend services in Python, tackling complex challenges.
- Company: Fast-growing fintech in London, making ETF investing accessible.
- Benefits: Unlimited vacation, remote work, and a modern tech stack.
- Other info: Collaborative team culture with autonomy and growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on business-critical systems from day one.
- Qualifications: 4+ years in backend development with strong Python and Django skills.
The predicted salary is between 60750 - 74250 £ per year.
About InvestEngine
InvestEngine is a fast-growing fintech based in London, on a mission to make ETF investing simple and accessible. Over 150,000 clients have trusted us with more than £2.8 billion in assets — and we’re just getting started.
About the Role
We’re looking for a Senior Backend Engineer to join our Pensions Team and help us build, scale, and improve the backend systems powering InvestEngine’s pension products. You’ll work on complex backend challenges, design reliable and scalable services, contribute to architectural decisions, and help improve the stability and quality of our systems. This is a hands-on engineering role with no direct people management responsibilities. You’ll work closely with Product, Compliance, and Business teams to turn business requirements into robust technical solutions and take ownership of key backend initiatives.
What You’ll Do
- Design, develop, and maintain backend services in Python 3.11 using Django / DRF
- Design scalable, reliable, and maintainable backend solutions
- Contribute to architectural discussions and make technical decisions within your area of ownership
- Work with MySQL and Redis to improve system performance and reliability
- Build and improve RESTful APIs for internal and external integrations
- Continuously improve system performance, stability, and scalability
- Collaborate with Product, Compliance, and Business teams to deliver new features and improve existing processes
- Investigate and resolve production issues, identify bottlenecks, and reduce technical debt
- Maintain high standards of code quality, testing, and engineering practices
- Work with Git and CI/CD pipelines, including TeamCity and GitHub Actions
- Contribute to improvements in architecture, development processes, and internal tooling
What We’re Looking For
- 4+ years of experience in backend development
- Strong Python skills and deep knowledge of Django or similar frameworks
- Experience designing backend architectures and scalable systems
- Solid understanding of relational databases, caching, and system design
- Hands-on experience building and maintaining REST APIs
- Ability to take ownership and make sound technical decisions independently
- Comfortable navigating ambiguity and turning requirements into practical solutions
- Familiarity with modern engineering practices: Git, CI/CD, clean code, testing, and monitoring
- Strong communication and problem-solving skills
- English B2+ and fluent Russian
Nice to Have
- Experience in fintech, regulated industries, or internal B2B tools
- Familiarity with AWS and Docker
- Experience with message brokers such as RabbitMQ or Kafka
- Experience working with pensions, investment products, or other financial products
- Open-source contributions or personal technology projects
How We Work
We’re a lean, collaborative engineering team where developers have a real influence on architecture, product decisions, and engineering culture. You’ll have autonomy to make technical decisions, work on business-critical systems, and see the direct impact of your work — without micromanagement or unnecessary bureaucracy.
What We Offer
- Impact from day one — work on business-critical systems and products
- Technical growth — influence architecture and the long-term development of our platform
- Modern tech stack — Python 3.11, Django, MySQL, Redis, AWS, GitHub, TeamCity
- Remote-first and flexible — work from anywhere
- Unlimited vacation
- A supportive and experienced engineering team
Hiring Process
- Intro call with our Talent team
- Technical interview with the Backend team
- Gamified cognitive assessment to understand how you think and problem-solve
- Final conversation with our CTO
Senior Backend Engineer, Pensions Team (Python) in London employer: InvestEngine
InvestEngine is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to shape the strategic direction of a fast-growing UK investment platform. With a transparent and collaborative culture, employees benefit from hybrid working arrangements and the chance to lead a dedicated team while directly partnering with the CEO. The company prioritises employee growth through hands-on leadership roles and the freedom to design and implement innovative operating models.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Backend Engineer, Pensions Team (Python) in London
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at InvestEngine or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to InvestEngine.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like InvestEngine.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like InvestEngine that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Backend Engineer, Pensions Team (Python) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at InvestEngine.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at InvestEngine and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at InvestEngine
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If InvestEngine uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.