Back-End Engineer - Repeats in London

Back-End Engineer - Repeats in London

London Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Iwoca

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Join the Repeats team to develop backend services for repeat customers' loans.
  • Company: iwoca, a leading fintech innovator empowering small businesses across Europe.
  • Benefits: Flexible hours, medical insurance, generous holiday, and a learning budget.
  • Other info: Dynamic culture focused on growth, learning, and innovation.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on small businesses while working with cutting-edge technology.
  • Qualifications: 1+ years of Python experience and a passion for full-stack development.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

Hybrid in London, United Kingdom (At least one day in office per week)

We're looking for a back-end engineer to join the Repeats team. You will work on the services that decide which repeat customers get a loan, at what price, and how much they can borrow. These sit at the heart of iwoca's back book.

The company: Imagine a world where every small business has the power to thrive. That's the world we're building at iwoca. Small businesses aren't just statistics – they're the heartbeat of our communities, the character of our high streets, and the engine of our economy. Since 2012, we've revolutionised how these businesses access finance, turning what was once a lengthy, frustrating process into something remarkable: funding that's fast, flexible, and actually works for modern businesses. Our impact speaks for itself: we've provided billions in funding to over 150,000 businesses across Europe, making us one of the continent's leading fintech innovators. But we're just getting started. Our mission? To empower one million businesses with the financial tools they deserve.

The team: The Repeats team is one of iwoca's funnel teams. We grow customer lifetime value after a business's first loan. That means we own the underwriting, pricing, and product experience for two segments that make up most of iwoca's back-book value: top-up customers who borrow again while still repaying, and loan-ended customers who return for a new loan. Almost every repeat borrower goes through code we own. The team is cross-functional – backend, frontend, product, design, data science and analytics – shipping behind split tests and measuring impact in Looker rather than on gut feel.

The role: Your first project will be the re-architecture of our flex-loan repeat offer pipeline: the flow that decides who is eligible for a new loan, what they pay, and how much they can borrow. This area has been under-invested for years. Once the new pipeline is in place, product has a clear runway of features ready to ship on top of it. You will own backend features end-to-end, from design through to shipping and monitoring them in production. Over time, you will pick up front-end work and grow into a full-stack role.

Impact on customers: Work on the systems that shape every repeat customer's offer, and move the metrics behind iwoca's back-book performance. Ship features that make it faster and clearer for small business owners to access follow-on funding.

Ownership and delivery: Work through the full development lifecycle – from technical design and implementation to rollout behind a split test – on well-defined components. Maintain and support the core services behind repeat lending: the lending_decision app inside iwoca-django, the repeats pricing and offer-amount services, and the customer account pages. Help monitor production and troubleshoot issues when they come up.

Collaboration: Work closely with Product, Design, Data Science and Analytics to build solutions that make sense technically and land well for customers. Show up to team rituals – stand-ups, retros, planning – with context and questions. Write clean, well-tested Python, and take part in code reviews to learn from teammates and keep quality high. Pick up front-end work in Pandora (React, TypeScript) so you can own features end-to-end over time.

The requirements:

  • Essential: Comfortable writing clear, testable Python. You do not need to be an expert. 1+ years of commercial engineering experience. Working knowledge of relational databases. We use PostgreSQL. Curious about the full stack and up for picking up front end (React, TypeScript) over time. Clear written and spoken communication. You can explain technical work in a way non-engineers can act on. You care how your work affects customers, and use experiments and metrics to guide decisions. You have experience of writing automated tests and take code quality and safe releases seriously. You use AI (Cursor, Claude Code or similar) in your daily flow – whether for work or for fun. You use it to blast through boilerplate and research so you can focus on the hard parts: complex architecture, rigour and high-stakes decisions.
  • Bonus: Familiarity with Python web frameworks (Django, FastAPI). Exposure to Docker, AWS or Kubernetes at any level. Any exposure to data tooling such as Snowflake or Looker. A strong numerical or technical background, with a degree in maths, physics, computer science, engineering, or relevant industry experience.

The salary: We expect to pay from £60,000 - £80,000 for this role. But, we're open-minded, so definitely include your salary goals with your application. We routinely benchmark salaries against market rates, and run quarterly performance and salary reviews.

The culture: At iwoca, we prioritise a culture of learning, growth, and support, and invest in the professional development of our team members. We value thought and skill diversity, and encourage you to explore new areas of interest to help us innovate and improve our products and services.

The offices: We put a lot of effort into making iwoca a great place to work: Offices in London, Leeds, Berlin, and Frankfurt with plenty of drinks and snacks. Events and community-led groups, including running groups, padel, and monthly ping-pong and pool competitions.

The benefits: Flexible working hours. Medical insurance from Vitality, including discounted gym membership. A private GP service (separate from Vitality) for you, your partner, and your dependents. 25 days’ holiday per year, an extra day off for your birthday, the option to buy or sell an additional five days of annual leave, and unlimited unpaid leave. A one-month, fully paid sabbatical after four years. Instant access to external counselling and therapy sessions for team members that need emotional or mental health support. 3% Pension contributions on total earnings. An employee equity incentive scheme. Generous parental leave and a nursery tax benefit scheme to help you save money. Electric car scheme and cycle to work scheme. Two company retreats a year: we’ve been to France, Italy, Spain, and further afield.

And to make sure we all keep learning, we offer: A learning and development budget for everyone. Company-wide talks with internal and external speakers. Access to learning platforms like Treehouse.

Back-End Engineer - Repeats in London employer: Iwoca

iwoca is an excellent employer for Data Scientists, offering a dynamic work environment in London that fosters innovation and collaboration. With flexible working hours, comprehensive medical insurance, and a dedicated learning budget, employees are encouraged to grow their skills and advance their careers while contributing to impactful product decisions. The company's commitment to a supportive culture makes it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment.

Iwoca

Contact Details:

Iwoca Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Back-End Engineer - Repeats 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 Iwoca 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

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Tap into Online Developer Communities

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Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles

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We think you need these skills to ace Back-End Engineer - Repeats in London

Python
Relational Databases
PostgreSQL
React
TypeScript
Automated Testing
Django

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 Iwoca.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Iwoca 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 Iwoca

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 Iwoca 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.