At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and maintain robust APIs using Python, ensuring high reliability in production environments.
- Company: London-based software studio focused on innovative legal-tech solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, technical autonomy, and direct collaboration with the founder.
- Other info: Opportunity for diverse impact and career growth in a dynamic tech landscape.
- Why this job: Be the first backend hire and shape core product decisions in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: 4+ years of experience in production services with strong Python and SQL skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 40000 € per year.
London-based software studio and research lab building proprietary legal-tech and production systems.
As the first backend hire at this high-standard software studio, you will own the technical architecture and production health of revenue-critical systems. Working directly with the founder, you will build and operate Python (FastAPI) services, ensuring reliability and correctness are prioritised over shipping speed in a production-first environment.
Why this role is remarkable:
- Rare opportunity to be the first backend hire, gaining total technical autonomy and direct collaboration with the founder on core product decisions.
- Join a studio that values engineering integrity and 'correctness before scale,' moving away from high-velocity ticket culture to deep operational ownership.
- Diverse impact across proprietary research software for the legal sector and stabilising critical external systems where your code directly affects revenue.
What You Will Do:
- Design, develop, and maintain robust APIs using Python (FastAPI), Postgres, and Redis for production environments.
- Take full responsibility for the deployment and operational health of services, ensuring high reliability under real-world loads.
- Architect and implement system improvements, including transitioning to event-driven architectures and optimising infrastructure on AWS/Kubernetes.
The ideal candidate:
- Has 4+ years of experience building and operating production-grade services with a strong command of Python and SQL (Postgres).
- Demonstrates a history of technical ownership, having successfully managed scaling or reliability projects from development through to production.
- Proficient with modern infrastructure tools such as AWS, Docker, or Kubernetes and understands the trade-offs of designing maintainable, explicit systems.
Backend Engineer (£40,000) at London software studio and legal-tech lab employer: Jack & Jill
As a London-based software studio and legal-tech lab, we pride ourselves on fostering a culture of engineering integrity and operational ownership. This role offers the unique opportunity to be the first backend engineer, allowing you to shape the technical landscape while collaborating closely with the founder. With a focus on employee growth and a commitment to high-quality work over speed, we provide an environment where your contributions directly impact our innovative legal solutions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Backend Engineer (£40,000) at London software studio and legal-tech lab
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with people on LinkedIn. 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 showcasing your projects, especially those using Python and FastAPI. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do and sets you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your coding skills and system design principles. Practice common backend problems and be ready to discuss your past projects and the decisions you made.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining us. Tailor your application to highlight how your experience aligns with our values of engineering integrity and operational ownership.
We think you need these skills to ace Backend Engineer (£40,000) at London software studio and legal-tech lab
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Technical Skills:Make sure to highlight your experience with Python, FastAPI, and any relevant tools like AWS or Kubernetes. We want to see how you've used these technologies in real-world projects, so don’t hold back on the details!
Demonstrate Ownership:Since this role is all about technical autonomy, share examples of when you've taken full responsibility for a project. We love hearing about your journey from development to production, so let us know how you’ve managed scaling or reliability challenges.
Tailor Your Application:Take a moment to customise your application for us. Mention why you're excited about being the first backend hire and how you align with our values of engineering integrity and correctness before scale. It’ll make your application stand out!
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 this exciting opportunity. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Jack & Jill
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re well-versed in Python, FastAPI, Postgres, and Redis. Brush up on your knowledge of these technologies, as you'll likely be asked to discuss your experience with them. Be ready to share specific examples of projects where you've used these tools effectively.
✨Showcase Your Ownership Experience
Since this role involves a lot of technical ownership, prepare to talk about past projects where you took the lead. Highlight how you managed scaling or reliability challenges and what impact your decisions had on the project’s success. This will demonstrate your capability to handle the responsibilities of the role.
✨Understand the Company Culture
Familiarise yourself with the company's values, especially their focus on 'correctness before scale'. Be prepared to discuss how you align with this philosophy and how it influences your approach to software development. Showing that you understand and appreciate their culture can set you apart.
✨Prepare Questions for the Founder
As you'll be working directly with the founder, think of insightful questions to ask them during the interview. This could be about their vision for the product or how they see the backend evolving. Engaging in a meaningful conversation shows your genuine interest in the role and the company.
