At a Glance
- Tasks: Build backend services and APIs for our innovative skincare platform using Python and Flask.
- Company: Join a fast-growing tech company revolutionising skincare with expert-led care.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, 25 days holiday, and a £500 personal development budget.
- Other info: Enjoy a hybrid work model, free meals, and a dog-friendly office culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in healthcare technology while working with cutting-edge tools.
- Qualifications: Experience in backend development with Python and Flask; good communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
London, UK · Hybrid (3 days in our Paddington HQ: Mon, Tue, Fri) · Stack: Python, Flask, SQLAlchemy, MySQL, AWS (React on the frontend)
In 2018 we set out to solve a problem millions of people faced: not just struggling with their skin, but struggling to navigate skincare at all. We combined dermatology, pharmacy and technology into something simpler and genuinely personalised, and proved expert‑led care could reach people who'd never had access to it. Today, +Me is the company behind Skin + Me, Hair + Me and Renew + Me, with more on the horizon. We're not building a single brand. We're building a category. We've delivered millions of treatments, we're profitable and growing fast, and we're expanding the engineering team to match.
What you'll build
You’ll join the team behind our core commerce and clinical journey: the ecom stack, consultation engine, patient and prescription systems, and order generation. This is where customers discover us, complete a clinical consultation, subscribe, and receive their personalised treatment, at real consumer scale. On our Python and React stack, that's the storefront behind Skin + Me and Hair + Me, our flagship brands serving customers at scale. We're hiring a Backend Engineer to go deep on the server side of this system in our Python / Flask stack: the APIs, data models and services behind consultations, prescriptions and orders. You'll learn fast alongside experienced engineers who'll back your growth, and you'll be comfortable making frontend (React) changes when a feature needs it, but backend is your craft.
What you'll do
- Build the services behind the journey: APIs, data models and services powering consultations, prescriptions and order generation, with support from senior engineers.
- Ship and own: take backend features from ticket to production and keep them fast, correct and healthy once they're live.
- Write code others build on: clean, well‑tested, and clear enough for the next person to pick up.
What we're looking for
- Backend depth: solid, recent, hands‑on experience building backend services and APIs in Python (Flask). A non‑trivial piece of work you can walk us through and explain well.
- Good fundamentals: sound data modelling (SQLAlchemy/Alembic), sensible API design, and an instinct for testing.
- Care where it counts: you treat correctness as a feature, because this code generates real prescriptions and orders.
- Enough frontend to be useful: comfortable making React changes when a feature needs it (frontend won't be your main focus).
- The stack: Python and Flask; relational databases (MySQL ideal); some exposure to AWS/Docker is a plus.
- Clear communication: much of our work is written (PRs, docs), so explaining a decision crisply matters.
- Roughly 3-6 years building software in production. We read for depth in your area, not years.
How we work
We're a small, experienced engineering team working closely with product, clinical and operations. We care about craft: clean code, honest reviews, and owning what you ship through to production. And because our software turns a clinical consultation into a real prescription and a treatment someone receives, correctness and care aren't optional here. They're the job.
How we use AI
Agentic tools like Claude Code and Codex are a standard part of how we work, and we're leaning into them hard: we automate the routine so we can spend our energy on the harder problems. You'll need to be comfortable working this way, and real skill with these tools is a genuine advantage we value. But it's a multiplier on strong engineering judgement, not a substitute for it, and never a prerequisite. If it's newer to you and you're keen to grow, we'll back you.
Compensation & benefits
- We pay competitive base salaries and back them with meaningful equity, so your upside grows with the company you're helping build.
- Equity: a meaningful stake in a profitable, Series B‑backed business that's growing fast, with flexibility on your cash/equity mix.
- Time off: 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
- Hybrid & flexible: three days together in Paddington (Mon, Tue, Fri), remote Wed/Thu, core hours 10‑4 with flexibility around them.
- Fuelled: free breakfast and lunch on office days, plus snacks and drinks.
- Growth: a £500 annual personal development budget.
- Family & health: healthcare cash plan, cycle‑to‑work, and a workplace nursery scheme (save tax/NI on childcare).
- The extras: a dog‑friendly HQ (two resident pups), an active Culture Club, and heavily discounted products for you and 10 friends & family.
How we hire
We keep it short and respect your time: Intro call with our engineers (25‑30 mins), including a short system‑design chat. A conversation with our Director of Software Engineering (30 mins). A practical take‑home task, in your own time. Onsite at our Paddington HQ to review your task and meet the team.
Great engineers come from all kinds of backgrounds. If this resonates, even if you don't tick every box, we'd love to hear from you.
Backend Engineer (Python) employer: Skin + Me
At +Me, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture in our vibrant Paddington HQ. With a strong focus on employee growth, we offer a £500 annual personal development budget, competitive salaries with equity options, and a flexible hybrid working model that promotes work-life balance. Our commitment to well-being is evident through our healthcare cash plan, generous holiday allowance, and a supportive environment where your contributions directly impact the lives of our customers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Backend Engineer (Python)
✨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
Prepare for those interviews! Brush up on your Python and Flask skills, and be ready to discuss your past projects in detail. Practice explaining your thought process clearly, as communication is key in our team.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your passion for clean code and correctness. When discussing your work, highlight how you ensure quality and reliability in your backend services. This will resonate well with us at StudySmarter!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to get noticed and ensures your application lands in the right hands. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step!
We think you need these skills to ace Backend Engineer (Python)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Python:When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight your love for Python and backend development. Share specific projects or experiences where you've built APIs or services using Flask, as this will show us you're the right fit for our team.
Be Clear and Concise:We appreciate clear communication, so keep your application straightforward. Avoid jargon and focus on explaining your experience in a way that's easy to understand. Remember, we want to see how you think and communicate your ideas!
Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Skills:Include examples of challenges you've faced in your previous work and how you tackled them. This will give us insight into your engineering judgement and how you approach problem-solving, which is super important for the role.
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to apply 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 us you're keen to join our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Skin + Me
✨Know Your Stack Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in Python, Flask, and SQLAlchemy. Be ready to discuss your past projects where you built backend services and APIs. Prepare to walk through a non-trivial piece of work that showcases your skills and understanding of the stack.
✨Demonstrate Clean Code Practices
Since they value clean code, be prepared to talk about how you ensure your code is well-tested and maintainable. Bring examples of your work that highlight your attention to detail and your instinct for testing, as this will show you care about correctness.
✨Communicate Clearly
Practice explaining your thought process and decisions crisply. Since much of the work involves written communication, being able to articulate your ideas clearly will set you apart. Consider preparing a few key points on how you approach documentation and PRs.
✨Show Enthusiasm for Growth
They’re looking for someone who’s eager to learn and grow. If you have less experience with tools like AWS or Docker, express your willingness to dive into these areas. Highlight any instances where you’ve taken the initiative to learn new technologies or improve your skills.
