At a Glance
- Tasks: Build backend services and APIs for innovative skincare solutions.
- Company: Join a fast-growing tech company revolutionising skincare with personalised treatments.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, flexible working, and generous holiday.
- Other info: Dynamic team culture with opportunities for personal growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in healthcare while developing your engineering skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in Python and Flask, with a passion for clean code.
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.
Sound like you? We'd love to hear from you.
Backend Engineer (Python) in London employer: Skin + Me
At +Me, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our hybrid model allows for flexibility while working alongside a talented team in our vibrant Paddington HQ, where you'll have access to meaningful growth opportunities, competitive compensation, and unique perks like a dog-friendly environment and a personal development budget. Join us in revolutionising skincare and enjoy the benefits of being part of a profitable, fast-growing company that values your contributions and well-being.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Backend Engineer (Python) in London
✨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 us your passion! When you get the chance to chat with us, share why you're excited about working at +Me and how you can contribute to our mission. Authentic enthusiasm goes a long way!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Backend Engineer (Python) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Backend Engineer role. Highlight your experience with Python, Flask, and any relevant projects that showcase your backend skills. We want to see how you fit into our mission!
Show Your Work:When discussing your past projects, be specific! Walk us through a non-trivial piece of work you've done, especially if it involved building APIs or data models. This helps us understand your thought process and technical depth.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We appreciate clear communication, so make sure your application is easy to read. Avoid jargon unless necessary, and focus on explaining your decisions crisply. Remember, much of our work is written, so this is a good chance to show off your skills!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to the right people. Plus, it shows us you're keen on joining 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 a non-trivial project where you built backend services or APIs. This is your chance to showcase your hands-on experience and explain your thought process clearly.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to walk through your approach to data modelling and API design. Think of specific examples where you had to troubleshoot issues or improve performance. Showing that you care about correctness will resonate well with the team.
✨Brush Up on Frontend Basics
While backend is your main focus, being comfortable with React changes is a plus. Familiarise yourself with how frontend and backend interact, and be ready to discuss how you’ve collaborated across these areas in past projects.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Since much of the work involves written communication, practice explaining your decisions crisply. Whether it’s about code reviews or documentation, clear communication is key. Show that you can articulate your ideas effectively.