At a Glance
- Tasks: Develop and maintain backend services using Python, optimising performance and reliability.
- Company: Join a tech-driven digital business with a collaborative culture and real impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy remote work, competitive salary, and monthly office visits covered by the company.
- Other info: Flexible environment with high autonomy and opportunities for continuous learning.
- Why this job: Make a difference in a small team while working with cutting-edge AI tools.
- Qualifications: 4+ years of Python experience and familiarity with relational databases like PostgreSQL.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 70000 £ per year.
Remote (Ireland / Northern Ireland) | 1 day per month on site
Company Overview
A technology-driven digital business operating a large-scale consumer platform with significant daily user activity. This is a small IT function within a broader organisation, giving you direct visibility into how your work impacts the business in real time. You will see your changes go live, influence product direction, and work closely with key stakeholders across the company. The environment is collaborative and flexible, with a strong emphasis on ownership, autonomy, and practical problem solving.
The Opportunity
This role sits within a lean IT team made up of two developers. You will work closely with the Lead Developer, who also acts as the technical manager, bringing a complementary Python skill set. Beyond engineering, you will collaborate directly with marketing, operations, and the Managing Director, helping translate business needs into technical solutions that drive the company forward. The platform is highly data-driven, so the role is predominantly backend focused, with an approximate split of 80 percent backend and 20 percent frontend. Frontend work is increasingly supported by AI-assisted development tools, making experience with AI-driven workflows essential. This position would suit someone who is comfortable working independently, while also partnering closely with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
What we are looking for
This is an ideal opportunity for a hands-on Python engineer who enjoys solving real-world problems, working with data, and building efficient backend systems. The successful candidate will join a small, collaborative engineering team where flexibility, curiosity, and a willingness to learn are highly valued. The role is primarily backend-focused, with strong emphasis on Python development, data processing, and system performance. You will contribute to the ongoing improvement of a high-traffic web platform, helping to ensure reliability, scalability, and maintainability across the system. The team is particularly interested in engineers who are comfortable using modern AI tools (for example tools similar to Claude or other coding assistants) to enhance productivity, automate workflows, and improve development efficiency.
This position would suit someone who:
- Enjoys working in a small, agile team environment
- Is adaptable and comfortable wearing multiple hats
- Has an interest in data, automation, and system performance
- Takes ownership of problems and proposes practical solutions
- Is motivated to continuously learn and improve
Responsibilities
- Developing and maintaining backend services using Python-based frameworks
- Designing and managing database schemas to support reliable data storage and retrieval
- Writing efficient SQL queries and improving database performance where required
- Building background processing jobs and automated workflows to handle system tasks
- Creating APIs and backend functionality to support user-facing features
- Supporting deployment, monitoring, and reliability of cloud-hosted systems
- Investigating and resolving production issues in a timely manner
- Contributing to system improvements and identifying opportunities to simplify or modernize existing components
- Supporting data-related initiatives, including reporting, analytics, and data movement between systems
- Using AI-assisted tools to streamline development, testing, and troubleshooting activities
Technical Requirements
- 4+ years commercial experience developing applications in Python
- Experience working with relational databases, particularly PostgreSQL
- Ability to write and optimize SQL queries for performance and scalability
- Familiarity with asynchronous processing or background job systems
- Experience building or supporting APIs and backend services
- Understanding of cloud-hosted environments (e.g., AWS or similar platforms)
- Exposure to version control systems and collaborative development practices
- Comfortable working with data pipelines, reporting, or analytics workflows
- Interest in leveraging AI tools to improve development efficiency
Additional Information
Fully remote role within Ireland or Northern Ireland. Monthly visit to the office (one overnight stay, fully covered by the company). Office located approximately one hour north of Dublin. High level of autonomy and direct impact on business outcomes.
Python Software Engineer (Mid to Senior) – Backend Focus in Southampton employer: Solas IT Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Solas IT Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Python Software Engineer (Mid to Senior) – Backend Focus in Southampton
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at local meetups. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a GitHub profile showcasing your Python projects and contributions. This gives potential employers a sneak peek into your coding style and problem-solving abilities.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews! Brush up on common Python questions and be ready to discuss how you’ve tackled real-world problems. We want to see your thought process and how you approach challenges.
✨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, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Python Software Engineer (Mid to Senior) – Backend Focus in Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your Python experience and backend development skills. We want to see how your past work aligns with the role, so don’t be shy about showcasing relevant projects or technologies you've used.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re excited about this opportunity at StudySmarter and how your skills can help us tackle real-world problems. Keep it engaging and personal!
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, mention specific examples where you’ve solved complex issues or improved system performance. We love candidates who take ownership and can demonstrate their practical problem-solving abilities.
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 the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Solas IT Recruitment
✨Know Your Python Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your Python skills before the interview. Be ready to discuss your experience with Python frameworks and how you've used them in past projects. They’ll likely want to hear about specific challenges you faced and how you solved them.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to talk about real-world problems you've tackled, especially those related to backend systems and data processing. Think of examples where you took ownership of a problem and proposed practical solutions, as this aligns with what they value in their team.
✨Familiarise Yourself with AI Tools
Since the role involves using AI-assisted development tools, it’s a good idea to have some knowledge about these technologies. Be ready to discuss any experience you have with AI-driven workflows and how they’ve improved your productivity in previous roles.
✨Understand Their Business Impact
Research the company and understand how your role as a Python Software Engineer will impact their consumer platform. Be prepared to discuss how your contributions can drive the business forward, especially in terms of system performance and reliability.