At a Glance
- Tasks: Own backend features, shape architecture, and build AI systems for preventative health.
- Company: Join Do Health, a mobile-first startup backed by Voy, a leading digital health company.
- Benefits: Genuine equity, competitive salary, hybrid work, and direct access to leadership.
- Other info: Fast hiring process and excellent career growth opportunities in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in preventative health with cutting-edge technology and a dynamic team.
- Qualifications: 5-8 years of backend experience, architectural thinking, and a track record of reliable systems.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
We're hiring a Founding Backend Engineer at Do Health - a mobile-first preventative health product co-founded by Dr Rangan Chatterjee, built as an independent startup inside Voy. Voy is one of the UK's fastest-growing digital health companies (£300M+ revenue, doubling next year, ~2x YoY growth across men's health, metabolic health, menopause, hormonal health, TRT, dermatology and more). Do Health is its next chapter: the first product designed not to treat illness, but to prevent it. The product combines regular blood tests, longitudinal health data, behaviour-change science and AI personalisation to help people make better lifestyle decisions over time. We already run AI systems in production at a scale very few UK companies match.
You'd join a 10-person team, partnering directly with our lead engineer on the backend. There's no layer of management between you and the work. What you ship in month one is what users get. This is a rare opportunity to join a setting with a true early-stage startup spirit, yet backed by a major digital healthcare player.
What you'll actually do:
- Own major backend features end-to-end - design, build, ship, monitor, iterate.
- Shape architecture alongside the lead. Real technical decisions, made by you, kept or changed based on what works.
- Scale our blood testing infrastructure across the UK and internationally as we expand.
- Build production AI systems - personalisation engines that act on longitudinal health data at scale.
- Improve reliability, observability, and the foundations that everything else depends on as the product grows.
- Work directly with product, design, and clinical teams. No tickets thrown over walls.
The kind of engineer this works for:
- 5–8 years of backend experience with strong fundamentals. We care more about depth than years.
- Experience at a startup or scale-up where you genuinely owned things.
- Architectural thinking. You can hold an end-to-end technical conversation about systems you've built — what trade-offs you made, what broke, what you'd do differently.
- A track record of shipping reliable systems. Not just features — the boring infrastructure that keeps them up.
- Comfort with judgement calls in ambiguous situations. Most decisions here don't have a clear right answer.
- Confident, responsible use of AI tools in your workflow. Not 'vibe coding' - using them as a force multiplier where they help, ignoring them where they don't.
Nice-to-have, not required:
- Strong TypeScript / Node.js experience (it's our primary stack, but we'll happily hire someone excellent in Go, Kotlin, Python or similar).
- Experience scaling systems to high user volumes.
- Exposure to ML/AI systems in production.
- Healthcare or regulated-industry experience.
Why this might be the right move:
- Genuine equity in a product with real upside, not lottery-ticket equity at a company that may never exit.
- Startup velocity with grown-up backing - Voy isn't going anywhere, so you're not betting your mortgage on Series A survival.
- A product that matters. Preventative health is one of the few areas where building software actually changes outcomes, not just engagement metrics.
- A high technical bar from day one. You're not joining a team that needs convincing to do things properly.
- Direct access to leadership - your work, your decisions, your name on them.
Practical details:
- Location: London.
- Working pattern: Hybrid, ~3 days per week in person.
- Compensation: Competitive - happy to discuss bands early in the process.
- Process: Intentionally short. Hiring manager interview, technical conversation, team chat. We move fast for the right person.
Senior Backend Engineer/Founding Engineer in London employer: Voy
At Do Health, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and innovative work culture. As a founding engineer, you'll have the unique opportunity to shape the future of preventative health alongside a small, dedicated team, while benefiting from the stability and resources of Voy, one of the UK's fastest-growing digital health companies. With a focus on employee growth, direct access to leadership, and the chance to make a tangible impact on people's lives, this role offers a rewarding and meaningful career path in a vibrant London setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Backend Engineer/Founding Engineer 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 Voy 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
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Voy.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Voy.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Voy that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Backend Engineer/Founding Engineer in London
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 Voy.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Voy 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 Voy
✨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 Voy 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.