At a Glance
- Tasks: Scale infrastructure for AI workflows and design reliable systems under high load.
- Company: Innovative Series A startup focused on developer infrastructure.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity options, and a paid trial day.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with high intrinsic motivation and excellent growth potential.
- Why this job: Join a small team tackling complex backend challenges with real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in backend engineering at scale and strong understanding of distributed systems.
The predicted salary is between 136000 - 180000 £ per year.
I'm working with a Series A developer infrastructure startup on one of the more technically demanding backend roles I've come across this year. The platform runs AI agents and background workflows in production, at massive scale. Some customers execute hundreds of millions of jobs per month. The team is ~13 people. There are no engineering managers. Engineers own large parts of the system and work directly with the founders on architecture.
The core challenge right now is infrastructure scale. Execution volume is growing faster than the team can build, which means the next hires are walking into a genuine distributed systems problem, not a greenfield rebuild or a dashboard feature.
What you'll be working on:
- Scaling the infrastructure that executes millions to billions of AI agent workflows per month
- Designing and operating reliable systems under extreme concurrency and rapid load spikes
- Building secure execution environments for user-generated code (Firecracker micro-VMs)
- Server lifecycle management — spinning capacity up and down rapidly under load
- Observability and reliability tooling across the platform
The stack:
- TypeScript (99% of the codebase)
- PostgreSQL, Redis, ClickHouse
- Go emerging as a second language — experience is a bonus but not required
- Kubernetes background useful (they're evolving away from it, but the mindset matters)
What they're looking for:
- Backend engineers who've operated systems at serious scale — fintech, devtools, or infrastructure-heavy SaaS
- Deep understanding of distributed systems, reliability, and infrastructure design
- Comfortable owning large surface areas with minimal direction
- Engineers who use AI tooling heavily — this is screened for directly in the interview
- High intrinsic motivation — the team moves fast and doesn't slow down for anyone
What they're not looking for:
- Full-stack engineers whose instinct is to reach for the frontend
- Anyone who needs structured management to ship
- Candidates coming from large enterprises or low-velocity environments
Compensation:
- Senior: £136k–£150k + ~0.3% equity
- Staff: £164k–£180k + ~0.3% equity
- Paid trial day as part of the process (£400)
The bar is high. The trial day has roughly a 10% pass rate. But if you've built backend systems at scale and you're the kind of engineer who finds that motivating rather than off-putting — drop me a message.
Backend Engineer in London employer: Wave Talent
Join a dynamic and innovative Series A startup that offers an exceptional opportunity for Backend Engineers to work on cutting-edge infrastructure challenges at scale. With a flat organisational structure, you'll collaborate directly with founders and have the autonomy to own significant parts of the system, fostering a culture of innovation and rapid growth. Enjoy competitive compensation, equity options, and the chance to be part of a small, agile team that values high intrinsic motivation and technical excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Backend Engineer in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, especially those who work at startups or in backend engineering. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings and even referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio of projects or contributions to open-source, make sure to highlight them. It’s a great way to demonstrate your experience with distributed systems and infrastructure design.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of AI tooling and backend systems. Practice coding challenges that focus on scalability and reliability, as these are key areas for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and take the initiative to reach out directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Backend Engineer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Experience:When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight your experience with backend systems at scale. We want to see how you've tackled challenges in distributed systems and infrastructure design, so don't hold back!
Be Specific About Your Skills:Mention the technologies you’ve worked with, especially TypeScript, PostgreSQL, and any experience with Kubernetes. We love seeing candidates who are comfortable with the tools we use, so be specific about your skills and projects.
Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Skills:We’re looking for engineers who thrive on challenges. In your application, share examples of how you've solved complex problems in high-pressure environments. This will show us that you can handle the fast-paced nature of our team.
Apply Through Our Website:Make sure to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. We can't wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Wave Talent
✨Know Your Tech Stack Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in TypeScript, PostgreSQL, and Redis. Brush up on your knowledge of distributed systems and how they operate at scale. Be ready to discuss specific projects where you've tackled similar challenges.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to talk about real-world scenarios where you've had to design reliable systems under pressure. Think about examples that highlight your ability to manage rapid load spikes and how you’ve approached scaling infrastructure.
✨Demonstrate Your AI Tooling Experience
Since the role requires heavy use of AI tooling, come prepared with examples of how you've integrated AI into your backend processes. Discuss any relevant tools or frameworks you've used and the impact they had on your projects.
✨Emphasise Your Independence and Motivation
This team values engineers who can own large parts of the system with minimal direction. Be ready to share instances where you took initiative and drove projects forward without needing structured management.
