Remote Software Engineer in Essex

About us

At Zego, we think traditional motor insurance holds good drivers back. It's too complicated, too expensive, and it doesn't take into account how well you actually drive. Since 2016, we've been changing that — building insurance priced fairly for good drivers, from van drivers and gig workers to everyday motorists. We've sold tens of millions of policies and raised over $200M in funding. And we're only just getting started.

About the role

We're hiring a Backend Engineer to join one of our product teams. This is a hands-on backend role for someone early in their career who's already shipping code professionally and wants to grow into a Backend Engineer — fast. You'll be supported by experienced engineers and a strong team culture, but we'll expect you to own your work, ask good questions, and actively drive your own development. This isn't a role for someone who wants to sit at this level for years. We want someone with their eye on what's next.

What you will be doing

• Building, testing, and shipping backend services that power products used by our customers every day
• Writing clear, well-tested code that you and your teammates will be happy to maintain
• Reviewing other engineers' code and learning from theirs
• Pairing with senior engineers on harder problems and levelling up along the way
• Asking questions, seeking feedback, and taking ownership of the things you don't yet know
• Using AI tools as part of your daily workflow — and helping the team get better at using them

About you

We don't mind which language you've been writing in. What matters is that you've been actively developing software in a professional setting and have solid programming fundamentals — data structures, basic algorithms, OOP, testing, version control. Our stack is mostly Python, and you'll pick it up quickly if you don't already know it.

What we really care about:

• Growth mindset: You treat gaps in your knowledge as opportunities, not weaknesses. You go and find what you don't know rather than waiting to be told.
• Curiosity about AI: You're already experimenting with AI tools in your work, or you're hungry to. You see them as leverage.
• Hunger to progress: You want to be a Senior Engineer, and you want to get there as fast as you reasonably can. You're up for putting in the work.
• Initiative: You don't wait around for the next task or the next learning opportunity. You go looking.
• Good communication: You can explain what you're working on, ask for help when you're stuck, and give useful feedback in code reviews.

What’s it like to work at Zego?

Joining Zego is a career-defining move. People go further here, reaching their full potential to achieve extraordinary things. We’re spread between Portugal and the UK, and united by our drive to get things done. We’re proud of our company and our culture – a friendly and inclusive space where we can lift each other up and celebrate our wins every day. Together, we’re setting the bar higher, delivering exceptional work that makes a difference. Our people are the most important part of our story, and everyone here plays a role. There’s loads of room to learn and grow, and you’ll get the freedom to steer your career wherever you want. You’ll work alongside a talented group who embrace each other's differences and aren’t afraid of a challenge. We recognise our achievements, learn from our mistakes, and help each other to be the best we can be. Together, we’re making insurance matter.

How we work

We believe that teams work better when they have time to collaborate and space to get things done. We call it Zego Hybrid. While some of our team choose to come into our central London office once a week, we’re flexible - some people prefer being in once a month or even quarterly. It’s all about finding the right balance between collaborative face time and focused home-working, so we can achieve great results while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Our approach to AI

AI is changing how we work, and we want people who are leaning into that — using it to move faster, think differently, and focus on what matters. You don't need to be an expert. You do need to be curious and intentional about how you use it.

Benefits

We reward our people well. Join us and you’ll get a market-competitive salary, private medical insurance, company share options, generous holiday allowance, and a whole lot of wellbeing benefits. We also offer an annual flexible hybrid working contribution, which you can use to support with your travel to the office or towards your own personal development. And that’s just for starters!

We’re an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status.