About the Role
We're hiring a hands-on Senior Python Backend Engineer to embed with a core engineering team building production systems for enterprise customers across Europe.
You'll partner directly with the founders and senior engineers to build, deploy, and harden services already running in production.
As one of the senior technical voices in the room, you'll own the backend end-to-end.
What You'll Do
- You'll be deep in the code, opinionated about system design, and comfortable owning the backend from architecture through to production.
- You'll work directly with engineers, product, and leadership to:
- Design and ship production services and APIs using Python (FastAPI, Django, or Flask)
- Build and optimise data models, queries, and storage across Postgres, Redis, and related systems
- Design for scale: caching, queuing, async processing, and performance under real production load
- Own deployment, monitoring, and reliability for the services you build (CI/CD, observability, incident response)
- Partner with product and engineering to ship in tight, fast-moving cycles
Requirements
- 5+ years in software engineering with at least 3 years deep in Python backend systems
- Production experience building and scaling APIs and services (not side projects or CRUD tutorials)
- Strong Python and backend fundamentals (FastAPI/Django, Postgres, Redis or similar)
- Hands-on experience with cloud infrastructure (AWS, GCP, or Azure), containerisation, and CI/CD pipelines
- Background shipping inside startup or product company environments (no consultancy profiles)
Day Rate & Engagement
Competitive day rate: £600 – £900
Outside IR35
Initial 6 month contract with extensions standard for strong performers
Location
This role is fully remote within the UK.
You will need to be UK-based and hold the right to work in the UK.
Occasional travel for team offsites or planning sessions may be required but the day-to-day is remote.
Before You Apply
This is a hands-on senior contract seat and the right person will have lived this before.
Please only apply if you meet all of the following:
You have shipped production Python backend systems to real external customers, at scale
You have worked in startup or scaleup environments and are comfortable operating in ambiguity
You are available for an initial 6 month commitment with strong likelihood of extension
You hold the right to work in the UK
You are comfortable being the senior backend technical voice in the room and self-managing in a remote setup