Backend Engineer

Salary: £40,000 - £50,000 per year

Location: UK based. This is primarily a remote role with flexible working, and we also have an office in Birmingham if you're local and would like to use it.

Contract: full time, permanent

At Substrakt, we help arts and cultural organisations create exceptional digital experiences, and we’re looking for a Backend Engineer to help us do just that.

We’re looking for a Python developer, ideally with experience of Django and Wagtail, to help us build and develop our Python platforms and products. It would be a real advantage if you’re also comfortable working with PHP and WordPress, as this would let you support our existing client websites too.

As part of our Engineering and Design team, you’ll build reliable, high quality backend solutions that power our clients’ websites and digital products. From Substrakt’s own products, new website builds and custom integrations to performance improvements and ongoing support, you’ll work on varied technical challenges alongside colleagues who enjoy sharing ideas and solving problems together.

Substrakt is an equal opportunities employer. We believe that diversity of thought and experience makes us stronger, and we actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and abilities. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

What you’ll do

• Build, deploy and maintain backend solutions: Work across new website builds, updates to existing websites, API integrations and server-side development, primarily in Python, Django and Wagtail, and contributing to our existing PHP and WordPress websites where needed. . Deploy to staging and production environments, following release processes and carrying out checks after deployment.
• Ensure quality, security and performance: Write clear, efficient code following secure development practices. Use manual and automated testing and take part in peer code reviews. Investigate bugs, optimise database queries and help keep our websites and applications reliable, responsive and secure.
• Collaborate and share knowledge: Work closely with other Backend Engineers, Frontend Engineers, Designers and Client Success Managers. Contribute to scoping, technical planning and solution reviews, maintain useful documentation and join client conversations when your technical input is needed.
• Take ownership of your work: Estimate tasks, communicate progress and flag issues early. Take responsibility for delivery and technical quality, with support from senior engineers on more complex challenges, and contribute ideas that improve how we work.
• Support our live services: Troubleshoot issues affecting live websites and applications, and participate in our out-of-hours on-call rota to respond to urgent incidents. You’ll cover up to eight one-week rotations per year, with an additional payment equivalent to 5% of your normal hourly rate for each hour of on-call cover, plus one additional day of annual leave per rotation.

Requirements

What you’ll bring

• Solid, practical experience building and maintaining Python web applications, ideally using Django and/or Wagtail.
• Experience working with APIs and relational databases such as PostgreSQL and MySQL.
• An understanding of automated testing, Git and maintainable software design.
• Awareness of secure development practices, performance optimisation and application reliability.
• Curiosity, initiative and a willingness to learn, share knowledge and support others.
• A thoughtful approach to troubleshooting, knowing when to investigate independently and when to ask for support.
• Clear, friendly communication and an enthusiasm for collaborating in a primarily remote team.

It would also be useful to have

• Experience with PHP and WordPress, and confidence supporting and developing existing sites built with them.
• Familiarity with Heroku, AWS or Cloudflare.
• Experience with CRM systems, databases and ticketing platforms used by arts and cultural organisations, particularly how they integrate with websites.

You don’t need experience with every technology we use, or to have followed a particular career path. What matters most is that you have practical Python experience, care about the quality of your work and enjoy solving problems with others.

If this sounds like you, and you like the sound of us, we’d love to hear from you.

Benefits

What Substrakt brings

We’re a B Corp certified team that values creativity, openness and continual improvement. We believe in creating work we’re proud of and supporting each other to grow along the way. You’ll have the chance to work with inspiring arts and cultural organisations, contributing to websites and products that help people discover and experience their work.

• Flexible working: A primarily remote role, with a Birmingham office and flexibility that supports autonomy and work-life balance.
• Time off: 25 days’ annual leave, increasing with every two years of service, plus bank holidays and your birthday off. We also offer enhanced leave policies to support parents and carers.
• On-call compensation: Additional pay and one extra day of annual leave for each completed week of on-call cover.
• Health and wellbeing: A healthcare cashback scheme and a monthly wellbeing allowance of £50 to spend on whatever makes you feel good, whether that’s a gym membership, a meal out or a treatment.
• Professional development: Six days each year to focus on your development, with a £500 budget to support your learning.
• Connection: Regular team communication and opportunities to spend time together, including two company-funded team gatherings each year.
• Space to do good work: Clear responsibilities and thoughtful ways of working, so you understand what you’re accountable for and can focus on doing your best work.
• A voice in how we work: Opportunities to join our steering groups and help shape our approach to equality, diversity and inclusion, internal culture, accessibility, AI and sustainability.