Back-End Engineer

Who you are

• Comfortable writing clear, testable Python. You do not need to be an expert
• 1+ years of commercial engineering experience
• Working knowledge of relational databases. We use PostgreSQL
• Curious about the full stack and up for picking up front end (React, TypeScript) over time
• Clear written and spoken communication. You can explain technical work in a way non-engineers can act on
• You care how your work affects customers, and use experiments and metrics to guide decisions
• You have experience of writing automated tests and take code quality and safe releases seriously
• You use AI (Cursor, Claude Code or similar) in your daily flow – whether for work or for fun. You use it to blast through boilerplate and research so you can focus on the hard parts: complex architecture, rigour and high-stakes decisions
• Familiarity with Python web frameworks (Django, FastAPI)
• Exposure to Docker, AWS or Kubernetes at any level
• Any exposure to data tooling such as Snowflake or Looker
• A strong numerical or technical background, with a degree in maths, physics, computer science, engineering, or relevant industry experience

What the job involves

• We're looking for a back-end engineer to join the Repeats team. You will work on the services that decide which repeat customers get a loan, at what price, and how much they can borrow. These sit at the heart of iwoca's back book
• The Repeats team is one of iwoca's funnel teams. We grow customer lifetime value after a business's first loan. That means we own the underwriting, pricing, and product experience for two segments that make up most of iwoca's back-book value: top-up customers who borrow again while still repaying, and loan-ended customers who return for a new loan
• Almost every repeat borrower goes through code we own. The team is cross-functional – backend, frontend, product, design, data science and analytics – shipping behind split tests and measuring impact in Looker rather than on gut feel
• Your first project will be the re-architecture of our flex-loan repeat offer pipeline: the flow that decides who is eligible for a new loan, what they pay, and how much they can borrow. This area has been under-invested for years. Once the new pipeline is in place, product has a clear runway of features ready to ship on top of it
• You will own backend features end-to-end, from design through to shipping and monitoring them in production. Over time, you will pick up front-end work and grow into a full-stack role
• Work on the systems that shape every repeat customer's offer, and move the metrics behind iwoca's back-book performance
• Ship features that make it faster and clearer for small business owners to access follow-on funding
• Work through the full development lifecycle – from technical design and implementation to rollout behind a split test – on well-defined components
• Maintain and support the core services behind repeat lending: the lending_decision app inside iwoca-django, the repeats pricing and offer-amount services, and the customer account pages
• Help monitor production and troubleshoot issues when they come up
• Work closely with Product, Design, Data Science and Analytics to build solutions that make sense technically and land well for customers
• Show up to team rituals – stand-ups, retros, planning – with context and questions
• Write clean, well-tested Python, and take part in code reviews to learn from teammates and keep quality high
• Pick up front-end work in Pandora (React, TypeScript) so you can own features end-to-end over time

Benefits

• Work where you work best: Twice a year we rent houses in places like Sicily and the French Alps where each team can work together for a week poolside. We champion flexible working in all our teams
• Invest in iwoca: We want people to be invested in iwoca's success so after six months you'll be awarded share options
• Keep yourself healthy: We offer comprehensive health insurance and cash plans. You'll also get gym discounts and we host yoga classes in the office every week
• Start (and end) your day right: Each floor of iwoca HQ has a fully stocked fridge for breakfast and every Friday we unwind with beers and wine
• Life-work balance: We know your life outside of work comes first. We offer enhanced maternity and paternity leave for new parents plus a nursery benefit. We also have unlimited unpaid leave
• Learning and development: Whether you want to learn to code, experiment with motion design, or beat cognitive biases, you'll have time and budget to invest in your professional development