About this role.
Northflank is hiring a remote Backend Software Engineer to build and improve the core services behind its cloud-native application platform. The role focuses on scalable APIs, database optimisation, microservices, fault tolerance, and system performance. Candidates need at least three years of backend development experience, with strong skills in Go, Python, or Node.js and SQL/NoSQL databases. Experience with distributed systems, cloud providers, Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD, and message queues is advantageous. Working hours must align with UTC within two hours, and the role offers salary, equity, and benefits.
Role DNA
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Job Complexity
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4/5Autonomy Level
4/5Communication Load
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Core skills
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Cover letter sample
Dear Hiring Team,
I am excited to apply for the Backend Software Engineer role at Northflank. My backend engineering experience includes designing scalable APIs and services, improving database performance, and building reliable cloud-native systems using modern development practices.
I would bring a practical, collaborative approach to strengthening the platform’s performance, availability, and developer experience. I am particularly motivated by Northflank’s work in infrastructure software and the opportunity to contribute to a high-growth, remote-first engineering team.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience with backend systems, microservices, and cloud tooling can support Northflank’s roadmap.
Sample interview questions
I would begin by clarifying throughput, latency, consistency, availability, and failure-recovery requirements. I would define service boundaries and data ownership, select appropriate synchronous or asynchronous communication patterns, implement observability and resilience measures, and validate the design through load and failure testing.
I would use query profiling and database metrics to identify slow queries, missing indexes, lock contention, and inefficient data access patterns. Depending on the workload, I would improve schema and indexes, reduce unnecessary queries, introduce caching or read replicas, and measure the impact while protecting data integrity.
I use clear API contracts, versioning where necessary, automated tests, code review, and documentation to maintain compatibility. For changes with risk, I favour incremental rollout techniques such as feature flags, canary releases, monitoring, and a tested rollback plan.
I would investigate using logs, metrics, traces, recent deployment history, and dependency health to establish the incident’s scope and likely cause. I would prioritise mitigation and transparent stakeholder communication, then document the root cause, corrective actions, and preventive monitoring or testing improvements.
I aim to make technical decisions understandable by explaining the customer impact, operational trade-offs, risks, and alternatives rather than focusing only on implementation details. I seek early input from frontend, DevOps, and product colleagues, record decisions, and use code reviews and retrospectives to improve alignment.
Northflank is a cutting-edge cloud platform enabling developers to build and ship highly scalable, full-stack applications faster than ever before. We are a venture-backed company, and our platform is used by tens of thousands of developers worldwide in production.
We are currently looking for a backend software engineer to join our team of passionate, dedicated professionals. As a backend software engineer at Northflank, you will play a crucial role in building core technology and contributing to the platform’s stability, performance, and product roadmap.
This position is remote.
Timezone: Working hours aligned with UTC ± 2 hours
Key Responsibilities:
Design and implement scalable backend systems and APIs
Optimize database performance and data structures
Develop and maintain microservices architecture
Ensure high availability and fault tolerance of our systems
Collaborate with front-end developers and DevOps teams
Participate in code reviews and technical discussions
Requirements:
3+ years of experience in backend development
Proficiency in languages such as Go, Python, or Node.js
Strong knowledge of databases (SQL and NoSQL)
Understanding of RESTful APIs and microservices architecture
Excellent problem-solving and communication skills
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with distributed systems and message queues
Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure)
Familiarity with containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes)
Knowledge of CI/CD practices and tools
Contributions to open-source projects
We offer a competitive salary, equity, and benefits package, and the opportunity to be part of a fast-growing startup at the forefront of the cloud-native revolution.
If you are passionate about infrastructure software and want to join a dynamic team, we’d love to hear from you!
Compensation
The compensation for this role will depend on a number of factors including but not limited to: skill set, experience, training, and location. The salary range is between £45k-£100k.
Diversity Statement
At Northflank, we are committed to fostering a culture where every individual feels valued, respected, and supported, regardless of their background or identity. We are dedicated to providing equal treatment and opportunity throughout hiring, selection, and employment regardless of gender, race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, or any other legally protected category. Northflank is an equal opportunity employer.
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