Senior Backend Engineer

Drive; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance-based bonus

Private medical insurance

Hybrid working (Holborn, London + WFH)

Birthday day off

Job summary

Drive is seeking a skilled backend engineer to design, build, and scale highly available services in Python, with Django or FastAPI. You’ll work closely with Product, Design, and Sales to translate complex business needs into robust architectures, while embracing Agile practices and code reviews.

Based in London, we offer hybrid working with offices in Holborn and flexible remote days. You’ll join a fast-paced, collaborative team and have access to a modern stack including AWS, PostgreSQL,

Qualifications

• Strong technical skills to design and build scalable backend services, primarily in Python (in any framework).
• Analytical skills: a love for problem solving, and improving our working processes.
• A good understanding of databases, OO design, data structures, distributed systems and SOLID principles.
• Strong desire to work collaboratively with both your peers and business teams.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts to other team members.

Responsibilities

• Hands on building highly scalable and maintainable backend services.
• Turn intricate business needs into robust technical designs and high-level architecture.
• Use appropriate tools for development and be proactive in suggesting new tools, frameworks or techniques.
• Collaborate across Product, Design and Sales teams.
• Share technical solutions and product ideas through code and design reviews, pair programming, and presentations.
• Highlight areas we can improve on as a team practising Agile processes.

Skills

Python

Backend design

Distributed systems

SOLID principles

Tools

Django

FastAPI

AWS

Elasticsearch

PostgreSQL

Kafka

GitHub

Kubernetes

Redis

Job description

Who we are:

Buying, leasing or renting a vehicle should feel straightforward. Not complicated or hard work.

Drive brings everything together in one place, with multiple ways to get on the road.

It combines choice, simplicity and guidance, helping people explore their options and move in the way that makes sense for their life.

Backed by the expertise of Volkswagen Financial Services, Drive offers a flexible, modern experience designed to support better decisions, without pressure or complexity.

No pressure.

No wrong answers.

Just a better way to get moving. Your way.

If you’re looking for a meaningful challenge, and want to help shape the future of automotive experiences, then read on…

More recently, we’ve been on a journey…

In June 2025 we were acquired by Volkswagen Financial Services UK (VWFS UK) and our mission is simple: build the right tech solutions for Volkswagen Group UK and its retailers, so they can deliver the best possible experiences to their customers.

We’re a mix of problem-solvers, innovators, and team players who care about doing great work and making a difference. We thrive on collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to excellence. We deliver impactful solutions at pace that put the customer at the centre.

If you’re looking for a meaningful challenge, and want to help shape the future of automotive experiences, then read on…

About the role :

Join the team and play a pivotal role in designing and building highly scalable and maintainable backend services. You’ll have the opportunity to leverage and suggest the latest tools and techniques, collaborating closely with Product, Design, and Sales teams. We encourage sharing technical solutions and product ideas through code and design reviews, pair programming, and presentations, all while continuously improving our Agile processes.

What you’ll do:

Our culture empowers our talented developers to develop using whichever tools we need to get the job done. To face the many challenges, including brilliant customer experience, data processing, microservice architecture and more.

• Hands on building highly scalable and maintainable backend services


• Turn intricate business needs into robust technical designs and high-level architecture


• Use appropriate tools for development and being proactive in suggesting new tools, frameworks or techniques


• Collaborate across functional teams including Product, Design and Sales


• Share technical solutions and product ideas through code and design reviews, pair programming, and presentations


• Highlight areas we can improve on as a team practising Agile processes


• Offer expert technical leadership and support while mentoring our developing engineering talent

Our Tech Stack:

• Python


• Django


• FastAPI


• AWS


• ElasticSearch


• Postgresql


• Kafka


• Github


• Kubernetes


• Redis

What you’ll need:

• Strong technical skills to design and build scalable backend services, primarily in Python (in any framework)


• Analytical skills: a love for problem solving, and improving our working processes. We are always learning


• A good understanding of databases, OO design, data structures, distributed systems and SOLID principles


• Strong desire to work collaboratively with both your peers and business teams


• The ability to communicate technical concepts to other members of the team.

What we’ll give you:

• Compensation: We offer a competitive salary + performance-based bonus


• Holidays: We want you to relax, you’ll have 28 days off (plus bank holidays) throughout the year. We also give you an extra day off to enjoy your birthday!


• Benefits + Perks: With private medical insurance, learning and development opportunities and mental health support, we’ll give you the extra boost.


• Hybrid Working: We have a flexible working culture here at Drive. With hybrid working in our offices in Holborn (London) and working from home days.


• Feedback: You’ll be joining more than just another scale up - our team are at the heart of everything we do; here we don’t leave things unsaid, we encourage honest feedback.


• A Challenge: Fast-paced but not fraught. So we need you to keep up, push back and question where you see fit.


• Fun: We provide a fully stocked kitchen and bar, an awesome office environment and epic socials.

If you’re ready to work with a creative, high-performing group of people we want to hear from you.