Senior Backend Engineer, Yoto
£80-90k
Plus share option programme
More information about location
Interactive audio platform for kids
Be an early applicant
Interactive audio platform for kids
101-200 employees
Be an early applicant
£80-90k
Plus share option programme
More information about location
101-200 employees
Company mission
To help parents inspire the next generation of independent, creative minds.
Role
Who you are
- The ability to work independently with maturity. Knowing when to - take initiative, collaborate, seek help or feedback. And how to - reach a decision, unblock yourself, influence others etc…
- A desire to continuously learn and adapt. We work across a broad domain (hardware <> software) and we’re growing which often means periodic change
- Experience working in a cross-functional team, collaborating closely with different people, skillsets and roles (Other types of Engineers, QA, Product). Being open to different perspectives. Supporting and mentoring others around you
- Pride and joy in your work. Observed as good design, code and test quality, reasoned decisions. We give autonomy in this space, but have high expectations
- Expertise in slicing large, broad problems into iteratively deliverable solutions. We deploy daily and avoid big-bang solutions
- An open mind to new technologies and tooling - notably exploring what opportunities or changes in behaviour AI tooling offers
- Experience with at least one of the following: Event-driven architecture and AWS managed services; IoT devices and communication using MQTT; Authentication/Authorisation (security, access management and controls)
What the job involves
- We’re looking for a Senior Backend Engineer to join one of our teams working on the core of the Yoto Platform, a collection of serverless API’s, databases and services
- Working in an asynchronous, remote-friendly team environment where team members are likely to be working remotely. Embracing remote-friendly tooling and behaviours
- Working with managed environments in AWS
- Writing, clean, simple and robust code and deploying safely multiple times a day. We test-drive our code and heavily rely on test automation
- Working on systems that can experience up to 20x load increases during peak periods
- Working across a broad domain of systems that cover authentication/authorisation, content search and content distribution
- Co-ownership of team responsibilities, such as continuous improvement, CI/CD, code and test quality, and impact of solutions
- Working in a document-first environment. We like to start work with a conversation and a written document. We use design documents when forming solutions and RFC’s to reach decisions
Salary benchmarks
Our take
A key development in the last 5 years has been a move towards screen-based kids entertainment like apps and streaming services. However, more recently there have been concerns that excessive screen time for children can be damaging to health and development. So, many consumers are looking for alternative products which will expose children to modernity without the drawbacks of many modern devices. This is the demand which Yoto is setting out to capitalise on.
Yoto's product - a screen-free audio platform - enables children to access features such as audiobooks, podcasts, and soundscapes via physical cards inserted into the device. The Yoto Player has received considerable early praise from consumers and from investors also, who granted Yoto considerable funding.
Perhaps the most difficult challenge for a business operating in the highly competitive children's toys market is keeping its product current. However, Yoto's software is fully customisable, meaning that alongside its library of content, parents can add their own audio files to the device to suit the interests of their children. This imbibes Yoto with a customisability that gives it an edge, especially as children's tastes change with age.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Meet the team
11 people
Niamh Power, Tech Lead Manager
Our mission
Looking after Yoto's native iOS & Android apps, which allow parents to control and manage their players, their library and discovering new contentInsights
Company
Employee endorsements
Flexible working
"At Yoto I'm treated as an adult, and given the autonomy to get on with what I need to get done at work while also getting done what I need to in my..."
Funding (last 2 of 3 rounds)
Jun 2024
$23m
ANGEL
May 2021
$17m
SERIES A
Total funding: $43.4m
Company benefits
- Your birthday off
- Choice-based approach to where you work - we encourage everyone to come in to the office minimum once a month
- A Work from Anywhere policy giving you the opportunity to work from a different location for a temporary period
- Yoto player and starter pack of cards
- Company socials and celebrations, including our annual Yoto Fest
- 2x volunteer days a year
- 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- Family-friendly leave
- 25 days holidays plus bank holidays
- Workplace pension
- Private Medical Insurance or Wellbeing Allowance
- Dental advice and guidance
- Income Protection
- Life Assurance
Company HQ
Somers Town, London, UK
Articles
Leadership
Ben Drury
(Co-Founder & CEO)He has extensive experience as a Non Executive Director for the likes of Marmalade and Intercede. Since 2016, he has also been a board member and investor for Pimoroni.
Filip Denker
(Co-Founder & CTO)People progressing
Beth is our wonderful Head of Product, she got promoted to the position after 2 years as a Senior Product Manager.
Niamh is our superstar Tech Lead Manager for the iOS team, she got promoted to the position after 18 months as a Senior iOS Engineer.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Yoto
Clemence Strobl (Talent & People Manager)
- At Yoto, we love creating a world where childhood is rich with discovery and joy. We’re also passionate about building a workplace where everyone can thrive - both professionally and personally. We value flexibility and give our team the freedom to balance life and work in ways that suit them.
- We're committed to fostering a safe, diverse, and inclusive environment where all individuals, regardless of their background, feel valued and supported. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion group holds bi-monthly forums to elevate diverse voices and perspectives, ensuring everyone at Yoto feels heard, respected, and appreciated.
- We don’t just embrace differences - we celebrate them. We share audio content from a vibrant and diverse community of creators, and we are building a team that reflects that same diversity. We invite candidates from all walks of life to explore opportunities with us and join a company that champions flexibility, equity, and inclusion.
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