Senior Software Engineer, Distributed Systems - Backspin

Backspin squad makes experimentation simple and scalable at Skyscanner, enabling teams to generate self-serve insights that drive faster, higher-quality decisions—backed by reliable data.

We operate at the intersection of Web Engineering, Data Engineering, and Data Science, tackling a uniquely rich problem space. Our in-house experimentation platform puts us alongside industry leaders like Netflix, Airbnb, Uber, and Spotify, with continuous inspiration and ambition to refine and elevate our capabilities.

As a Senior Software Engineer in the Backspin Team, you will play a pivotal role in building and maintaining our experimentation platform, collaborating across disciplines to ensure that Skyscanner can make data-informed decisions at scale.

Key Responsibilities

✅ Develop & Scale Distributed Systems

• Design and maintain high-performance distributed systems that underpin our experimentation platform.

• Ensure that our systems meet the scalability, security, and performance requirements of a global platform.

✅ Enhance Experimentation Capabilities

• Build and improve features that enable teams to run, monitor, and analyze experiments effectively.

• Develop new capabilities such as segmented experiment insights and multi-platform experimentation.

✅ Mentor & Lead

• Guide and mentor junior engineers, fostering a culture of growth, collaboration, and technical excellence.

• Drive knowledge sharing and best practices across the team.

✅ Collaborate Across Teams

• Work closely with product managers, data scientists, and platform teams to ensure that our experimentation tools align with business goals and user needs.

What You Bring

🛠️ Distributed Systems & Platform Engineering Expertise

• Strong experience designing, developing, and maintaining scalable distributed systems.

📊 Data Engineering & Front-End Knowledge

• Familiarity with data pipelines and front-end development is a plus.

🚀 Technical Proficiency

• Hands-on experience with:

  • Java, Node.js

  • Skyscanner libraries like mshell and request-context

  • Python, PySpark, Databricks

🤝 Strong Communication & Leadership

• Proven track record of leading within a team, mentoring others, and driving impactful outcomes.

Why Join Us?

🎯 Shape the Future of Experimentation

• Our experimentation platform is a core part of Skyscanner’s strategy, with triple-digit growth in the number of experiments year over year.

• Your contributions will have a substantial impact on how we optimise products and drive business success.

🌐 Tackle Unique Challenges

• Work on a complex, in-house experimentation platform that operates at the intersection of Web Engineering, Data Engineering, and Data Science.

• Our systems rival the capabilities of platforms built by Netflix, Airbnb, and Uber.

🛠️ Work with Cutting-Edge Technologies

• Build systems that integrate with a wide range of modern technologies including Java, Node.js, Python, PySpark, Databricks, and AWS.

🤝 Mentor and Grow with Us

• Be part of a team where mentoring, growth, and collaboration are core values.

• Shape the culture and technical direction of a high-performing squad.