Software Engineer, Back-End

Software Engineer, Aether (London)

About Aether

Aether is building a comprehensive AI-driven platform for the built world. Our core software is used by solar , roofing and heat pump companies to deliver advanced 3D modeling, simulation, quoting, and financing tools – all in one powerful interface. We combine deep technical rigor with real-world utility, leveraging physics-based modeling, AI, and scalable infrastructure.

Founded by alumni of UC Berkeley, École Polytechnique, and ETH Zurich, we bring experience from leading energy and software companies.

Aether is a recent graduate of YCombinator, and has raised over $6M in funding.

Check us out: https://www.aethergtm.com

About the Role

We’re looking for an experienced Backend Engineer to take a lead role in developing our core platform. You’ll work closely with the founders and product team to architect and build high-performance APIs, structure complex business logic, and contribute to systems that simulate solar energy, manage 3D projects, and power customer proposals.

This isn’t a feature-factory job – you’ll own major parts of the backend, help shape system design, and solve difficult problems from day one. Ideal candidates are scrappy, fast, and thoughtful: you write elegant code, fix problems at the root, and care about building software that lasts.

Who You Are

• You thrive in early-stage, fast-moving environments.

• You are technically sharp, deeply curious, and own outcomes.

• You know when to ship fast and when to be rigorous.

• You love solving real-world problems and optimizing complex systems.

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of backend experience in a production environment

• Strong proficiency in Python and Django (or equivalent frameworks)

• Deep understanding of relational databases and data modeling (PostgreSQL preferred)

• Experience building and scaling REST APIs

• Familiarity with cloud platforms (GCP preferred), containers, CI/CD

• Fluent in English, with excellent written and verbal communication

Nice to Have

We don’t expect you to check every box, but the more of these you bring, the better:

• Background in engineering, physics, math, or computational science

• Experience with asynchronous tasks (Celery, task queues), Redis, and performance optimization

• Familiarity with solar energy systems, CAD/3D modeling, or simulation software

• Strong debugging skills and architectural instincts

• Comfort working with modern frontend stacks (React/Next.js) or APIs consumed by them

• Experience building B2B SaaS tools, quoting systems, or real-time apps

• Contributions to infrastructure/DevOps, Pulumi, or observability tools

Why Join Aether

• You’ll work directly with experienced founders on ambitious technical challenges

• You’ll be part of a mission-driven company shaping the future of energy and the built world

• You’ll have autonomy and impact from day one – we ship fast and iterate constantly

• London-based office, with flexibility for hybrid/remote if you're a strong independent operator

How to Apply

Send us your resume and a short note about why you're interested. Bonus if you include links to past work (GitHub, portfolio, blog, etc). We move quickly.