Software Engineer

At Great Yellow we're looking for a Software Engineer (backend) to join our team.

About the job

Great Yellow is connecting nature and finance, allowing nature restoration projects to run effectively with long term capital support.

The world is experiencing rapid environmental degradation as a result of an extractive economic model, making businesses vulnerable as nature declines. A to regenerative practices is imperative to break this cycle.

We're building a new generation of tools to make complex environmental programme data simple, clear, and actionable, to help organisations accelerate nature recovery across the UK.

To do this, we're looking for a backend focused engineer, reporting to the Tech Lead and working closely with the Product Lead and Senior Software Engineer. This role is hands on and impact heavy: designing and shipping APIs and services, shaping our data model, and building reliable pipelines that turn messy, multi source inputs into trusted information. You'll focus on delivery and execution while keeping a pragmatic 0 1 mindset.

You'll thrive here if you like owning problems end to end, from design doc and prototype to production rollout and iteration. Expect a modern, cloud first stack (AWS/Cloudflare), strong use of managed/serverless services, and a collaborative culture that values small, fast, well tested changes.

What you'll do

• Build the first version of our digital platform. Start from scratch to develop an MVP our users can test, learn from, and help shape.
• Lay the technical foundations. Design a system architecture that works for today's needs and can scale as we grow.
• Establish a trusted system of record. Integrate, harmonise, and curate internal and external data to power our platform.
• Design and ship backend services and APIs. Implement reliable RESTful services (preferably TypeScript/Node.js or Python), and build secure integrations with third party data providers.
• Own our data architecture. Define data models and relational schemas (PostgreSQL) and support analytics/AI via warehouses/lakes where needed.
• Build event driven data pipelines. Create robust ETL/ELT workflows and asynchronous processing using queues/message brokers.
• Operate in the cloud with reliability. Deploy and run services on AWS/Cloudflare using managed/serverless components, with security, monitoring, and cost efficiency baked in.
• Collaborate and raise the bar. Work tightly with Tech/Product and peers, champion code quality, testing, documentation, and continuous improvement.

About you

• Experience: Previous experience of backend or data focused software engineering experience delivering production systems in fast paced environments, including 0 1 product work.
• Skillset: Proficiency in backend development (preferably TypeScript/Node.js, otherwise Python, Java/Spring Boot or similar), designing and operating RESTful services and third party integrations.
• Data: Strong data modelling and SQL skills with PostgreSQL; experience building end to end ETL/ELT pipelines and event driven processing using queues/brokers.
• Cloud: Hands on cloud experience (AWS and/or Cloudflare).
• Versatility: Demonstrate versatility and adaptability in a fast paced startup environment, comfortable managing shifting priorities and contributing to foundational processes that are built to scale.
• Communication: Excellent cross functional communication skills, with the ability to translate business goals and product requirements into technical solutions.
• Passion for sustainability and conservation finance, with a commitment to tackling climate change and biodiversity loss.

Beneficial Skills

• BSc or similar in Computer Science or related field
• Familiarity with Graph Databases (e.g., Neo4j, Neptune)
• Knowledge of Domain Driven Design (DDD) principles
• Experience with GraphQL for API development
• Experience with data warehousing solutions (e.g., Redshift, BigQuery, Snowflake)
• Proficiency in a secondary backend language such as Python (e.g., FastAPI, Django) or Java (e.g., Spring Boot)
• Familiarity with infrastructure as code, security fundamentals, monitoring/alerting, and cost aware operations

Why Join Great Yellow?

• Be part of an innovative start up that's breaking new ground in finance and ecological restoration
• Engage in meaningful work with the potential to make a lasting impact on the planet
• Work alongside a passionate and diverse team in an environment that values flexibility, collaboration, autonomy, and growth
• We're big believers in flexibility - work where you do your best thinking - but we also value getting together in our office to share ideas (and coffee)

Apply for the job

Do you want to join our team as our new Software Engineer? Then we'd love to hear about you!