Senior Backend Engineer - Routing & Optimisation Tech · London - Shoreditch ·

HIVED Ltd; London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading delivery technology firm in London is seeking a Senior Backend Engineer to tackle complex operational problems in logistics. You will design and implement systems for routing and demand matching, working with cross-functional teams to enhance delivery processes. Candidates should have a degree in Computer Science and strong experience with distributed systems, ideally using Python or Go. The role offers hybrid working and various employee benefits.

Benefits

25 days of holiday plus public holidays

Wellbeing initiatives

Subsidised Private Medical Insurance

Weekly team lunch

Hybrid working set-up

Cycle to work scheme

Dog friendly office

Qualifications

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience architecting and building distributed systems.
• Proven ability to translate complex requirements into production-grade solutions.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement distributed systems for routing and logistics challenges.
• Work with optimisation engineers to integrate algorithms into production.
• Contribute to forecasting systems and strategic planning.

Skills

Problem-solving skills

Experience with distributed systems

Solid coding skills (Python or Golang)

Curiosity and creativity

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

AWS

Python

Go

Job description

Overview

At HIVED, we’re steamrolling forward as one of Europe’s fastest growing startups, and our momentum shows no signs of slowing.

Based in London, we are a climate and logistics start-up building the first sustainable parcel delivery network at scale, powered by a 100% electric fleet. In an ever-growing industry where unreliable service has long been the norm, HIVED has been built from the ground-up to meet the demands of modern consumers and disrupt parcel delivery. A tech company at heart, our talent and technology is laser-focused on delivering the best possible delivery experience for end-customers and meeting the needs of our retail partners. From our drivers to our data engineers, we are constantly working to improve this customer experience that makes us deliver better. Already trusted by leading international brands such as John Lewis, Nespresso, Uniqlo, H&M brands and more, we are solidifying our position as the leaders in Europe to tackle this growing market.

Our tight-knit team is made up of ex-Revolut, Bain, HelloFresh, ASOS, Apple and Google employees, and we are backed by some of Europe’s leading investors and VCs in climate-tech, logistics and mobility including Planet A Ventures, Maersk Growth, Pale Blue Dot VC, Eka Ventures, NordicNinja VC and the British government. We’re passionate about driving innovation and redefining the future of delivery.

In a nutshell

We are looking for a Senior Backend Engineer with a passion for solving complex, high-impact operational problems.

As part of HIVED’s Routing Squad, you’ll tackle some of the most intellectually demanding challenges in computer science – building systems that power optimisation and forecasting at scale, enabling efficient route planning and supply-demand matching. Your work will directly enhance our core delivery engine and help create a competitive edge through technology.

You'll collaborate within a cross-functional team of engineers, data analysts, and data scientists to build production-grade optimisation systems that are robust, scalable, and deeply integrated into HIVED’s operations. This is an opportunity to combine theoretical rigour with real-world application and see the tangible impact of your work every day.

What you’ll be doing

• Design and implement distributed systems for routing, supply-demand matching, and other core logistics challenges.
• Work closely with optimisation engineers, data scientists, and analysts to integrate algorithms and solvers into production.
• Lead the exploration and evaluation of new approaches to solve complex business problems.
• Partner with product and operational stakeholders to understand business needs and translate them into technical solutions.
• Contribute to forecasting and planning systems that power strategic and tactical decisions across the business.
• Continuously improve the performance, scalability, and robustness of our routing and optimisation stack.

What we’re looking for

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience architecting and building distributed systems.
• Proven ability to translate complex requirements into production-grade solutions with measurable business impact.
• Solid coding skills (Python or Golang preferred, though experience in other languages like Java or C++ is also valued).
• Experience working with cloud infrastructure (AWS preferred) and event-driven architectures.
• Curiosity, creativity, and a strong sense of ownership – you enjoy solving open-ended problems and shipping solutions that matter.

Technologies we use

• Backend languages: Python, Go
• Tech infrastructure: AWS, CDK (TypeScript), Lambda, SQS, EventBridge, RDS, DynamoDB
• Data tooling: GCP, BigQuery, Looker, Looker Studio
• Observability: Loki, Tempo, Grafana, Prometheus
• Event-driven architecture and domain-driven design

How we reward our team

• Dynamic working environment with a diverse and driven team
• Huge opportunity for learning in a high growth environment, with progression opportunities based on success in the role
• 25 days of holiday allowance plus public holidays
• Wellbeing initiatives, including 3 wellbeing days in addition to holiday allowance
• Subsidised Private Medical Insurance including dental and vision
• Weekly team lunch and regular company socials
• MacBook Air or Windows Laptop (depending on your preference)
• Hybrid working set-up with in-person time expected at both our Shoreditch office and North Woolwich based depot
• Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption policy
• Cycle to work scheme
• Dog friendly office

Want to learn more?

• Meet the team in 60 seconds: Behind the scenes with HIVED
• HIVED is B Corporation certified
• We are named as UK StartUp of the Year 2024
• Read how HIVED raised $42M to transform parcel delivery with AI and all-electric logistics network
• Check the Impact Report 2024
• Keep up with HIVED here