Founding Backend Engineer / Platform Lead (FinTech)

Location: UK (Remote - only within the UK)

Stage: Early-stage fintech

Salary: up to £75,000

About Mia Wealth

Mia Wealth is the UK's next generation family wealth and gifting app for children. It makes it easy for parents, grandparents, family and friends to buy investments for children’s birthdays etc ie turning gifts into long-term wealth instead of more toys. No one is owning the junior investment market - until now - and by doing so we capture the next generation of lifelong investors. We’re a small but ambitious team, on a mission to improve the lives of millions of children across the UK.

You won’t just join a system - you’ll help define it.

The Opportunity

This is a high-ownership role for someone who enjoys building systems properly and seeing them operate in the real world.

You’ll own the backend platform end-to-end - from API design and infrastructure to fintech integrations, operational tooling and production systems - and play a key role in shaping how the product evolves.

This role goes beyond building features.

You’ll also be responsible for creating the internal tools and capabilities that allow the business to operate effectively, including:

• Rapid issue resolution
• Operational workflows
• Compliance processes
• Data analysis and reporting

What You’ll Be Doing:

Platform & Backend

• Own and evolve the backend API (Node.js / TypeScript / Postgres)
• Design scalable, secure, and reliable API-first systems
• Build and operate production-grade APIs at scale
• Work with PostgreSQL (schema design, migrations, performance tuning)

Production & Operational Ownership

• Own backend operational support, including:
• Triaging and resolving P1 issues
• Diagnosing problems across systems
• Advising Customer Support on issue handling and customer communication
• Improve observability, reliability and performance
• Ensure fast, structured response to production incidents

Fintech Integrations

• Integrate with providers such as:
• Open banking & payments (TrueLayer, Stripe, Yapily)
• Investment platforms (e.g. Seccl)
• KYC providers (e.g. VouchSafe)
• Subscription tooling (e.g. RevenueCat)
• Handle webhooks, reconciliation flows and provider edge cases
• Ensure data consistency across systems

Operational Tooling & Automation

• Build internal tools to enable:
• Operational efficiency
• Compliance workflows
• Reporting and data visibility
• Bring a mindset of automation and appropriate use of AI to improve processes and reduce manual effort

Cloud & Infrastructure

• Own and evolve cloud infrastructure (GCP preferred):
• Cloud Run, API Gateway, Load Balancer, Cloud Armor, VPC
• Cloud SQL (Postgres with private networking)
• Contribute to CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions)
• Support infrastructure as code and scalable environments

Security & Compliance

• Implement secure authentication & authorisation (JWT, OAuth, MFA)
• Ensure secure handling of sensitive data (PII, financial data)
• Build systems aligned with FCA and GDPR requirements
• Support auditability, data integrity and penetration testing standards (CREST)

Product & Collaboration

• Work closely with product, mobile and operations teams
• Translate business requirements into technical solutions
• Identify risks, dependencies and trade-offs early
• Contribute ideas on how technology can improve and scale the business

What We’re Looking For:

Must Have

• Strong backend experience (Node.js / TypeScript)
• Experience with PostgreSQL in production environments
• Experience building and operating production APIs at scale
• Hands-on experience with cloud infrastructure (GCP, AWS or similar)
• Strong experience integrating payment systems (TrueLayer, Stripe, Yapily or similar)
• Solid understanding of:
• REST API design
• Authentication (JWT, OAuth)
• Webhooks and event-driven systems
• Strong debugging skills across distributed systems
• Experience working in fintech or regulated environments
• Start up mind set (being start up ready)

Highly Desirable

• Startup or early-stage experience
• Experience with KYC / identity verification systems
• Familiarity with investment platforms
• Experience with cloud networking (VPC, private IP)
• Experience with CI/CD and infrastructure as code
• Experience working alongside mobile apps (iOS, Android)

Nice to Have

• Exposure to FCA / GDPR environments
• Experience with analytics, tracking or A/B testing frameworks

What Success Looks Like:

• You’ve taken ownership of the backend and improved system reliability
• Operational issues are resolved quickly and effectively
• Customer Support is well-informed and supported on technical issues
• Systems are secure, scalable and compliant by design
• The platform is ready to support growth without rework

How You Work (This Matters as Much as Your Skills):

• Fully accountable - you take ownership end-to-end
• Responsive - you understand the impact of operating a live product
• Proactive - you identify and solve problems before being asked
• Solution-focused - you don’t just highlight issues, you fix them
• Clear communicator - able to work effectively with non-technical teams
• Commercially aware - you balance what’s ideal with what’s achievable
• Impact-driven - you think about customers, not just code

Why Join:

• Real ownership from day one
• Meaningful technical challenges in a high-trust environment
• Direct impact on product, architecture a nd business outcomes

What’s on offer (additional benefits):

• Unlimited annual leave
• Generous Equity
• Remote & flexible working
• Pension contribution
• Life Insurance
• Performance related bonus
• A bonus day off for your birthday
• True ownership and impact
• Parental benefits
• Career progression