Senior Backend Developer (Python, Django) - FT - Worldwide/overlap UK

About the Company

Glite is a London-based startup building an AI-powered English learning app for intermediate and advanced learners. The platform spans AI-driven lessons, real-time communication, a proprietary English dictionary, personalized podcasts, pronunciation coaching, and a range of data pipelines that power the learning experience.

About the Role

We're looking for an experienced backend developer to join us on a 3-month contract while we recruit for a permanent position. You'll work across one or more of Glite's backend systems — including our English Dictionary website, AI lessons, real-time communication layer, data pipelines, and the core app backend.
This is a hands-on role for someone who knows Python and Django deeply and can ship reliable, well-built code from day one.

What You'll Do

• Build and maintain backend services across Glite's systems, with an initial focus on the English Dictionary website
• Contribute to additional backend projects as priorities shift (AI lessons, real-time features, data pipelines, app backend)
• Work within an AWS-based infrastructure using Dockerized services
• Collaborate with the team on a fast, practical feedback loop

Must-Have Skills

• Strong, demonstrable experience with Python and Django
• PostgreSQL
• AWS (working knowledge of the infrastructure)
• Docker — comfortable and fluent with containers
• Git / GitHub

Nice to Have

• Client-side skills: HTML, CSS, Tailwind, JavaScript, TypeScript (a plus for some projects, not the main focus)
• Experience with real-time communication tools (e.g. LiveKit)

Engagement Details

• Location: Remote or on-site in London — both work
• Time zone: Open to candidates worldwide with sufficient overlap with UK hours (Europe, most of Asia, Africa, and US East Coast typically work well)
• Interview process: Two technical interviews, approximately one hour each