About the Role

We're looking for a Backend Engineer who will build the core infrastructure powering our AI-powered payments and POS platform. You'll design and scale APIs, data pipelines, and backend services using Python, Django, and FastAPI—building the foundation that 400+ restaurants and retail businesses rely on every day. You'll work directly with our co-founders and small technical team to make Zavo fast, reliable, and intelligent.

Compensation: £80,000–£120,000 base salary + equity

About Zavo

We’re a YC-backed (F25) startup based in London, building an intelligent, all-in-one platform to replace today’s fragmented restaurant tech stack.

Zavo powers card payments, POS, and AI for 400+ restaurants and retail businesses. We’re backed by leading global investors, growing revenue rapidly, and moving fast to define the next generation of restaurant technology.

What You'll Do

• Design and build robust APIs and backend services using Django and FastAPI
• Architect data models and optimize database performance with Supabase/PostgreSQL
• Build integrations with payment processors, POS hardware, and third-party services
• Develop backend infrastructure for our AI agents that automate restaurant operations
• Ensure platform reliability, security, and scalability as we grow
• Work directly with co-founders and frontend engineers to ship end-to-end features

What We're Looking For

• Strong Python expertise—you write clean, maintainable, well-tested code
• Experience with Django and/or FastAPI in production environments
• 3-5+ years building backend systems that real users depend on
• Solid understanding of PostgreSQL, API design, and distributed systems
• Founder mentality—you treat this like your own company and do whatever it takes
• Customer obsession—genuinely excited about building products for restaurant owners and merchants
• High agency and comfortable with ambiguity—we're a small team moving fast
• Based in London (hybrid)—we need in-person collaboration with the team
• UK work authorization—we can't sponsor visas at this stage

Why Zavo

• YC-backed with very strong revenue and momentum (400+ merchants and growing)
• Work directly with founders on high-impact problems
• Modern backend stack—Python, Django, FastAPI, Supabase, AI/ML
• Real ownership over critical infrastructure
• Early-stage equity with real upside potential
• London-based team with a collaborative, all-in culture