Software Engineer

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 shift 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 of 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)