Database & Backend Engineer
Full Time
Amsterdam or remote
At Eli5, database and backend engineering is all about building scalable, reliable systems that power high-impact and business critical software products. From designing efficient database architectures to developing robust backend services, you’ll be at the core of creating our solutions. If you love structuring data, optimizing performance, and solving complex problems, keep reading.
At Eli5, backend development is about solving real problems and creating systems that just work. Whether it's building a scalable API or optimizing a database, you’ll be making the backbone of products that redefine work. If building practical, and business critical solutions excites you, keep reading.
About Eli5
Eli5 is a boutique product and software studio working on business-critical software for Startups, Corporate Innovators, and Venture Builders. We’re small by design, allowing us to work closely with clients for the long haul. Our projects often span years, helping us build meaningful relationships and software that makes a real impact.
We focus on products that enhance productivity, provide seamless user experiences, and feature clean, elegant design. We’re tech-agnostic, choosing the best tools for each project rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all approach. While we’re remote-first, we have an office in central Amsterdam for when in-person collaboration sparks better ideas.
The Role of an Eli5 Database & Backend Engineer
At Eli5, Database & Backend Engineers are the architects of scalable, high-performance systems. You’ll be responsible for designing lean, maintainable database structures, optimizing query performance, and building backend systems that handle large-scale data efficiently. You’ll work closely with other developers, solution architects, our CTO, product owners, and clients to turn ideas into reality.
- Design and maintain scalable, high-performance database architectures.
- Build and optimize backend services and APIs that integrate seamlessly with databases.
- Work with relational (SQL) and NoSQL databases, ensuring data integrity, security, and performance.
- Develop data migration, transformation, and indexing strategies.
- Scope backend and database-related tasks with the team and clients.
- Provide technical guidance to clients and product owners, helping them navigate trade-offs in architecture and scalability.
- Ensure that database and backend components are easily extendable and maintainable.
The Essential Stuff
We’re looking for someone who loves databases and backend engineering—someone who gets excited about building structured, high-performance systems while keeping things clean and scalable. You should have a strong problem-solving mindset, make smart, pragmatic decisions, and maintain a high standard of code quality.
Here’s what we’re specifically looking for:
- Experience with SQL databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server).
- Experience with NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Cassandra).
- Experience with search databases (Elasticsearch, Algolia, or similar).
- Experience with vector databases (Pinecone, Weaviate, or similar is a plus).
- Strong understanding of database indexing, query optimization, and performance tuning.
- Experience designing data models and schema architecture.
- Solid experience in backend development using Node.js, Python, Django, Laravel, or .NET.
- Knowledge of RESTful API and GraphQL development.
- Familiarity with ORMs such as SQLAlchemy, Prisma, Eloquent, etc.
- Experience working with caching solutions like Redis, Memcached, or Valkey.
- Ability to troubleshoot database performance issues and optimize queries.
- Experience working in a Git-based development environment.
- Can work independently but also collaborate within a team.
- Writes clean, maintainable, well-documented code.
- Strong English communication skills (Dutch is a plus but not required).
Bonus Points For
You’ll stand out if you bring additional skills that elevate your ability to contribute to our projects. Some ways to make your application stand out:
- Experience designing and maintaining large-scale, distributed databases.
- Knowledge of event-driven architecture and message queues (e.g., Kafka, RabbitMQ).
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines (GitLab, GitHub Actions, Jenkins, etc.).
- Familiarity with cloud database services (AWS RDS, Azure SQL, Google Cloud Firestore).
- Experience with data warehousing and analytics solutions.
- Knowledge of Kubernetes, Docker, or other containerization tools.
- Understanding of security best practices for data storage and transmission.
Our Culture & Eli5 Perks
We believe work should be rewarding and enjoyable. At Eli5, we create an environment where you can thrive both personally and professionally. Here’s what you get:
- All the gear you need to do your job.
- Support for growth, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing.
- A tight-knit team that values collaboration and openness.
- Remote-first flexibility with an Amsterdam office for in-person collaboration.
- Regular team outings and events with the Eli5 team and our sister company, Noco.
- Complex, impactful projects that keep things interesting.
Let’s Build Together
Ready to build something extraordinary? We’re excited to hear from you. Hit the apply button, share your details, and let’s explore how your skills and ambitions align with what we’re building at Eli5.