Application Guide

How to Apply for Backend Engineer

at Octopus Energy

🏢 About Octopus Energy

Octopus Energy is revolutionizing the energy sector by combining transparency, AI, and renewable energy to create a sustainable, low-carbon future. Unlike traditional utilities, they prioritize customer-centric technology and green innovation, making them a leader in the UK's energy transition. Working here means contributing directly to meaningful environmental impact while building cutting-edge systems.

About This Role

This Backend Engineer role focuses on designing and developing distributed systems that power Octopus Energy's green energy products, ensuring reliability and scalability. You'll build fault-tolerant software using Python, Django, and APIs (HTTP/REST, GraphQL) to support business operations and collaborate cross-functionally. Your work will directly shape architectural strategy and enable market-leading renewable energy solutions.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day involves collaborating with data and operations teams to refine API endpoints for energy products, coding in Python/Django to enhance system reliability, and participating in architectural reviews to plan scalable solutions. You might troubleshoot async tasks with Celery, optimize Postgres queries, and deploy updates via AWS/Terraform, all while contributing to a greener energy future.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Octopus Energy Is Looking For

  • Has 3+ years of hands-on experience with Python and Django, specifically in building and maintaining production-grade distributed systems
  • Demonstrates deep expertise in domain modeling, API design (HTTP/REST, GraphQL), and async processing with tools like Celery and Postgres
  • Shows practical experience with infrastructure-as-code (AWS, Terraform, Packer) and a passion for sustainability or tech-driven social impact
  • Thrives in collaborative environments, able to work with marketing, operations, and data teams to deliver complex energy products

📝 Tips for Applying to Octopus Energy

1

Tailor your resume to highlight specific projects where you used Python/Django for distributed systems, mentioning metrics like uptime, scalability, or performance improvements

2

Include examples of working with Postgres, Celery, and async processing in a production environment, ideally in energy, fintech, or high-reliability sectors

3

Research Octopus Energy's tech stack (e.g., their use of GraphQL or AWS) and mention how your skills align, showing you've done homework on their engineering blog or GitHub

4

Emphasize any experience with green tech, renewables, or sustainability projects, as this resonates with their mission-driven culture

5

Prepare a portfolio or code samples showcasing API design (REST/GraphQL) and fault-tolerant systems, as they likely value practical demonstrations over generic claims

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Explain why Octopus Energy's mission to redefine energy with AI and renewables excites you, linking it to personal or professional values", 'Detail a past project where you designed distributed systems or improved service reliability, using specific technologies like Django, Celery, or GraphQL', 'Highlight collaboration with non-technical teams (e.g., marketing/operations) to deliver products, showing you understand their cross-functional work environment', 'Mention any bonus skills (AWS, Terraform, Consul) and how they could apply to building scalable energy platforms']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Explore Octopus Energy's tech blog, GitHub repositories, or engineering talks to understand their stack (e.g., Python, GraphQL, AWS) and recent projects
  • → Study their business model: how they use AI for energy transparency, their renewable energy offerings (like Agile Octopus), and UK market impact
  • → Look into their company culture via Glassdoor or LinkedIn, focusing on remote work practices, sustainability initiatives, and cross-team collaboration
  • → Review industry trends in green tech and energy startups to discuss how Octopus stands out (e.g., vs. Bulb or traditional utilities)

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Deep-dive into your experience with Python and Django for distributed systems: 'Walk me through a time you scaled a Django service for high traffic'
2 Scenario-based questions on fault tolerance and reliability: 'How would you design a system to handle failures in an async processing pipeline with Celery?'
3 API design discussions: 'Compare HTTP/REST vs. GraphQL for a green energy product API, and when would you choose each?'
4 Domain modeling exercises: 'How would you model a distributed system for real-time energy pricing or customer billing?'
5 Cultural fit questions on sustainability and collaboration: 'How do you align technical decisions with business goals in a mission-driven company like Octopus?'
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic resume without tailoring it to Python/Django, distributed systems, or API technologies mentioned in the job description
  • Overlooking the mission aspect: failing to express interest in renewables or sustainability, which is core to Octopus Energy's identity
  • Not preparing for practical discussions on Postgres, Celery, or async processing—they'll likely probe for hands-on experience, not just theoretical knowledge

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Octopus Energy !

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