Job Description
Backend Engineer (Python/Django • Product Ownership • TravelTech)
About Vacation Buddy
We’re rethinking how people plan time off — not just “where to go,” but how to make the most of it.?Vacation Buddy connects your calendar, local holidays, and personal preferences to turn 3 PTO days into a 9-day adventure — and then lets you book it instantly.
The MVP proved people crave smarter rest. Now we’re evolving the platform — blending trip logic, booking intelligence, and real personalization — the kind of stuff no one’s doing right now in travel tech.
The Role
We’re looking for a backend engineer who can build, own, and deliver features independently — someone who doesn’t wait for perfect specs to make things happen.?This is not a “ticket factory” role — it’s for someone who wants to architect and ship systems that define a new category of travel planning.
What You’ll Do
* Build and evolve the backend powering mobile and web apps (Python 3.11 + Django REST Framework + PostgreSQL + AWS).
* Own core systems: OAuth authentication, booking deeplinks, calendar sync, analytics, subscriptions.
* Integrate external APIs (Google, Apple, Skyscanner, Booking.com, Stripe).
* Optimize performance (Redis caching, async tasks, query tuning, API latency targets).
* Ensure reliability, monitoring, and clean CI/CD pipelines.
* Collaborate directly with product, design, and growth to shape the user experience through backend logic.
What You Bring
* 4+ years building backend systems or full-stack apps (Python/Django preferred).
* Strong understanding of APIs, OAuth2, REST, and modern architecture patterns.
* Experience with AWS or another cloud platform.
* Comfort with taking ownership — from database design to deployment.
* Curiosity to rethink how tech can simplify complex user journeys (not just “make endpoints work”).
* Bonus: experience with Stripe, travel/booking APIs, or calendar integrations.
Why This Is Worth Your Time
* You’ll be part of redefining how people use their time off — an emerging space with huge global potential.
* The product is already live, and we’re expanding fast — this isn’t a concept, it’s traction.
* You’ll get context and autonomy, not bureaucracy.
* You’ll build alongside a technical founder who codes, ships, and expects meaningful ownership.
* Everything you build will directly shape how people plan their next trip — and their next break.
Our Stack
Requirements & Skills
Python 3.11 • Django REST Framework • PostgreSQL • Redis • AWS • Stripe • Google/Apple OAuth • Google/Microsoft Calendar APIs
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