# Staff Software Engineer
**Company:** [Deliveroo](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/deliveroo)
Staff Software Engineer at Deliveroo, London's leading food delivery platform, responsible for architecting scalable solutions for a high-traffic three-sided marketplace handling 20k+ requests per minute. The role involves technical leadership across multiple teams, mentoring engineers, and driving technical excellence in distributed systems using Go, Ruby, Python, Scala, or Rust with PostgreSQL and NoSQL technologies.
**Role:** Staff Software Engineer
**Seniority:** Staff
**Locations:** London - The River Building HQ
**Salary:** 120000–180000 GBP
[Apply](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/deliveroo/0a3e2b67-3e9e-41ed-947d-acdde7593366)
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/jobs/deliveroo/staff-software-engineer
---
## Responsibilities

- Technical Excellence Leadership: Act as subject matter expert providing high-level technical reviews and advice across multiple engineering teams
- Scalable Architecture Design: Define and design technical solutions for complex business problems in high-traffic environment handling 20k+ requests per minute
- Strategic Technical Direction: Influence long-term technical roadmap and manage project timelines, risks, and sustainable delivery paces
- Engineering Mentorship: Support growth of engineers across all levels and partner with emerging leaders to scale engineering culture
- Talent Acquisition: Lead engineering interviews and contribute to recruiting strategy to maintain high talent standards
- Cross-Team Alignment: Align non-adjacent teams to deliver results that impact the entire organization
- System Architecture: Build and scale systems serving millions of customers, riders, and restaurant partners daily
- Technical Problem Solving: Solve unstructured and ambiguous technical challenges in a three-sided marketplace environment

## Requirements

### education

- {"name":"Computer Science Degree","description":"Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent practical experience"}
- {"name":"Continuous Learning","description":"Commitment to staying current with emerging technologies and engineering best practices"}

### technical

- {"name":"Web Application Development","description":"Significant experience building web-based applications at scale with focus on readable, well-tested software"}
- {"name":"Programming Languages","description":"Proficiency in Go, Ruby, Python, Scala, or Rust with polyglot mindset"}
- {"name":"Database Systems","description":"Practical experience with PostgreSQL and NoSQL backends including Redis, DynamoDB, or Elasticsearch"}
- {"name":"High-Scale Architecture","description":"Proven ability to design and operate systems handling massive request volumes and complex logistical workflows"}
- {"name":"Distributed Systems","description":"Deep understanding of distributed system patterns and microservices architecture"}

### experience

- {"name":"Staff-Level Experience","description":"7+ years of software engineering experience with 2+ years in staff or principal engineering roles"}
- {"name":"Technical Leadership","description":"Experience leading technical direction and mentoring engineering teams"}
- {"name":"High-Traffic Systems","description":"Background in building systems handling thousands of requests per minute"}
- {"name":"Strategic Alignment","description":"Demonstrated ability to align multiple disciplines and teams to resolve ambiguous technical challenges"}

## Skills

### required

- {"name":"Systems Design","description":"Ability to architect scalable distributed systems for high-traffic applications"}
- {"name":"Backend Development","description":"Strong experience in server-side development with modern programming languages"}
- {"name":"Database Design","description":"Expertise in both SQL and NoSQL database systems and optimization"}
- {"name":"Technical Leadership","description":"Proven track record of leading technical teams and driving engineering excellence"}
- {"name":"Problem Solving","description":"Strong analytical skills for solving complex, ambiguous technical challenges"}

### preferred

- {"name":"Marketplace Experience","description":"Background in building multi-sided marketplace platforms"}
- {"name":"Real-time Systems","description":"Experience with real-time logistics and location-based services"}
- {"name":"Performance Optimization","description":"Skills in optimizing high-throughput systems and reducing latency"}
- {"name":"Cloud Architecture","description":"Experience with AWS or other cloud platforms for scalable infrastructure"}
- {"name":"DevOps Practices","description":"Knowledge of CI/CD, containerization, and infrastructure as code"}

## Tech stack

### tools

- {"name":"Docker","description":"Containerization platform"}
- {"name":"Kubernetes","description":"Container orchestration"}
- {"name":"AWS","description":"Cloud infrastructure platform"}
- {"name":"CI/CD Pipelines","description":"Automated deployment systems"}

### others

- {"name":"Distributed Systems","description":"High-scale architecture patterns"}
- {"name":"Load Balancing","description":"Traffic distribution systems"}
- {"name":"Message Queues","description":"Asynchronous communication patterns"}

### databases

- {"name":"PostgreSQL","description":"Primary relational database for transactional data"}
- {"name":"Redis","description":"In-memory caching and session storage"}
- {"name":"DynamoDB","description":"NoSQL database for scalable data storage"}
- {"name":"Elasticsearch","description":"Search and analytics engine"}

### languages

- {"name":"Go","description":"Primary backend language for high-performance distributed systems"}
- {"name":"Ruby","description":"Used for web applications and microservices"}
- {"name":"Python","description":"Data processing and backend services"}
- {"name":"Scala","description":"Functional programming for complex data workflows"}
- {"name":"Rust","description":"High-performance systems programming"}

### frameworks

- {"name":"Microservices Architecture","description":"Distributed system design pattern"}
- {"name":"RESTful APIs","description":"Web service architecture"}
- {"name":"GraphQL","description":"Query language for APIs"}

## Benefits

### benefits

- {"name":"Competitive Salary","description":"Market-leading compensation package for Staff Software Engineer level"}
- {"name":"Equity Options","description":"Share in company success through stock options and equity participation"}
- {"name":"Hybrid Work","description":"Flexible working with 3 days in London office, 2 days remote"}
- {"name":"Professional Development","description":"Continuous learning opportunities and career acceleration support"}
- {"name":"Health Coverage","description":"Comprehensive health insurance and wellness benefits"}
- {"name":"Parental Leave","description":"Generous parental leave policies for growing families"}
- {"name":"Global Collaboration","description":"Work with DoorDash and Wolt teams across international markets"}
- {"name":"Innovation Time","description":"Opportunity to work on meaningful problems at scale with fast iteration cycles"}

## Compensation

- **max:** 180000
- **min:** 120000
- **currency:** GBP
- **stockOptions:** true

## Interview process

### steps

- {"name":"Initial Screen","description":"Phone or video call with engineering manager to discuss background and role fit"}
- {"name":"Technical Deep Dive","description":"Systems design interview focusing on scalable architecture and distributed systems"}
- {"name":"Code Review","description":"Live coding session or code review discussion demonstrating technical expertise"}
- {"name":"Leadership Interview","description":"Discussion of technical leadership experience and mentoring approach"}
- {"name":"Final Round","description":"Meet with senior engineering leadership to discuss strategic technical vision"}

## Full description
## Staff Software Engineer

Join us in our mission to transform the way people shop and eat, where impact, innovation and growth drive everything we do. Our Engineering teams tackle complex technical challenges across a global, three-sided marketplace, building and scaling systems that serve millions of customers, riders and partners every day.

From real-time logistics to resilient infrastructure and marketplace optimisation, we design, build and operate technology that powers Deliveroo’s growth at scale.

We’re looking for a **Staff Software Engineer** to join our **London, UK - Hybrid (3 days from the office)** team. In this role, you’ll help us define technical solutions for critical business problems and lead the technical direction for complex, high-scale systems.

Get to know our [Engineering](https://careers.deliveroo.co.uk/software-engineering-at-deliveroo/) team — what drives us, how we work, and what you can expect.  

### What You’ll Be Doing

You’ll be joining a high-impact engineering group focused on solving unstructured and ambiguous challenges. You will act as a technical authority, aligning non-adjacent teams to deliver results that move the needle for the entire organisation.

Here’s what your day-to-day might look like:

* **Drive Technical Excellence:** Act as a subject matter expert, providing high-level reviews and technical advice across multiple teams.
* **Architect Scalable Solutions:** Define and design technical solutions for complex business problems within a high-traffic environment (20krpm+).
* **Lead Strategic Direction:** Influence the long-term technical roadmap and manage project timelines, risks, and sustainable delivery paces.
* **Mentor & Coach:** Support the growth of engineers across all levels and partner with up-and-coming leaders to scale our engineering culture.
* **Shape the Team:** Lead engineering interviews and contribute to recruiting strategy to ensure we maintain a high bar for talent.

### What You’ll Need to Thrive

Our ideal candidate will bring strong expertise in some of these areas and curiosity to grow in others:

* **Deep Technical Mastery:** Significant experience building web-based applications at scale and a pride in writing readable, well-tested software.
* **Polyglot Mindset:** Proficiency in (or a strong desire to learn) languages such as **Go, Ruby, Python, Scala, or Rust**.
* **Distributed Systems Expertise:** Practical experience with relational databases (PostgreSQL) and NoSQL backends (Redis, DynamoDB, or Elasticsearch).
* **High-Scale Architecture:** Proven ability to design and operate systems handling massive request volumes and complex logistical workflows.
* **Strategic Leadership:** Strong understanding of how to align multiple disciplines and teams to resolve ambiguous technical challenges.

### Why Join Us?

At Deliveroo, you’ll do work that matters—solving real-world problems in a three-sided marketplace that’s constantly evolving. We’re food lovers, problem solvers, community organisers, proud parents, and more, brought together by a shared drive to make things better. Working here you can expect to:

🔧 **Solve meaningful problems at real scale** Work on a complex, always-on marketplace that impacts millions every day.

🌱 **See your impact, fast** Ship, test and improve ideas quickly in a low-hierarchy, high-ownership environment.

🧠 **Grow through challenge and ownership** Take on big, ambiguous problems and accelerate your career with strong support.

🌎 **A culture built for builders** High standards, collaboration, flexible working and continuous learning.

​​💰 **Share in the success you help create** Competitive salary and equity options, so you’re rewarded for the impact you make.

➡️ Want a deeper look at how we build? Check out our [Tech Blog](https://deliveroo.engineering).

We aim to create a fair process that lets your skills shine—our interview typically includes 3-4 stages. Explore our [Engineering Interview Guide here](https://careers.deliveroo.co.uk/interview-guide-for-engineers/) to help you feel confident at each stage.

### Our Global Structure

Deliveroo is now part of DoorDash, bringing together teams with even greater reach, scale, and ambition. Depending on your role, you may collaborate with teammates, systems, and leaders across DoorDash and Wolt. Together, we’re unlocking new possibilities as one global team.

### Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

At Deliveroo, we know that a great workplace reflects the world around us and that true diversity and inclusion make us stronger, more creative, and better at what we do. We’re committed to fostering an environment where everyone can do their best work and feel they belong.

We believe in equality of opportunity and welcome candidates from all backgrounds regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion, or belief.

If you have a disability or long-term health condition and need support to apply for one of our roles, or if you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact our recruitment team at accommodations@deliveroo.co.uk and we’ll be happy to help ensure you have a fair and equitable experience.

**If you’re excited about solving meaningful problems at scale and growing with a supportive team, we’d love to hear from you.**