Backend Lead

About Tandem

Tandem is the leading global language learning community, connecting over 30 million members across 200+ countries.
Our mission is to encourage meaningful cross-cultural conversations through language learning. Backed by top European investors,
we are an international team based in Berlin, passionate about languages, technology, and culture.

Your Role

We are looking for an entrepreneurial Backend Lead (PHP/Go) to help us transition from a monolithic architecture to a modern microservices-based system.
This is a high-traffic environment, and we need a motivated backend leader to drive innovation. If you’re a backend expert ready to step into a leadership role, let’s talk!

Your Responsibilities

• Lead & Mentor: Guide and support a small team (3-4 backend engineers) in developing innovative language-learning features.
• Shape the Tech Strategy: Work with our CTO to transition from a monolith to a microservices-based architecture.
• Stay Hands-On: Write high-quality code, review PRs, and maintain best practices.
• Collaborate Across Teams: Work with Client Engineers, Product, Design, and Marketing teams.
• Scale & Optimize: Maintain and enhance distributed, high-traffic backend systems.
• Own DevOps & Infrastructure: Manage cloud deployments (AWS/Azure) and CI/CD pipelines.
• Drive Innovation: Contribute to technical decisions and continuously improve our development process.

Your Profile

• 6+ years of experience in software engineering, preferably in startups or scale-ups.
• Expertise in both PHP and Go for backend development.
• Experience scaling distributed systems and integrating microservices with legacy codebases.
• Cloud experience: Deployed and maintained workloads on AWS or Azure with a DevOps mindset.
• Cross-functional collaboration skills—able to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong leadership skills, whether officially in a lead role or through mentorship and driving change.
• Looking for an impactful role in a dynamic, international team.

Perks & Benefits

• Passion for Languages: Work with a team speaking 20+ languages & enjoy free German classes.
• Deep Dive Days: Get a budget for up to 6 professional development days per year.
• Fitness & Transport Perks: Urban Sports Club gym membership or public transport contribution.
• Team Events: Day trips, summer BBQs, movie nights, and monthly lunches.
• Work-Life Balance: Flexible hours, Slack-free downtime, and personal hobby time.
• Family-Friendly: Flexible working hours, family-inclusive events, and a welcoming office atmosphere.
• Relocation Support: Help with moving to Berlin and navigating German bureaucracy.
• Hybrid Work Setup: Balance time between our Berlin-Mitte office and home.

Apply Now!

Ready to lead and innovate at Tandem? Apply today and be part of our mission to make language learning more engaging and meaningful!

Equal Opportunity Employer

Tandem values diversity and inclusivity. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, regardless of nationality, race, gender, or identity.