About Materact
At Materact, we're on a mission to tackle the global decline in maths education results — helping schools deliver better outcomes by saving teachers time and giving students the personalised support they need. Our platform works like a private tutor for students and a teaching assistant for teachers — powered by AI and designed around a simple whiteboard interface. With pilots signed at leading international schools and fresh funding secured, we’re now looking for a Data/Backend Engineer to help us take Materact to the next level.
Like the sound of this? Keep reading.
Build technology that Matters…
As a Data/Backend Engineer, you’ll work on our data and backend services — the backbone of the product. From designing the database schemas that power our platform, to building the APIs that connect students, teachers, and our AI maths tutor, you’ll make sure Materact runs fast, scales smoothly, and keeps data secure. Working closely with the founding team, you’ll help shape the architecture and play a key role in creating something with real impact.
What You’ll Own
Data Engineering & Database Ownership
* Design, implement, and maintain relational database schemas (PostgreSQL on AWS RDS) for transactional and analytical use cases.
* Develop, optimize, and maintain SQL queries, materialized views, and ETL pipelines for analytics and reporting.
* Ensure data quality, integrity, and lineage with validation, monitoring, and documentation.
* Automate workflows and monitor pipelines for scalability and reliability.
* Champion best practices for data modeling, naming, indexing, retention, and compliance (GDPR/FERPA).
Backend/API Development & Infrastructure
* Build and maintain REST and WebSocket APIs (Python AWS Lambda functions).
* Integrate backend services with AWS (API Gateway, Lambda, Cognito, S3, DynamoDB, etc.) using infrastructure as code (CloudFormation/SAM/Terraform).
* Secure APIs and backend services with IAM, Cognito, and secrets management.
* Monitor and optimize reliability and performance of serverless functions.
* Collaborate with frontend, product, and AI/ML teams to deliver end-to-end features.
* Participate in code reviews, technical planning, and documentation.
Who We’re Looking For
* 3+ years of experience in backend or data engineering
* Strong SQL and database design skills (PostgreSQL on AWS RDS)
* Experience with Python for building REST/WebSocket APIs
* Familiarity with AWS services: API Gateway, Lambda, Cognito, S3, DynamoDB, RDS
* Experience with infrastructure as code (CloudFormation/SAM/Terraform)
* Startup mindset — you move fast, adapt quickly, and take ownership
* Excited to help solve a global problem in maths education
Bonus points for:
* Experience with data pipeline tools (Airflow, dbt, Glue, etc.)
* Familiarity with monitoring/observability (CloudWatch, Datadog, etc.)
* Knowledge of GDPR/FERPA compliance
* Experience supporting AI/ML data workflows
What We Offer
* A product schools love
* Close collaboration with a driven, hands-on team
* Competitive salary
* Ownership of your work, without layers of process
* Great team culture with regular events