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Novakid SchoolNS

Senior Backend Engineer (Python, AI, EdTech)

Novakid is an online English learning platform for children aged 4-12, utilizing gamification, AI, and one-on-one lessons with native-speaking teachers to provide an immersive and personalized educational experience.

Novakid School

Employee count: 201-500

Serbia only

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At Novakid, we’re building the world’s most engaging online English-learning platform for kids. With 80,000+ students and 2,500+ teachers across 15+ countries, we’ve proven the demand. Now we’re scaling up — and we want you to help us design and build the future of AI-driven education.

We’re not just writing code. We’re creating a smart, personalized learning experience powered by modern AI models (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, etc.), robust backend systems, and a passionate team that believes in changing how children learn.

Your role

We’re looking for a Senior+ Backend Engineer who’s ready to step beyond coding and take technical leadership responsibilities within our core platform team. You’ll be shaping architecture, mentoring engineers, and making strategic technical decisions that will directly influence how millions of kids learn languages.

This is a hybrid role that combines:

Deep hands-on coding in Python & modern backend technologies. Architectural leadership, designing scalable, reliable systems.

What you’ll do

Lead the design and evolution of our backend architecture (microservices, event-driven systems, AWS serverless, data pipelines).

Drive technical decisions and ensure best practices in code quality, security, and scalability.

Mentor and support backend developers, reviewing code and helping them grow as engineers.

Design and build robust APIs and data flows powering AI-driven language learning features.

Partner with Product and Data Science teams to turn cutting-edge AI models into real-world educational experiences.

Anticipate technical risks, propose solutions, and balance speed with long-term scalability.

Requirements

What you bring

5+ years of professional backend engineering experience (Python 3.8+ is a must)

Proven track record in system design, architecture, and scaling distributed systems.

Strong knowledge of PostgreSQL, Redis, FastAPI, SQLAlchemy, Celery. Hands-on experience with microservices & AWS serverless stack (Lambda, SQS/SNS, EventBridge, etc.).

Solid understanding of software engineering best practices: code reviews, testing, CI/CD, observability, security.

Experience mentoring developers or leading technical initiatives.

Fluent English (we work across 15+ countries).

Nice to have

Background in startups or high-growth environments.

Exposure to edtech or e-commerce platforms.

Interest in data-intensive systems

Why join us?

Shape the future of AI-powered education for kids worldwide.

100% remote, flexible schedule (core hours GMT+3).

A small, highly skilled team where your decisions have direct impact.

A culture of ownership, trust, and learning — we want you to grow into a Tech Lead / Architect role.

Unlimited paid time off.

Competitive compensation, bonuses, and stock options — we succeed together.

About the job

Apply before

Posted on

Job type

Full Time

Experience level

Senior

Location requirements

Hiring timezones

Serbia +/- 0 hours

About Novakid School

Learn more about Novakid School and their company culture.

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Novakid Inc. is a prominent player in the global EdTech industry, specializing in online English as a Second Language (ESL) education for children aged 4-12. Founded in 2017 by Max Azarov and Dmitry Malin, the company has established itself as a leading platform for immersive language learning. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Novakid operates on a fully remote basis, with a vast network of teachers and students spanning across more than 50 countries. The company's core mission is to revolutionize the way children learn English by providing an engaging, effective, and fun educational experience. By leveraging a combination of gamification, virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI), Novakid creates a dynamic and interactive learning environment where children can thrive. The platform offers one-on-one lessons with certified native or near-native English-speaking teachers, ensuring personalized attention and a curriculum tailored to each child's individual needs and learning pace.

The educational methodology at Novakid is rooted in the principles of full immersion and the Total Physical Response (TPR) approach, where teachers utilize gestures, facial expressions, and movements to facilitate comprehension and retention. The curriculum is aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and is designed to make learning intuitive, much like acquiring a native language. The platform's gamified features, including virtual tours, in-lesson games, animated stories, and a rewards system, are instrumental in maintaining high levels of student engagement. Novakid's commitment to innovation is further demonstrated by its use of AI-driven data analysis to track student progress across numerous parameters, allowing for continuous optimization of the learning journey. Having delivered millions of lessons to hundreds of thousands of students, Novakid continues to expand its global footprint, driven by a vision to make high-quality education accessible to every child and to foster a global community of young, confident English speakers.

Employee benefits

Learn about the employee benefits and perks provided at Novakid School.

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Flexible working hours

Flexible working hours.

Remote position

Teach from the comfort of your home.

Equity benefits

Bonuses and stock options – we grow together.

Unlimited time off

Unlimited holidays – because we trust you to deliver.

View Novakid School's employee benefits
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Novakid School

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