Senior Python Developer pro mapový projekt

Are you ready to help grow a unique global project while working fully remotely? OldMapsOnline  & TimeMap.org - World History Atlas  are looking for a technically strong Python developer with a passion for infrastructure, curiosity, and automation to join our team. This is a key position as we transition our platform components to a modern, scalable, and maintainable architecture.

Who we are

OldMapsOnline  attracts over 1 million visitors each month and partners with world-class institutions like the British Library and Stanford University. We’re a small, focused, and international team building open tools that make historical maps accessible to the world.

Our platform ingests, processes, ranks, and distributes massive map collections through a custom pipeline built on Python and open standards. Now, we're seeking a new team member to oversee our backend systems and infrastructure, and continue to drive the technical aspects of our global project forward.

What you’ll do

• Own and develop ingestion, transcoding, and export pipelines that process historical map images using Python, GDAL, and custom tools.

• Maintain and evolve our FastAPI-based backend API, PostgreSQL databases, and containerised services.

• Manage task orchestration with RabbitMQ, Docker, and deployment pipelines.

• Work with BunnyCDN (scripts and docker systems), data harvesting tools, and OAI pipelines from international partners.

• Contribute to the modernisation of our codebase, reduce technical debt, and improve reliability.

• Investigate how external tools and systems work-often reverse engineering data flows to support unusual or legacy formats.

• Collaborate with others to solve cross-functional problems, support partner integrations, and contribute to a shared engineering culture.

Our Tech Stack

Must-have:

Python (FastAPI, SQLAlchemy, GeoAlchemy, Shapely, Pydantic, Pandas), Docker, PostgreSQL (including large database design experience), Git

Bonus experience:

TypeScript (Node.js ingestion tools like deiiify), Rust or C/C++, Cloudflare, BunnyCDN, billing systems (e.g. Paddle)

Supporting tools:

GDAL, Ansible, AWX, SSH/FTP, Sentry, RabbitMQ, Atlassian (Jira/Confluence)

What we expect from you

• A degree in Informatics / Computer Science and a solid foundation in mathematics or algorithmic problem-solving.

• Proven experience working on production systems with strong Python backend skills.

• Proficient in Linux command-line operations and shell scripting — many ingestion and deployment tasks rely on CLI tools and automation.

• Ability to write clean, well-documented, testable code.

• Curious to explore unfamiliar codebases, reverse engineer complex processes, and investigate edge cases.

• A hacker mindset - especially when it comes to data ingestion, scripting, and understanding "how it really works under the hood".

• Strong sense of ownership: when you build something, you stand behind it, and help others understand it too.

• Willingness to learn new languages or systems. You don’t need to know everything upfront, but you should be eager to dig in.

• Fluent English and Czech or Slovak - while our daily team communication is in English, we require fluency in Czech or Slovak to ensure smooth collaboration and shared context within the team.

What we offer

• Fully remote role, with no requirement to be based in Czechia (we currently have team members in Germany, Czechia, Brno, Slovakia and Costa Rica).

• Long-term cooperation on a contract basis.

• Flexible working hours and async-friendly communication.

• Work with globally recognised institutions in the field of cultural heritage and digital history.

• Team offsites in Czechia and Switzerland.

• A space to do meaningful work, contribute to something unique, and grow with a project that spans history, technology, and the open web.

What we value

We’re not just looking for skills-we’re looking for dedication and a genuine interest in the project. You’ll thrive here if you:

• Are curious by nature-always exploring how things work and how to make them better.

• Take ownership of your work and help others find solutions, even beyond your scope.

• Care about what you're building and go beyond the task to make the system better.

• Enjoy contributing to a small, independent team where your work has immediate and visible impact.

Apply

If this sounds like your kind of role, we’d love to hear from you.Please send your CV and any links to your GitHub or past projects. And if you use Strava, feel free to share that too-we like shared hobbies.