Senior Software Engineer

The team at Sponge has built a global reputation for pushing boundaries on what is possible in the digital learning space.  From international organisations focused on global change to companies whose products you probably use every day, we design learning applications that are effective, engaging and focused on making a difference to the lives of all our learners. 

As a Senior Software Engineer at Sponge, you will be working within a cross-functional agile team of product, engineering and DevOps. While this role will primarily focus on backend development, it’s important to have a firm grasp of the full stack and how things work end-to-end across the applications. 

So, what do our Senior Software Engineers do? 

The role is part of the Product and Engineering team, reporting to the Lead Software Engineer. The software engineers work as part of a team on a number of eLearning applications in the portfolio, with the major one being our learning management platform. 

You will be proactively shaping the engineering roadmap, evolve the way we develop and help take engineering to the next level, with focus on accelerating delivery, grow adoption of best practices, improve quality, and all with an enthusiastic and practical attitude.

Technologies we work with: 

• Python, using frameworks including Django and FastAPI
• Postgres , Redis,
• Sentry, Grafana
• Docker, Kubernetes 
• Terraform
• AWS/GCP
• GitHub
• Linux (Debian/Alpine preferable) 
• Build pipelines (GitHub Actions) 

We’re looking for people who have experience with: 

• At least 5 years of proven experience as a Python developer 
• Django, Flask or similar frameworks 
• Continuous integration and deployment tools and techniques 
• Designing, planning and leading development on sets of related stories
• Writing clean, testable, maintainable code
• Designing and development of RESTFul APIs
• Performance tuning and optimisation
• Designing and using relational databases to store and query complex data
• Handling large datasets and designing for scalability
• Finding ways to improve system robustness, resilience and stability 

We’re looking for people who can demonstrate: 

• Logical thinking and problem solving 
• Aptitude and keenness to learn new tech and processes 
• Good communication skills (written and verbal) to work as part of a close-knit team 
• Willingness to coach and mentor more junior colleagues 
• Ability to constructively peer review other people’s code 
• Understanding of the importance of security and how to engineer secure systems 
• Ability to understand whole systems and how their various parts fit together 
• User-centric design 

Qualifications needed: 

Minimum of Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or related field. 

What we will give you: 

Our software engineering teams are crucial to the work we do at Sponge, so what would you get in return for joining them? You would have the opportunity to work for a forward-thinking company focused on success, well-being and career development. The opportunity to work with and learn from a team of exceptionally talented people whist working in a supportive and creative environment. 

Location - Hybrid and Remote opportunities available for this role.

Our new headquarters is in the Bristol area (The Paintworks) we offer flexible working hours, and there are remote and hybrid options for this position to suit your preferences.

We offer a mix of home and office working because we believe both are necessary for a high performing team. We know you need some time to concentrate and avoid constant commuting, so homeworking is essential and we are happy to tailor this to suit the individual offering hybrid or remote working options.

We currently have main offices in the UK in Bristol and in Europe in Berlin and Brussels.

Be you, with us! 

At Sponge, we are all different. And that’s what makes us great! We hire talented people with different and diverse backgrounds, stories, and perspectives not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it makes us stronger.  

We are actively working and committed to increasing diversity in our teams and management positions. It’s our ambition to create an inclusive environment where we can all be ourselves together.  

What’s next? 

If this sounds like you, then you’re on your way to joining a forward-thinking industry leader and a team of like-minded, exceptionally talented people. Simply send us your CV, and we will be in touch. 

We can’t wait to hear from you!