Freelance Web Developer

Open Systems Lab; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Join an innovative non-profit R&D lab focused on solving societal challenges through open-source tools. As a freelance web developer, you will collaborate with a diverse team to create impactful digital solutions for the built environment. Enjoy the flexibility of remote work while contributing to transformative public projects that empower communities and governments. This role offers the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies and make a meaningful difference in addressing the climate crisis. If you're a proactive problem-solver with a passion for collaboration, we want to hear from you!

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Remote work options

Inclusive team environment

Impactful public projects

Qualifications

• Experience in optimizing data fetching and routing in React TypeScript apps.
• Proficient in building low-code editors using JSON OT or CRDT data structures.
• Skilled in integrating payment processing APIs and document management systems.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with a talented team to develop open-source tools for societal challenges.
• Design and build web-based tools for 3D modeling of the built environment.
• Manage infrastructure-as-code and optimize PostgreSQL databases.

Skills

React

TypeScript

Apollo GraphQL

SWR

Axios

PostgreSQL

GitHub

AWS

ThreeJS

Infrastructure as Code

Tools

Rhino

Grasshopper

Speckle

Pulumi

GitHub Actions

Job description

This is an open call – that means we do not have a closing date and will review applications on a rolling basis.

About the role

Open Systems Lab is a non-profit R&D lab bringing together designers, researchers, technologists, engineers, lawyers, government workers and domain experts to solve difficult problems and build new operating systems for society. We collaborate with organisations from every sector to design and deploy open source tools and infrastructures that allow citizens, communities, governments and businesses to operate in radically new ways, and so meet the big social, economic and environmental challenges of our time.

We’re especially focused on addressing challenges related to the built environment - from reimagining homeownership and transforming the planning system, to designing and delivering zero-carbon building technologies that are accessible to all.

As we scale, we're looking for experienced freelance web developers to join our team and bring deep expertise to the OSL project portfolio .

You will enjoy this work if you are a:

• Natural doer-deliverer, who can work in an agile way, weigh up priorities and make good judgements, balancing short term delivery against long-term vision and future-proofing.
• Fast learner who knows how to ask for feedback, take it on board, and turn it into meaningful improvements.
• Collaborative interdisciplinary problem-solver who can confidently and consistently see through solutions with minimal external management.

OSL is a fully remote team of specialists who are comfortable operating independently and assuming a high level of autonomy from day one. For this reason, we're looking for people who have ample experience working within remote software teams using GitHub and async project management tools. At this time, we're not able to support junior developers or those new to working on software teams.

What we're looking for

We’re eager to connect if you are experienced in any of the following problem spaces:

• Optimising strategies for data fetching, caching, and routing in React TypeScript apps. Migrating a mix of Apollo GraphQL, SWR, Axios requests and others to a more focused, opinionated framework to improve testing, scalability, and overall app performance
• Building performant, collaborative, low-code editors which utilise JSON Operational Transforms (OT) or Conflict-free Replicated Data Type (CRDT) data structures. Implementing role-based permission models across multiple layers of an application stack
• Integrating with both new and legacy systems like payment processing APIs and document management systems, and contributing to the development of open data standards that support interoperability, especially of planning application data and policies. Thinking about how AI may be applied to these challenges while still prioritising design principles like auditability
• Designing and building web-based tools for 3D modeling of the built environment using ThreeJS, React Three Fiber, Mapbox or similar. Automating pipelines for processing spatial data formats such as Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) using tools like Rhino, Grasshopper, and Speckle.
• Fine-tuning PostgreSQL databases and managing infrastructure-as-code using tools like Pulumi and AWS. Configuring Github Actions, CI pipelines, and error monitoring to help small developer teams work smarter

What's in it for you?

What’s in it for you:

• Work with a small, incredibly talented, friendly, and motivated team of people in a high-expectations, but always kind and inclusive environment. You will be part of a team coming up with creative strategic and tactical solutions together.
• Ridiculously flexible working. Work where you want and when you want (most of the time at least).
• Take a key role in transformative public digital projects, with potential to have a hugely positive impact on improving a key layer of everyday democracy, and giving governments and communities the tools they need to rise to the climate crisis.

Questions? Get in touch

If you're interested, please send us a CV, including some examples of relevant work, and a brief cover message telling us what motivates you, which problem space sparked your interest, and why you are interested in this role.

Open Systems Lab is a non-profit company
registered in England & Wales 9152368