Senior Software Engineer

Twinkl Educational Publishing; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible remote/hybrid options

33 days annual leave + accrual

Me Day

Charity day

Westfield Health

Learning & Development

Death in service benefit

Enhanced pension

Parental/adoption leave

Quarterly awards

Free Twinkl Subscription

Job summary

Twinkl Educational Publishing is seeking two Senior Software Engineers (Backend Focus) to help rebuild our core platform with a modern stack, including Node.js, TypeScript, React/Next.js, and serverless AWS architecture. You will partner with a Senior Engineer and Engineering Manager to lead architecture and delivery while mentoring teammates in a remote-friendly, collaborative environment.

You will work across the stack and utilise AI tools such as Claude to boost productivity, code quality and

Qualifications

• Strong backend engineering and architecture experience with Node.js, TypeScript, and AWS.
• Experience mentoring engineers and working with leadership on roadmaps.
• Proficiency with automated testing, TDD, and CI/CD pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead system design, re-architecture, and delivery of platform initiatives.
• Mentor engineers and help upskill the team on the new tech stack.
• Utilise AI tools (Claude) to improve productivity and code quality.
• Build scalable, serverless microservices to support global users.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative engineering culture.

Skills

Backend architecture

Node.js

TypeScript

AWS

Leadership mentoring

CI/CD

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

React

Next.js

Terraform

GitHub Actions

Serverless AWS

Job description

Location: Remote with Sheffield HQ visits 6 times a year

Annual Salary: £60,000- £75,000

We are currently looking for two Senior Software Engineers (Backend Focus) to join our team

Join Our Engineering Evolution at Twinkl

At Twinkl, we're not just building software - we're transforming how millions of educators and learners interact with educational content and resources worldwide. We offer a unique proposition: the massive global scale of an established educational publisher combined with the agile technological footprint needed to accelerate that mission. Backed by equity partners who are actively invested in our growth, we are expanding into high-value global markets, making this a pivotal time to join our journey.

We are in the midst of an exciting transformation, rebuilding our core platform from the ground up using React, Next.js, TypeScript, and Node.js alongside serverless AWS cloud architecture. Crucially, we do this within a genuinely collaborative, supportive, and inclusive team environment. We believe that everyone in the room has a voice, every opinion carries weight, and every engineer has the opportunity to drive impact. We trust our teams to make the right technical decisions and own their solutions in a safe, open setting.

What will you be doing?

• Technical Architecture & Delivery: Partner closely with our existing Senior Engineer and Engineering Manager to lead system design, re-architecture, and delivery across key platform initiatives.
• Coaching & Mentorship: Act as a supportive mentor for the team, coaching engineers through technical challenges and helping them upskill as they get familiar with our replatformed tech stack and architectural patterns.
• AI-Integrated Engineering: Utilise modern AI tools as an everyday part of your development workflow. We actively embrace AI across the organisation and are rolling out Claude to enhance productivity, code quality, and technical experimentation.
• Building Scalable Backend Systems: Re-architect legacy areas of our platform into modern, serverless microservices that deliver educational tools to teachers and students across every time zone.
• Fostering an Inclusive Culture: Help maintain an open, psychologically safe environment where team members feel confident speaking up, sharing ideas, and collaborating openly.

You’ll use our tech stack..

• Node.js + TypeScript as your primary focus for backend services and API design
• AWS Cloud Services (Lambda, S3, DynamoDB, SQS/SNS) for serverless and microservices architecture
• React + Next.js + TypeScript across the full stack when required
• Terraform (IaC) & GitHub Actions for continuous deployment
• Vitest, React Testing Library, & Playwright for unit, integration, and end-to-end testing
• to craft web applications and digital products that have real impact. Our engineers genuinely care about education and the global user base we serve. As part of our major re-platforming effort, you won't just be maintaining code - you’ll be rebuilding critical core infrastructure to ensure our systems can scale seamlessly for millions of educators and learners worldwide.

What do we need from you?

• Backend Expertise: Deep, hands-on experience in backend engineering and architecture using Node.js, TypeScript, and AWS cloud services.
• Full-Stack Competency: Comfort working across the entire stack (including React and Next.js) when needed, with a clear primary passion for backend architecture.
• Coaching & Team Mentorship: Strong passion for mentoring, pair programming, and helping fellow engineers grow their technical skill sets.
• Collaborative Senior Leadership: Ability to partner effectively with another Senior Engineer and the Engineering Manager on system design, technical roadmaps, and execution.
• Inclusive Mindset: An empathetic, open communication style that thrives in a workplace where everyone’s voice matters and collaborative problem-solving is prioritised.
• Modern SDLC & AI Tools: Proven experience with automated testing, TDD, and CI/CD pipelines, combined with enthusiasm for using AI tools (such as Claude) to optimise daily development.

What’s in it for you?

• A friendly, welcoming and supportive culture. We believe work should be fun and always put people before process
• Flexible working with fully remote and hybrid working options
• 33 days annual leave per year, pro rata. You decide which public holidays to recognise. After 2 years of employment, your annual leave entitlement will accrue year on year up to 38 days annual leave
• An additional day of annual leave, a Me Day, to take time for yourself
• Charity day to volunteer and support a registered charity of your choice
• Westfield Health (including Health Club discount and Westfield Rewards discount and cashback)
• Learning and Development opportunities, with opportunities for internal mobility across various departments / areas of the business
• 4 x annual salary death in service life assurance
• Enhanced pension after long service
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave after long service
• Quarterly awards designed to reward and recognise our wonderful Twinkl employees
• Free Twinkl Subscription

At Twinkl, we encourage diversity, and our doors are open to everyone. We're committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all. If you need any adjustments during the application process to showcase your abilities, please let us know. We're here to support you on your journey.

We understand that great ideas aren't confined to an office. That's why our tech teams embrace a remote-friendly culture, giving you the flexibility to choose where you work best. Whether it's from our amazing HQ in Sheffield, mainly remote or something in-between, believe that your best work happens when you have the freedom to create your ideal workspace.