Software Engineer

Digital Waffle; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A technology company in Nottingham is looking for an Automation Engineer to develop resilient automation tools that navigate complex anti bot environments. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise with Python, Node.js, or Go, and a deep understanding of browser automation frameworks like Playwright or Puppeteer. Responsibilities include building high-scale crawlers, integrating captcha solving services, and designing systems that perform effectively under various anti bot measures. This role is perfect for someone who enjoys technical challenges and has a creative mindset.

Qualifications

• Strong experience with Python, Node.js, or Go.
• Expert level understanding of browser automation frameworks such as Playwright or Puppeteer.
• Demonstrable experience working with anti bot environments including WAFs, behavioural scoring, and dynamic challenges.

Responsibilities

• Building and maintaining high scale crawlers and automation scripts.
• Integrating captcha solving services while respecting legal and ethical guidelines.
• Monitoring bot detection feedback and refining approaches.

Skills

Strong experience with Python

Node.js

Go

Expert level understanding of browser automation frameworks

Experience designing scalable automation systems

Creative, analytical mindset

Tools

Playwright

Puppeteer

Job description

Automation Engineer (Advanced Anti Bot and Captcha Handling)

We are looking for an Automation Engineer with deep experience working around complex anti bot environments. This includes understanding how platforms like Cloudflare, DataDome, Akamai, Perimeter, Imperva, reCAPTCHA, and other captcha systems classify and challenge automated traffic. The focus is on building resilient, compliant automation tools that can operate reliably at scale despite these protective layers. This role suits an engineer who enjoys technical puzzles, understands how anti bot systems work internally, and can design automation workflows that remain stable, efficient, and legally compliant.

Responsibilities

• Building and maintaining high scale crawlers and automation scripts for complex, protected environments.
• Designing browser automation that can adapt to anti bot systems such as Cloudflare, DataDome, Akamai, Perimeter, Imperva, and others.
• Integrating captcha solving services where appropriate while respecting all legal and ethical guidelines.
• Implementing fingerprinting, session handling, and behavioural simulation to improve automation stability.
• Building systems that operate reliably under rate limits, behavioural analysis, and risk scoring models.
• Monitoring bot detection feedback and refining approaches to improve performance and resilience.
• Working with product and engineering teams to refine automation strategy as protection mechanisms change.

Qualifications

• Strong experience with Python, Node.js, or Go.
• Expert level understanding of browser automation frameworks such as Playwright or Puppeteer.
• Demonstrable experience working with anti bot environments including WAFs, behavioural scoring, and dynamic challenges.
• Understanding of captchas, fingerprinting, traffic shaping, session management, and proxy infrastructure.
• Experience designing scalable, distributed automation systems.
• A creative, analytical mindset and strong technical ownership.

Required Skills

• Strong experience with Python, Node.js, or Go.
• Expert level understanding of browser automation frameworks such as Playwright or Puppeteer.
• Demonstrable experience working with anti bot environments including WAFs, behavioural scoring, and dynamic challenges.
• Understanding of captchas, fingerprinting, traffic shaping, session management, and proxy infrastructure.
• Experience designing scalable, distributed automation systems.
• A creative, analytical mindset and strong technical ownership.

Preferred Skills

• Experience designing scalable, distributed automation systems.
• A creative, analytical mindset and strong technical ownership.