Software Engineer I

Ziff Davis; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 35,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dynamic team at a forward-thinking company where you can enhance your skills in full-stack development. As a Software Engineer, you will tackle unique technical challenges and contribute to high-profile products that impact millions of users globally. This role offers a fantastic opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies like AWS, Python/Django, and React, while receiving comprehensive training and mentorship. You'll collaborate with experienced engineers, participate in innovative projects, and be part of a supportive environment that values diversity and inclusion. If you're passionate about coding and eager to grow, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

Competitive annual leave

ESPP options

Paid maternity and parental leave

Wellness benefits

Educational opportunities

Team activities

Qualifications

• Solid understanding of programming fundamentals and problem-solving.
• A degree in Computer Science or equivalent practical experience.
• Familiarity with SQL databases and web technologies.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate to design, develop, and maintain web application features.
• Build and optimize database technologies for efficient storage.
• Gain hands-on experience with AWS for scalable cloud-based solutions.

Skills

Programming Fundamentals

Problem Solving

Collaboration

Adaptability

Strong Communication

Education

Degree in Computer Science

Software Engineering

Related Field or Equivalent Experience

Tools

AWS

Python/Django

React

SQL Databases (MySQL/PostgreSQL)

Docker

CI/CD Tools

Datadog

Grafana

Job description

We’re Ookla, the company behind Speedtest, Downdetector, Ekahau, RootMetrics, and an ever-expanding suite of connectivity solutions. Our team is a group of people brought together through passion and inspired by possibility. We are looking for team members who enjoy solving complex problems, are motivated to challenge themselves, and are delighted with turning clever ideas into unique products.

Downdetector, the world’s leading platform for real-time outage and service status reporting, is seeking innovative and driven individuals to join our team. As a Software Engineer, you’ll tackle unique technical challenges while serving millions of users worldwide. Our high-profile product often becomes the centre of attention during outages of major services like Facebook, Google, and AWS, giving you the opportunity to work on solutions that truly matter.

This role is an incredible opportunity to learn full-stack development using technologies like AWS, Python/Django and React while working on scalable solutions that directly impact millions of users worldwide.

What You’ll Do

1. Collaborate with experienced engineers to design, develop, and maintain features for web applications
2. Work closely with product managers and designers to turn user requirements into robust features
3. Learn to build and optimise database technologies for efficient storage, retrieval, and analysis, while gaining experience in designing and implementing APIs and creating intuitive frontend interfaces that provide a seamless user experience
4. Gain hands-on experience with AWS services for building scalable, cloud-based solutions, including deploying and managing infrastructure as code
5. Contribute to improving system performance and scalability under the mentorship of senior team members
6. Participate in code reviews to develop clean, secure, testable and maintainable code
7. Gain exposure to DevOps tools and processes, including containerisation (e.g., Docker), CI/CD pipelines, and observability platforms (e.g., Datadog, Grafana)
8. Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues in collaboration with your team
9. Stay curious and proactive, learning new technologies and contributing ideas to innovate our platform

What We’re Looking For

1. Candidates must be able to demonstrate a solid understanding of programming fundamentals and problem-solving through a portfolio, coding challenge, or technical assessment during the application process.
2. A degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
3. A passion for coding, demonstrated by a history of learning and applying new technologies, whether through academic projects, personal experimentation, or open-source contributions
4. Familiarity with SQL databases (e.g., MySQL or PostgreSQL) and basic data modelling concepts
5. An understanding of web technologies, with an interest in frontend development using tools like React
6. A collaborative mindset and enthusiasm for working in a team environment
7. Strong problem-solving skills, adaptability, and a desire to grow as a software engineer

Why You’ll Love Working Here

We are committed to your professional growth and will provide:

1. Comprehensive onboarding and mentorship to help you succeed in your role
2. Access to training, workshops, and resources for continuous learning
3. Opportunities to work on innovative projects in a supportive and inclusive environment
4. A flexible working culture that values individuality, fun, and talent

In your first year, you’ll receive comprehensive training in Python/Django and React, working on small but impactful projects under the guidance of senior engineers. As your skills grow, you’ll contribute to larger features and have opportunities to present your work to the team. As you gain confidence, you’ll have the opportunity to take ownership of features and see your contributions deployed to production.

In addition to technical training, you’ll participate in collaborative team projects, attend code reviews, and engage in regular knowledge-sharing sessions to strengthen your development skills.

Application Process

To help us assess your programming skills, the application process will include a short coding challenge or a review of your portfolio of completed projects. Our coding challenge is designed to reflect real-world scenarios, giving you a chance to showcase your problem-solving skills and approach to writing maintainable code.

Benefits

We care deeply about each other and the work we do, and our perks are just one way we demonstrate this. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including (but not limited to):

1. Competitive annual leave
2. ESPP options
3. Paid maternity and parental leave
4. Wellness benefits (Calm app, gym reimbursement, ERG groups, etc)

You will have the best hardware, software, and tools available for you to do your work, and we provide excellent flexibility for working remotely as time and responsibilities allow. To promote your success and growth, we offer educational opportunities, and anti-racism and LGBTQIA+ resource libraries, team activities, and many more. Visit our Built In Seattle page for even more information on what it's like to work at Ookla.

If you’re passionate about joining the work we’re doing, we welcome your application and encourage applicants with both traditional and non-traditional experience that makes them an excellent candidate for the role. We strongly believe diversity of all kinds makes us better. We are an equal opportunity employer actively working to build an inclusive workforce at all levels of the company.