Senior Software Engineer II

Elsevier; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 72,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Elsevier is seeking a Senior Software Engineer II in Amsterdam to design, develop, and evolve high-quality web applications. You’ll work across Java Spring server-side apps (JSP & Tomcat) and a modern front-end trajectory (ReactJS/NextJS, TypeScript), while improving performance and accessibility.

You will own complex tasks, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and contribute to architectural decisions, mentoring others and guiding maintainable solutions in a globally used analytics platform

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional web application software engineering experience with a relevant degree.
• Strong Java programming skills with the ability to debug and extend server enterprise code and REST APIs.
• Solid front-end expertise in JavaScript, semantic HTML, CSS and ReactJS, including accessible and performant web pages.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of complex software development tasks from design to delivery and maintenance.
• Maintain and evolve existing applications while modernizing front-end architecture.
• Investigate complex technical challenges and implement sustainable long-term solutions.
• Collaborate with product teams, designers and engineers to translate requirements into practical technical solutions.
• Contribute to architectural discussions and technical planning to guide engineering decisions.
• Mentor other engineers through code reviews and knowledge sharing.

Skills

Java

ReactJS

JavaScript

HTML/CSS

REST APIs

JUnit

Playwright

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Engineering

Tools

Spring

JSP

Apache Tomcat

jQuery

NextJS

TypeScript

Job description

Are you passionate about building modern web applications that make a meaningful impact in healthcare education?

Would you like to help evolve established products while contributing to the modernization of technology used by healthcare professionals and students around the world?

• Location: Amsterdam
• Time type: Full time
• Primary Location Base Pay Range: NLD Amsterdam (Radarweg) €71,700 - €119,600.
• This role is covered by the Collective Labor Agreement Publishing Industry.

About our Team

SciVal is Elsevier’s research analytics platform. In simple terms, it turns Scopus and other connected research data into insights that universities, research institutions, funders, and research leaders can use for benchmarking and strategic decision‑making.

About the Role

As a Senior Software Engineer II, you’ll play a key role in designing, developing and evolving high‑quality web applications that deliver performant and accessible user experiences. We’re looking for an engineer who enjoys building well‑designed user interfaces, understands how the browser interacts with the systems behind it and is comfortable navigating server‑side technologies. You’ll work across a diverse technology landscape, primarily involving established Java‑based, server‑rendered applications using Java Spring (JSP & Apache Tomcat), JavaScript (jQuery) and CSS, while gradually moving toward a modern front‑end architecture leveraging ReactJS (NextJS) and TypeScript. Beyond implementation, you’ll contribute to technical solutions and architectural decisions, application performance and maintainability. Additionally, you’ll collaborate with other engineers to deliver reliable and scalable solutions.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of complex software development tasks, from technical design and implementation through delivery and ongoing maintenance.
• Maintain and evolve existing applications while contributing to the incremental modernization of our front‑end architecture.
• Investigate complex technical challenges, identify root causes and implement sustainable solutions that consider long‑term maintainability.
• Collaborate with product teams, designers and engineers to translate requirements into practical technical solutions, identifying dependencies and trade‑offs.
• Contribute to architectural discussions and technical planning, helping guide engineering decisions and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Support the development of other engineers through code reviews, knowledge sharing and mentoring, while promoting consistent engineering practices across the team.

Requirements

Mandatory

• 5+ years of professional web application software engineering experience, with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• Strong Java programming skills, with the ability to understand, debug and extend server enterprise application code and integrate with REST APIs.
• Solid front‑end expertise in JavaScript, semantic HTML, CSS and ReactJS, including experience building responsive, accessible and performant web pages.

Optional

• Experience with established web technologies such as Spring, Stripes, JSP, Apache Tomcat or jQuery.
• Familiarity with NextJS and TypeScript or experience with modernizing established web applications.

Technical Skills

• Web architecture: Strong understanding of browser behavior, the DOM, HTTP, server‑side rendering, client‑to‑server interactions and API integration.

• Front‑end engineering: Knowledge of component‑based architectures, browser compatibility, responsive design principles and web accessibility standards (WCAG).

• Application development: Ability to navigate complex Java‑based web applications, understand application lifecycles and troubleshooting issues across front‑end, back‑end and data components.

• Software quality & performance: Experience with automated testing approaches (e.g. JUnit & Playwright), debugging, performance optimization and secure coding practices to ensure reliable, maintainable applications.

• Development practices: Proficiency with code reviews, CI/CD workflows, and Agile development practices, with the ability to evaluate technical trade‑offs and recommend practical solutions.

Work in a Way That Works for You

We promote a healthy work/life balance across the organisation. We offer an appealing working prospect for our people. With numerous wellbeing initiatives, shared parental leave, study assistance, and sabbaticals, we will help you meet your immediate responsibilities and your long‑term goals.

Working Pattern

Working flexible hours - flexing the times when you work in the day to help you fit everything in and work when you are the most productive.

About the Business

A global leader in information and analytics, we help researchers and healthcare professionals advance science and improve health outcomes for the benefit of society. Building on our publishing heritage, we combine quality information and vast data sets with analytics to support visionary science and research, health education and interactive learning, as well as exceptional healthcare and clinical practice. At Elsevier, your work contributes to the world's grand challenges and a more sustainable future. We harness innovative technologies to support science and healthcare to partner for a better world.