Software Engineer

Cengage; Kentucky; Hybrid; USD 77,100 - 123,300; Full time

Job summary

Cengage in Kentucky is seeking a Software Engineer to deliver high-quality learning solutions. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in computer science and between 2 to 5 years of professional experience in software engineering, particularly with Java and ReactJS.

This role involves collaboration with cross-functional teams to design and maintain innovative software in an agile environment. Cengage offers a base salary range of $77,100 to $123,300 USD, and is committed to a diverse workplace.

Qualifications

• 2–5+ years of professional experience in software engineering.
• Experience developing full‑stack applications using Java and modern JavaScript.
• Ability to communicate technical ideas clearly.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a world-class experience for learners and instructors.
• Design, develop, and maintain end-to-end features.
• Collaborate closely with Product, UX, QA, and other engineers.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues across the stack.

Skills

AI/ML concepts

Java (Spring/Spring Boot)

ReactJS

APIs

Collaboration

Agile methodologies

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field

Tools

AWS

Azure

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

Overview

We believe in the power and joy of learning. At Cengage, our employees have a direct impact in helping learners around the world discover the power and joy of learning. We are bonded by our shared purpose – driving innovation that helps millions of learners improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a world-class experience for learners and instructors on our Cengage Learning Platforms (CLP).
• Work on a cross-functional team implementing an innovative, AI‑first roadmap.
• Collaborate with product managers, designers, engineers, and testers following the Product Operating Model (POM) to deliver high‑quality, accessible solutions.
• Design, develop, and maintain end-to-end features across both backend services (Java/Spring) and frontend applications (React).
• Build dynamic, responsive, and accessible user interfaces using React that enhance the learning experience for students and instructors.
• Develop scalable, high‑performance backend services and RESTful APIs to support frontend functionality.
• Collaborate closely with Product, UX, QA, and other engineers to deliver cohesive, user‑centered solutions.
• Write clean, maintainable, and testable code, demonstrating modern frontend patterns (hooks, component composition) and scalable backend practices.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues across the stack, including UI bugs, API failures, and performance bottlenecks.
• Contribute to platform modernization efforts, including frontend architecture evolution and backend service improvements.

Qualifications

Generative AI & Emerging Technologies

• Familiarity with AI/ML concepts and emerging technologies, including generative AI and LLM-based tools.
• Experience integrating with or consuming AI‑powered services (e.g., APIs for generative AI or intelligent workflows).
• Demonstrated ability to apply AI tools in day‑to‑day engineering workflows (e.g., code generation, refactoring, test creation, CI/CD augmentation).
• Practical experience working with agentic AI workflows, including using LLMs to perform multi‑step tasks, invoke tools/APIs, and integrate with existing systems.

Architecture & Cloud Platforms

• Experience building and consuming APIs that integrate legacy systems with modern solutions.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and containerization technologies (Docker; Kubernetes a plus).

Software Engineering & Product Delivery

• Experience developing full‑stack applications using Java (Spring/Spring Boot) and modern JavaScript (ReactJS).
• Strong understanding of software engineering fundamentals, including testing, debugging, and performance optimization.
• Experience working in agile environments (Scrum, Kanban), contributing to iterative delivery.

Collaboration & Communication

• Strong collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in cross‑functional and distributed teams.
• Ability to communicate technical ideas clearly and contribute to team discussions and decision‑making.
• Willingness to learn, take ownership, and continuously improve both individually and as part of a team.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 2–5+ years of professional experience in software engineering, with exposure to full‑stack development.

EEO Statement & Accommodations

Cengage is committed to working with broad talent pools to attract and hire strong and most qualified individuals. Our job applicants are considered regardless of any classification protected by applicable federal, state, provincial or local laws. Cengage is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities including during our job application process. If you are an applicant with a disability and require reasonable accommodation in our job application process, please contact us at [e-mail].

Compensation

Base salary range: $77,100.00 – $123,300.00 USD. Individual base pay will vary based on work schedule, qualifications, experience, internal equity and geographic location.

Warning

Be aware of targeted recruitment scams perpetrated by bad actors falsely providing job offers on behalf of Cengage Group to candidates as a means of obtaining personal information. Cengage will always interview candidates via live in‑person meetings, phone calls and video calls before an offer is extended. Be sure to check that communication is coming from an @cengage.com email address.