Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team as a Senior Product Engineer, driving impactful features for schools.
- Company: Arbor is transforming education with innovative management tools for over 7,000 schools.
- Benefits: Enjoy 32 days holiday, wellness support, and flexible working options.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in education while working in a supportive and collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in software development, particularly with PHP and Object-Oriented languages required.
- Other info: Dog-friendly offices and a commitment to diversity and equality.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 67000 ÂŁ per year.
Location: Remote
Salary: ÂŁ70,000 â ÂŁ75,000
About us
At Arbor, we\âre on a mission to transform the way schools work for the better.
We believe in a future of work in schools where being challenged doesn\ât mean being burnt out and overworked. Where data guides progress without overwhelming staff. And where everyone working in a school is reminded why they got into education every day.
Our MIS and school management tools are already making a difference in over 7,000 schools and trusts. Giving time and power back to staff, turning data into clear, actionable insights, and supporting happier working days.
At the heart of our brand is a recognition that the challenges schools face today aren\ât just about efficiency, outputs and productivity â but about creating happier working lives for the people who drive education everyday: the staff. We want to make schools more joyful places to work, as well as learn.
About the role
We are looking for an experienced and highly technical Senior Product Engineer to join our Engineering team and help us implement and deliver large projects and advocate for high engineering standards. The remit and focus of the role is to be a key driver in the team, taking responsibility for developing and owning features and core components of the company\âs core systems and processes, as well as auxiliary services where needed. It\âs a broad and exciting role, so we\âre looking for someone up for a challenge â if you\âre a proactive and collaborative Senior Product Engineer, this is the role for you.
Core responsibilities
Own the successful delivery of high-impact features, directly contributing to the advancement of Arbor products.
Drive the development and implementation of advanced tests for new and existing features, ensuring high test coverage and reliability standards.
Proactively identify, take ownership of, and resolve critical system bugs and issues using advanced problemâsolving skills and comprehensive system knowledge.
Maintain high code quality standards through thorough, constructive code reviews, ensuring solutions are wellâtested, scalable, and maintainable.
Produce wellâarchitected, efficient, and scalable code by applying industryâleading design patterns and methodologies.
Create and maintain thorough technical documentation and diagrams that promote best practices and ensure clear communication.
Collaborate closely with the Engineering Manager, Tech Lead, QA Engineer, and Product Manager to address feature requests.
Support the Engineering Manager with interviews, scrum ceremonies, and the implementation of strategies to improve and optimise product quality and lead time, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the development lifecycle and processes.
Support the Tech Lead in developing technical roadmap solution designs, identifying areas for improvement, prioritising, and executing technical debt reduction.
Act as a role model for technical excellence through code reviews, pair programming, and actively mentoring and coaching midâlevel and junior engineers in best practices, fostering knowledge transfer within the team.
Actively lead and participate in tech talks, workshops, and teamâbased learning initiatives.
About you
Strong understanding of the payment domain, with handsâon experience integrating with paymentâproxy providers like Stripe, GoCardless etc.
Extensive, demonstrated experience with PHP
Experience with enterprise solutions and largeâscale systems.
Demonstrated knowledge of database technologies (SQL and NoSQL) and best practices for data modelling and performance optimisation.
Proven experience in managing large, technical projects and delivering high-quality, impactful results with minimal supervision.
Proven experience designing and writing APIs and services within a serviceâoriented environment.
Applies best practices and software engineering principles (e.g., SOLID, DRY) effectively.
Demonstrated knowledge of software best practices, including refactoring, writing clean code, and TestâDriven Development (TDD) and Test Automation.
Understands Scrum methodology or other agile development processes.
Demonstrates leadership through collaboration, mentorship, and a proactive approach to problemâsolving.
Possesses excellent written and spoken English skills, with the ability to communicate clearly to both technical and nonâtechnical stakeholders.
A driven team player who actively participates in discussions and readily offers assistance to others.
What we offer
The chance to work alongside a team of hardâworking, passionate people in a role where you\âll see the impact of your work everyday. We also offer:
A dedicated wellbeing team who champion initiatives such as mindfulness, lunch n learns, manager training, mental health first aid training and much more!
32 days holiday (plus Bank Holidays). This is made up of 25 days annual leave plus 7 extra company wide days given over Easter, Summer & Christmas
Life Assurance paid out at 3x annual salary
Comprehensive wellness benefit provided by AIG Smart Health, which provides a 24/7 virtual GP service, Mental health support, Counselling, and personalised Health Checks
Private Dental Insurance with Bupa
Salary sacrifice Pension provided by Scottish Widows
Enhanced maternity and adoption leave (20 weeks full pay) and paternity (6 weeks full pay) pay
5 free return to work maternity coaching sessions, helping you adapt to this new exciting time of life!
Access to services such as Calm and Bippit (financial wellbeing coaching)
All of our roles champion flexible working and we are happy to discuss what this means to you
Social committees that plan team, office and company wide events to bring people together and celebrate success
Dedicated professional development training budget (CPD courses, upskilling resources, professional memberships etc)
Volunteer with a charity of your choice for a day each year
Dog friendly offices!
Interview process
Phone screen
1st stage
2nd stage
We are committed to a fair and comfortable recruitment process, so if you require any reasonable adjustments during your application or interview process, please reach out to a member of the team at careers@arbor-education.com.
Our commitment is also backed by our partnership with Neurodiversity Consultancy, Lexxic who provide us with training, support and advice.
Arbor Education is an equal opportunities organisation
Our goal is for Arbor to be a workplace which represents, celebrates and supports people from all backgrounds, and which gives them the tools they need to thrive â whatever their ambitions may be so we support and promote diversity and equality, and actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.
Refer a friend
Know someone else who would be good for this role? You can refer a friend, family member or colleague, if they are offered a role with Arbor, we will say thank you with a voucher valued up to ÂŁ200! Simply email: careers@arbor-education.com
Please note: We are unable to provide visa sponsorship at this time.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Senior Product Engineer employer: Arbor Education
Contact Detail:
Arbor Education Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice đ¤Ť
We think this is how you could land Senior Product Engineer
â¨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Arbor's mission and values. Understanding their focus on creating happier working lives in schools will help you align your answers during interviews and demonstrate your passion for their cause.
â¨Tip Number 2
Showcase your collaborative skills by preparing examples of past projects where you worked closely with cross-functional teams. Highlighting your ability to lead discussions and mentor others will resonate well with their emphasis on teamwork.
â¨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your knowledge of PHP and Object-Oriented programming principles. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you've applied best practices like SOLID and DRY in your previous work, as this is crucial for the role.
â¨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your experience with APIs and service-oriented architectures. Since the role involves designing and writing APIs, having concrete examples of your work in this area will set you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Product Engineer
Some tips for your application đŤĄ
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in software development, particularly with PHP and Object-Oriented languages. Emphasise your leadership qualities and any experience with agile methodologies, as these are key for the Senior Product Engineer role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for transforming education through technology. Mention specific projects or experiences that demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to work collaboratively within a team.
Showcase Technical Skills: Include examples of your expertise in producing well-architected code and designing APIs. If you have experience with cloud computing or containerisation, make sure to highlight this as it aligns with the bonus skills mentioned in the job description.
Prepare for Interviews: Research Arbor's mission and values, and be ready to discuss how your background aligns with their goals. Prepare to share examples of your past work, particularly in leading tech talks or mentoring colleagues, as these are important aspects of the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Arbor Education
â¨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
As a Senior Product Engineer, it's crucial to demonstrate your extensive experience with PHP and Object-Oriented programming. Be prepared to discuss specific projects where you've applied best practices like SOLID and DRY principles, and how these have positively impacted your team's output.
â¨Prepare for Collaborative Scenarios
Since the role involves working closely with various team members, think of examples where you've successfully collaborated in a team setting. Highlight your leadership qualities by discussing how you've mentored others or led code reviews, showcasing your ability to inspire and guide your colleagues.
â¨Understand Their Mission
Arbor is focused on transforming the educational landscape. Familiarise yourself with their products and mission to create happier working lives for school staff. During the interview, express how your values align with theirs and how you can contribute to this vision through your technical skills.
â¨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Skills
Be ready to discuss your proactive problem-solving approach. Prepare examples of challenges you've faced in previous roles, particularly in designing APIs or implementing advanced tests, and explain how you tackled these issues strategically to achieve successful outcomes.
