Senior Researcher, DX in London

Senior Researcher, DX in London

London Full-Time 63000 - 77000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Atlassian

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Provide expert insights and guidance on developer productivity to senior engineering leaders.
  • Company: Join a fast-growing SaaS company recently acquired by Atlassian.
  • Benefits: Enjoy health resources, paid volunteer days, and a supportive work culture.
  • Other info: Collaborate with world-class researchers and build a body of work you're proud of.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of developer productivity with your real-world experience and data-driven insights.
  • Qualifications: Experience leading engineering teams and respected by industry leaders.

The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.

About DX

DX is one of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in the country, helping engineering leaders build high-performing, productive teams. Our platform delivers actionable insights into developer experience and productivity - empowering companies like Netflix, Uber, Dell, Pfizer, and Vanguard to operate at their best. DX has grown from a bootstrapped startup into a category-defining company with a customer base that spans some of the most sophisticated engineering organizations in the world. We recently closed on our acquisition by Atlassian, which means more resources behind our mission, faster product innovation, and an even bigger impact for the teams who rely on us.

How we work at DX:

At DX, we want to be very clear about what we care about and how we judge performance. For us, it all boils down to individual mastery, becoming the best at your craft. Those who exhibit this quality will thrive here and be unduly rewarded. We can’t control outcomes due to competitors, the economy, decision-makers, etc., but what we can control is doing our jobs at the highest level possible.

About the role

We're looking for a Software Engineering Leadership Advisor to join the DX team as a practitioner voice and executive-level advisor. The ideal candidate is someone who has lived the problems our audience faces—someone who has scaled engineering organizations, navigated the transition to AI-assisted development, and made real decisions about developer productivity with real consequences. Someone who Fortune 500 VPs of Engineering and CTOs already respect or would otherwise recognize as a peer.

You'll work within our research team to translate data and findings into practitioner-grounded commentary, frameworks, and guidance that resonates with senior engineering leaders. You'll represent DX externally at executive dinners, on conference stages, on panels, and in advisory conversations with our largest customers. You'll be the person in the room who makes engineering leaders lean in because you've done what they're trying to do.

Think of this role as part industry advisor, part executive coach, part practitioner-in-residence. You bring the credibility and the relationships. We bring the data, the platform, and the publishing engine.

Responsibilities

  • Practitioner commentary and thought leadership: Provide practitioner-grounded commentary on research findings, data analyses, and frameworks produced by the research team. Co-author and contribute to flagship reports, essays, and talks. Develop and contribute to practitioner frameworks, playbooks, and maturity models drawn from your own experience and your network's collective wisdom.
  • Executive advisory and customer engagement: Serve as a trusted advisor to DX's largest customers and prospects. Lead workshops, advisory sessions, and executive briefings where engineering leaders are looking for guidance from someone who's been in their seat. Participate in customer inquiries and consultations helping engineering leaders apply DX's research and data to their specific organizational challenges. Build and maintain relationships with senior engineering leaders across the industry.
  • External presence and industry influence: Represent DX on conference stages, executive panels, industry podcasts, and at invite-only dinners and roundtables. Be a visible, recognized voice in the developer productivity and engineering leadership community. Build DX's reputation as the place where senior engineering leaders go for guidance.
  • Shipping cadence: Each member of this team is expected to produce two "small ships" per month: quick, high-signal pieces that capture one strong insight or idea. One "big ship" per quarter: a flagship report or talk that combines data, practitioner perspective, and actionable guidance into something that reframes how leaders think about a problem.

Qualifications

Who you are: You've led engineering organizations or platform/developer experience teams at scale—typically as a VP of Engineering, Head of Platform, Head of Developer Experience, Senior Director of Engineering, or similar. You've made real decisions about developer productivity, tooling, and team design with real consequences. You are known and respected by senior engineering leaders. VPs of Engineering and CTOs at Fortune 500 companies would take your call, attend your talk, or want you at their dinner table. You've been on stages, on panels, on podcasts, or in rooms where senior engineering leaders gather. You can provide sharp, credible commentary on data and research without needing to run the analysis yourself. You're a strong writer and communicator. You're opinionated but intellectually honest. You're looking for a role where you can shape how an entire industry thinks about developer productivity and AI.

Benefits & Perks

Atlassian offers a wide range of perks and benefits designed to support you, your family and to help you engage with your local community. Our offerings include health and wellbeing resources, paid volunteer days, and so much more.

About Atlassian

At Atlassian, we're motivated by a common goal: to unleash the potential of every team. Our software products help teams all over the planet and our solutions are designed for all types of work. Team collaboration through our tools makes what may be impossible alone, possible together.

We believe that the unique contributions of all Atlassians create our success. To ensure that our products and culture continue to incorporate everyone's perspectives and experience, we never discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or marital, veteran, or disability status. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Senior Researcher, DX in London employer: Atlassian

Atlassian is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration in the heart of the United Kingdom. Employees benefit from comprehensive health and wellbeing resources, alongside unique perks that promote a balanced lifestyle. With a strong focus on professional growth and the opportunity to lead transformative AI initiatives, Atlassian empowers its team members to make a meaningful impact while advancing their careers.

Atlassian

Contact Details:

Atlassian Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Researcher, DX in London

Join Local Tech Meetups

Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Atlassian or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!

Contribute to Open Source Projects

Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Atlassian.

Tap into Online Developer Communities

Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Atlassian.

Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles

Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Atlassian that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Researcher, DX in London

Software Engineering Leadership
Developer Productivity
Data Analysis
Executive Advisory
Communication Skills
Thought Leadership
Workshop Facilitation

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.

Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Atlassian.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Atlassian and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!

Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!

How to prepare for a job interview at Atlassian

Brush Up on Your Coding Skills

For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.

Know Your Tools and Frameworks

Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Atlassian uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.

Showcase Your Projects

Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.

Prepare for Behavioural Questions

While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.