At a Glance
- Tasks: Build and improve HR products with high-quality code and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
- Company: Join Charlie, a company dedicated to making work better for small businesses.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working, and generous leave policies.
- Other info: Work in a fun, inclusive team with great career progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on products used by thousands while growing your skills.
- Qualifications: 1+ year in software development and experience with modern web technologies.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 48000 £ per year.
About Charlie
We’re Charlie and we exist to Make Work Better. We do this by helping small businesses automate their HR tasks so that they can get the time, headspace and tools they need to build an engaged and high-performing team. We’re looking for a Product Developer (IC1–IC2) to join our Product & Engineering team and help us build HR products used by thousands of people every day.
What is a Product Developer (IC1–IC2)
We have a career progression framework. IC1 is a junior Product Developer, IC4 is a senior Product Developer, and IC levels 2 and 3 cover that middle area.
In This Role You Will
- Building and improving the Charlie product through writing high‑quality, maintainable code
- Fixing bugs, maintaining the codebase and supporting ongoing product development
- Collaborating in a cross‑functional team across product, design and engineering to shape what we build
- Reviewing code and contributing to discussions on code quality and best practices
- Working closely with customer teams to diagnose and resolve product issues
- Taking part in sprint planning, retrospectives and team rituals to continuously improve how we work
- Learning from and supporting other developers through feedback, pairing and collaboration
Requirements You Must Have
- At least 1 year of experience in a software development role
- Experience working with modern web technologies (e.g. Ruby, Rails, PostgreSQL or similar)
- Confidence using core development tools (version control, debugging tools, IDEs, etc.)
- Ability to write clean, maintainable and secure code (and explain it)
- Strong collaboration skills and ability to work in cross‑functional teams
- Openness to using AI‑powered development tools to support your workflow
- Self‑awareness and humility – you know that honest feedback is how you grow, and you’re not afraid to ask for help
Let Us Know If You Have
- Experience maintaining and upgrading production systems
- Exposure to debugging live customer issues or working with support teams
- Experience reviewing others’ code and giving constructive feedback
- Understanding of software security and vulnerability management
- Experience working in agile or sprint‑based environments
- A passion for building products with strong user empathy
Employment Details
This is a permanent full‑time role. We cannot offer visa sponsorship and you must be able to work in the UK.
The Way We Work
- A team of 39 that genuinely enjoy spending time together, with regular in‑person and remote events to foster connection
- 9 day fortnights – our adjusted work week. We have every other Friday off work
- Hybrid‑first approach; we optimise for office and remote working to be valued equally, and to be equally valuable
- Live anywhere in the UK; we have 8 set days per year that we require the team to be together in our London office, but you have the flexibility to live anywhere in the UK
- 90 bookable “nomad working” days outside of the UK in any timezone each year
- An amazing office space in East London’s pet‑friendly Second Home, and membership access to their wider locations
- Exploration days when you can work on whatever across the company
- We have review cycles 2x a year using our transparent career progression framework
Compensation Package
Benchmark salary from £45,000 to £48,000 based on your level within our progression framework.
Benefits
- £750 yearly Work Your Way Budget
- Access to our Learn You Way L&D Fund
- £30 monthly wellbeing Budget
- Private Health Insurance through Vitality
- 25 days annual leave + public holidays
- 4 bookable “Personal days” per year
- A sabbatical of up to one month paid at 50% of salary (after 3.5 years)
- Enhanced Equal Parental Leave policy
Equal Opportunities Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and believe in the power of a diverse, inclusive team. We welcome all applications from all suitably qualified people, regardless of race, sex, disability, religion / belief, sexual orientation or age. Please let us know if you require anything which would enable your success throughout our interview process.
Product Developer employer: CharlieHR
At Charlie, we are dedicated to making work better for small businesses, and as a Product Developer, you'll be part of a vibrant team that values collaboration and innovation. With a hybrid-first approach, flexible working arrangements, and a strong focus on employee growth through our transparent career progression framework, we offer a supportive environment where you can thrive. Enjoy unique benefits like 9-day fortnights, generous leave policies, and access to a fantastic office space in East London, all while contributing to products that positively impact thousands of users daily.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Developer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Charlie on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Prepare a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your best projects. When you get the chance to chat with the team, having tangible examples of your work can set you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready for technical challenges! Brush up on coding problems and system design questions. Practising these will help you feel confident during interviews, especially when discussing your experience with modern web technologies.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Charlie team and making work better for everyone.
We think you need these skills to ace Product Developer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Product Developer role. Highlight your experience with modern web technologies and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how your skills align with what we do at Charlie!
Show Off Your Collaboration Skills:Since we value teamwork, don’t forget to mention your experiences working in cross-functional teams. Share examples of how you’ve collaborated with others to solve problems or improve products. It’s all about showing us you can work well with our team!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon unless it’s relevant. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This way, your application will go straight to us, and we can review it promptly. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Charlie!
How to prepare for a job interview at CharlieHR
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re familiar with the modern web technologies mentioned in the job description, like Ruby, Rails, and PostgreSQL. Brush up on your coding skills and be ready to discuss how you've used these tools in past projects.
✨Show Your Collaborative Spirit
Since this role involves working in cross-functional teams, prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated with others. Think about times when you’ve contributed to discussions on code quality or helped diagnose product issues.
✨Embrace Feedback
Demonstrate your self-awareness and humility by discussing how you’ve received and acted on feedback in the past. Be ready to share specific instances where constructive criticism helped you grow as a developer.
✨Get Agile Ready
Familiarise yourself with agile methodologies and be prepared to talk about your experience in sprint-based environments. Highlight any involvement in sprint planning or retrospectives, as this shows you understand the importance of continuous improvement.
