At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape an editorial platform for engineering culture and career insights.
- Company: Join Dex, a mission-driven company connecting talent with opportunity.
- Benefits: Above market salary, equity, healthcare, wellness perks, and flexible work structure.
- Other info: Opportunity to grow with the role as the editorial function matures.
- Why this job: Be a key player in building impactful content for the engineering community.
- Qualifications: Engineering background, strong editing skills, and a solid network in tech.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Our Mission
Human time and effort is the rarest thing in the universe. The fact that so many people hate what they do for work is a disaster on so many levels. How many people live quiet lives of misery? How many generational talents do we miss due to circumstance? Dex's mission is to close the gap between Talent & Opportunity. We believe that work, and being productive, is part of the human condition, that regardless of AI, human passion, ingenuity and a desire to do things means that work will always exist.
We are building Dex to create a future where technology helps every individual to understand their strengths, interests and unique abilities, and to connect with opportunities where they can thrive, because more people doing things they love leads to a better, happier and more productive world. We are starting by connecting the world's most ambitious software engineers with the companies that deserve them.
About the role
We're building an editorial platform: where engineering culture, hiring, and career thinking get treated with the seriousness they deserve. It does not exist yet in its final form - you will shape what it becomes. This is a fractional role, two to three days per week, with the possibility of growing into something larger as the function matures.
We are looking for someone rare: a person who has worked as a Software Engineer and can write, with an existing following on Substack or similar. Someone who has shipped production code, understands what a Senior, Staff or Principal engineer actually cares about, and can translate that into content a technical audience trusts and shares with their peers.
The Editor sets that standard. You will commission and edit work from our contributor network, write original pieces where the brief demands it, and ensure that everything published (mostly long-form, written content) earns the attention of our high-discrimination, high-agency audience.
Critically: you already know the people we want to publish. You have the relationships and credibility to get a yes from the Engineers, Engineering Leaders, and technical thinkers who matter. Names like Dave Farley, Charity Majors, and Gergely Orosz are reference points for the level of voice we are commissioning. You know this world from the inside.
In this role you will:
- Own our voice, editorial calendar and commissioning process. Know what to publish, when, and why.
- Commission original work from senior technical voices. Use your existing network to bring in contributors who have real credibility with our audience.
- Edit with conviction. Our contributors are strong writers, and your job is to make their work sharper and more aligned, not safer.
- Write original work when the moment demands it.
- Work closely with the Head of Marketing and Head of Growth to ensure editorial output serves both brand and distribution goals and feeds our amplification strategy.
- Hold the line on quality and editorial bar.
About you
- You have an engineering background. You have written code professionally and understand the technical and cultural reality of being a senior engineer today.
- You are a genuinely good editor. You can tell the difference between a piece that is just competent and one that an engineer would forward to a peer they respect.
- You have a network. You can pick up the phone or send a DM and get a yes from the people who matter in the engineering world.
- You know the landscape. Publications like The Pragmatic Engineer, Logic Magazine, Lenny's Newsletter, and Increment are reference points, not discoveries. You have opinions about what they do well and where the gap is.
- You have strong editorial opinions and you will defend them.
- You are not looking for a content mill. You want to build something with a real point of view.
Why this is a great opportunity
We work in an industry with an almost total absence of intelligent, intentional editorial. You'll own our answer to that. You'll build it, with the mandate and the relationships to make it matter from day one. The fractional structure is intentional. We want someone exceptional who wants an interesting editorial project, not someone who needs a full-time content marketing job. If the work grows, the role grows with it.
What We Offer
- Above market salary — we're building a world class team and believe pay should match that ambition
- Significant equity — we want this to be the last job you 'have' to take
- Full private healthcare & dental — because life happens and we want to support you
- Fertility benefits & enhanced parental support
- Gym membership & wellness benefits
- Claude tokens — lots and lots of Claude tokens
- Regular socials, offsites and an annual trip
- MacBook Pro + team kit
- "Whatever you need" approach to tools and support
Interview process
We move quickly and with conviction. Broadly you can expect:
- A 30m video call with our Internal Talent Lead; we'll describe the role and business in more detail before digging into your background to understand where your experience overlaps with our core requirements.
- A call with the hiring manager for the role, we'll share more context for the short and medium objectives in the role and you can expect some deeper questions relative to the role requirements.
- Most roles involve a practical task - more detail will be shared on the specifics but usually these are completed offline and reviewed by the team.
- Onsite interview loop where you'll visit the office, meet a cohort of the team, have an interview centred on the task you produced, another on Dex culture and values, and meet with one of the senior team members or Paddy, our Founder.
Founding Editor - Fractional in London employer: Dex
At Dex, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration among our 45+ engineers. Located in a fast-growing cloud-native environment, we provide ample opportunities for professional growth, competitive benefits, and the chance to work with cutting-edge technologies like AWS serverless architecture and TypeScript, making your contributions impactful and rewarding.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Editor - Fractional in London
✨Dive Into the Publishing Community
Get involved with local or online publishing communities. Join forums, attend literary festivals, or participate in panel discussions. This can be a goldmine for meeting industry professionals and hearing about opportunities that aren't advertised yet.
✨Stay Updated with Industry Trends
Follow leading publishing media channels on social media, like Twitter and Instagram. See what tactics and content formats are currently trending. This knowledge can help you tailor your discussions when you're networking or at interviews with companies like Dex.
✨Make Your Passion Visible
If you have a blog or a social media presence focused on books or publishing, use it! Share your thoughts on recent publications, trends in the industry, or interviews with authors. This can showcase your passion and knowledge, making you stand out as a candidate.
✨Hunt for Opportunities on Company Websites
While job boards are useful, don’t forget to go directly to company websites, like Dex. They often post openings there first. Plus, you might find job descriptions that give insight into what skills they really value, which can help you ace that interview.
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Editor - Fractional in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Writing Style:In the publishing-media world, your writing style is your signature. Make sure your CV highlights relevant writing experiences, whether that's published articles, blog posts, or even social media content. Give us a glimpse of your voice and flair for storytelling right from the start!
Include Relevant Projects:Don’t just list your roles; include specific projects you've worked on that demonstrate your skills in editing, research, or content creation. If you've contributed to a magazine or worked on a publication, make that front and centre! It shows you've got hands-on experience in the industry, which we absolutely love.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Let’s be honest: a generic cover letter is a missed opportunity. Take the time to craft a letter that speaks to why you’re passionate about this role at Dex. Mention what excites you about the publishing-media industry and how your skills align with the job description. We want to see that enthusiasm!
Format Matters!:In the publishing-media sector, presentation is key. Ensure your CV and cover letter are well-organised and visually appealing. Use headings, bullet points, and a clean layout. This isn't just about aesthetics — it shows your attention to detail and professionalism, which we really appreciate at Dex.
How to prepare for a job interview at Dex
✨Know Your Stuff: Be Ready on Industry Trends
Get yourself clued up on the latest trends in the publishing-media world. Think about how digital transformation is impacting the industry, and be ready to chat about relevant examples. This shows you're not just passionate but also informed!
✨Showcase Your Creativity with a Portfolio
Bring along a portfolio that showcases your writing, editing, or design work. Since it’s a full-time role, they’ll want to see how your style fits their brand at Dex. Tailor your presentation to their projects for maximum impact.
✨Brush Up on Editing Techniques
Expect some technical questions about editing styles, proofing techniques, and style guides. They might ask you to solve a practical problem or provide feedback on a piece—know the tools and software commonly used in the industry, and be prepared to discuss them!
✨Express Your Passion for Storytelling
In the publishing-media field, storytelling is key. Be ready to discuss what stories inspire you and why you want to join the team at Dex. Let your enthusiasm shine through; they want to know you're genuinely interested in contributing to their narratives!