At a Glance
- Tasks: Build and ship features for our innovative learning platform using cutting-edge tech.
- Company: Join Exam Papers Plus, a trusted name in exam preparation for over 100,000 families.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work, generous holiday, and pension contributions.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for growth and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in edtech while working with AI tools and a collaborative team.
- Qualifications: 3+ years as a Full-stack Engineer with strong TypeScript skills.
About Us
Exam Papers Plus is one of the UK's best-known names in 11+ and high-stakes exam preparation, trusted by over 100,000 families. We have built a large bank of exam resources, mapped to subject, question type, skill and difficulty, and recently launched a learning platform that adapts to each child's learning profile and puts that material in front of children and parents in a guided way.
About the Role
As Senior Software Engineer you will be a hands-on, full-stack contributor on our core platform, working closely with our Lead Engineer and an external development team that uses AI tools to move quickly without sacrificing quality. Your focus is shipping features at pace while holding a high bar on quality through thorough testing and code review. You will be a strong voice in technical discussions and a reliable pair of hands the team can lean on, without carrying the management load.
What you'll be responsible for:
- Building and shipping features across our learner and content platforms (React, Node.js, NestJS), taking work from spec through to production.
- Using AI tools such as Cursor and Claude to accelerate your work, while owning the validation so that code quality, security and performance meet our standards.
- Following and helping to uphold our engineering practices, contributing to code reviews and writing automated tests so we do not accumulate technical debt.
- Working alongside the Lead Engineer and other Engineers, pairing when useful, sharing what you know and helping less experienced colleagues get unstuck.
- Contributing to design and architecture discussions for new features, flagging trade-offs and suggesting pragmatic solutions.
What you'll bring:
- Three or more years as a Full-stack Engineer, with at least some of that time at a senior level.
- Strong TypeScript across our stack – a pnpm and Turborepo monorepo, React 19 with TanStack Start, Router and Query, Tailwind CSS, Prisma and PostgreSQL (Supabase), Better-Auth and Stripe, deployed to Google Cloud Run via GitHub Actions with Terraform-managed infrastructure.
- Comfort with AI-assisted development and experience using tools like Cursor or Claude sensibly in a day-to-day workflow.
- A track record of shipping quality code fast, balancing velocity with standards.
- A pragmatic approach – sensible trade-offs between perfect and good enough, always asking what matters most for the user.
- Ownership – you see the work you pick up through without constant oversight.
- Clear communication – you explain technical decisions well, give and take feedback, and work well with product and design.
Experience in edtech, learning platforms, student data or educational workflows would help.
What success looks like:
- You are consistently delivering significant features each sprint to a high standard, without adding technical debt.
- Your code is well tested, your reviews are thoughtful, and you help catch bad patterns before they land.
- Within three months the Lead Engineer can hand you complex work with confidence, and you are a go-to person for other Engineers.
- You have contributed to a handful of technical decisions that made the codebase simpler or faster to work in.
- You are using AI tools effectively, reliably validating what they produce, and helping the team do the same.
What's On Offer:
£55,000 to £65,000 depending on experience. Permanent, full time, hybrid with two days a week in our Clerkenwell, London office. 28 days' holiday and 5% employer pension contribution. Eligibility for the group bonus scheme. You must be based in the UK with the right to work here.
Senior Software Engineer employer: EXAM PAPERS PLUS
At Exam Papers Plus, we pride ourselves on being a leading name in educational resources, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. As a Senior Software Engineer, you'll enjoy a hybrid work model in our vibrant Clerkenwell office, competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, and opportunities for professional growth while contributing to meaningful projects that impact students' learning journeys. Join us to be part of a supportive team that values quality, creativity, and the use of cutting-edge technology in education.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Software Engineer
✨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 EXAM PAPERS PLUS 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 EXAM PAPERS PLUS.
✨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 EXAM PAPERS PLUS.
✨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 EXAM PAPERS PLUS 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 Software Engineer
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 EXAM PAPERS PLUS.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at EXAM PAPERS PLUS 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 EXAM PAPERS PLUS
✨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 EXAM PAPERS PLUS 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.
