At a Glance
- Tasks: Build and scale innovative back-end services using Python and PHP.
- Company: Join Arbor, a mission-driven tech company transforming education.
- Benefits: Enjoy 32 days holiday, wellness support, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for professional development and mentorship.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in schools while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in Python, PHP, and managing large technical projects required.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 85000 £ per year.
About us
At Arbor, we're 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't 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 12,000 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't just about efficiency, outputs and productivity - 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's core systems and processes, as well as auxiliary services where needed.
It's a broad and exciting role, so we're looking for someone up for a challenge - if you're a proactive and collaborative Senior Product Engineer, this is the role for you.
- Core responsibilities
- Build, maintain and scale platform-level back-end services to enhance and serve our Data and AI capabilities for internal and external customers.
- Leverage these Data and AI capabilities to build and ship new features within the core Arbor product suite.
- 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 problem-solving skills and comprehensive system knowledge.
- Maintain high code quality standards through thorough, constructive code reviews, ensuring solutions are well-tested, scalable, and maintainable.
- Produce well-architected, efficient, and scalable code by applying industry-leading 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 mid-level and junior engineers in best practices, fostering knowledge transfer within the team.
- Actively lead and participate in tech talks, workshops, and team-based learning initiatives.
About you
- Demonstrable experience building back-end Python-based services
- Previous experience building features in PHP
- Experience with enterprise solutions and large-scale systems.
- Demonstrated knowledge of database technologies (SQL and No SQL) 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 service-oriented 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 Test-Driven Development (TDD) and Test Automation.
- Understands Scrum methodology or other agile development processes.
- Demonstrates leadership through collaboration, mentorship, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
- Possesses excellent written and spoken English skills, with the ability to communicate clearly to both technical and non-technical 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 hard-working, passionate people in a role where you'll 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 - 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 £200!
Simply email: careers@arbor-education. com
Please note: We are unable to provide visa sponsorship at this time.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Remote Senior Product Engineer (Python & PHP) in Lincoln
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We think you need these skills to ace Remote Senior Product Engineer (Python & PHP) in Lincoln
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 Grabjobs.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Grabjobs 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 Grabjobs
✨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 Grabjobs 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.
