At a Glance
- Tasks: Build and scale innovative search systems for public safety software.
- Company: Mark43, a tech company dedicated to improving community safety.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a mission-driven team focused on collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by enhancing technology that supports first responders.
- Qualifications: 4+ years in backend development with Java or TypeScript/JavaScript.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Mark43 empowers communities and their governments with technology that improves safety and quality of life. We build modern, resilient software that first responders and public safety agencies depend on in their most critical moments.
We are looking for an experienced Senior Software Engineer – Universal Search to help shape the future of 3rd party search and data integration at Mark43. In this role, you'll build and scale the systems behind our universal search platform that powers fast, accurate, and secure access to critical data across our RMS, CAD, and analytics products. You'll work on distributed systems, real-time data indexing, and modern search technologies to support life-saving decision making for our public safety users.
What You'll Do
- Led end-to-end system design for a new universal search experience across RMS, CAD, and other core components, collaborating with Product and cross-functional engineering teams to ensure a scalable, secure, and user-friendly solution that spans domains.
- Extended platform configurability and connectivity to tap new search data sources using AI-powered coding tools to accelerate development while maintaining high standards for code quality.
- Reviewed pull requests for enhancements to our authorization layer and index mappings in configurations, providing detailed architectural and performance-focused feedback to improve clarity, maintainability, and system resilience.
- Acted as release manager, coordinating deployment logistics, validating release readiness, and ensuring smooth, downtime-free updates to production through clear cross-team communication.
- Owned the end-to-end delivery of a feature supporting permission-aware global search filtering, aligning closely with Product, Infrastructure, and Design from technical feasibility through post-release monitoring.
- Mentored junior engineers, pair-programmed through complex debugging sessions, and coached teammates on prioritizing technical debt while delivering roadmap commitments.
- Participated in the on-call rotation, triaged and resolved a spike in failed search queries, and led a structured Root Cause Analysis (RCA) to drive follow-up improvements in system observability and alerting.
What You'll Need
We're looking for a senior backend engineer with at least 4+ years of professional experience who can take ownership, lead initiatives, and operate with autonomy in a distributed systems environment.
Must-Haves:
- Proficiency in Java or TypeScript/JavaScript with strong backend development experience.
- Experience integrating and working with third-party systems to support search functionality across domains.
- Familiarity with event-driven architectures using Amazon SNS, Amazon SQS, or Kinesis.
- Strong experience with AWS services such as Lambda, API Gateway, Step Functions, S3, ECS/EKS, DynamoDB, Aurora/RDS, IAM, and CloudWatch.
- Prior experience using AI engines to increase development velocity and deliver results.
- Solid understanding of indexing strategies, document schema design, and query optimization.
- Comfort working with CI/CD workflows and Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) tools in a serverless-first, microservices-based architecture.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Nice to Have:
- Prior experience working on multi-tenant platforms or large-scale search products.
- Familiarity with public safety or regulated domains.
- Knowledge of security best practices around data access and query auditing.
People Who Thrive on Our Team Also Tend to Be:
- Mission-driven – You care deeply about building technology that improves lives and strengthens communities.
- Curious and humble – You ask questions before making assumptions and actively seek feedback.
- Team-oriented – You value cross-functional collaboration as a key to shipping great software.
- Growth-minded – You look for ways to improve every day, even if the path isn't always clear.
- Calm under uncertainty – You're comfortable navigating ambiguity and solving problems without a roadmap.
This role is based in our Manchester, UK office and follows a hybrid work model. Team members are expected to be in the office at least three days per week to foster strong collaboration and a connected team environment.
Mark43 is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please email requesting the accommodation.
Senior Software Engineer in Manchester employer: Mark43
Contact Detail:
Mark43 Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Software Engineer in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage with online communities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and showcasing your projects. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using platforms that offer feedback. The more comfortable you are, the better you'll perform!
✨Tip Number 3
Tailor your approach for each company. Research Mark43's mission and values, and think about how your skills align with their goals. Show them you're not just another applicant, but someone who genuinely cares about their work.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A simple thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. Plus, it shows your enthusiasm for the role and the company.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Software Engineer in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Software Engineer role. Highlight your experience with Java or TypeScript/JavaScript, and any relevant projects that showcase your backend development skills. We want to see how your background aligns with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about building technology that improves lives. Share specific examples of your work in distributed systems and how you've contributed to team success. Let us know why you’re a great fit for Mark43!
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, don’t forget to mention instances where you've tackled complex problems, especially in a distributed systems environment. We love candidates who can navigate ambiguity and come up with innovative solutions, so share those experiences with us!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team at Mark43. We can't wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mark43
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re well-versed in Java or TypeScript/JavaScript, as these are crucial for the role. Brush up on your backend development skills and be ready to discuss your experience with AWS services like Lambda and DynamoDB.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to share specific examples of how you've tackled complex issues in distributed systems. Highlight any experiences where you’ve led initiatives or improved system resilience, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Understand the Company’s Mission
Mark43 is all about improving safety and quality of life through technology. Familiarise yourself with their products and think about how your skills can contribute to their mission. This shows that you’re not just looking for a job, but you genuinely care about what they do.
✨Be Ready for Technical Questions
Expect to dive deep into technical discussions, especially around indexing strategies and query optimisation. Practice explaining your thought process clearly, as communication is key in a team-oriented environment.