At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engaging micro-workshops for software engineers, sharing your expertise and passion.
- Company: Join Skiller Whale, a dynamic tech company transforming learning experiences.
- Benefits: Earn £100 per hour plus prep pay, enjoy flexible remote work, and make a real impact.
- Other info: Flexible hours, fully remote, and a chance to shape the future of tech talent.
- Why this job: Teach and inspire others while enhancing your own skills in a fun environment.
- Qualifications: Expertise in software engineering and experience mentoring or teaching others.
The predicted salary is between 100 - 100 £ per hour.
Important Note: If you have expertise in technologies that we currently have enough coaches for, we may ask you for permission to keep your details and reach out when we are more confident of demand in those areas.
Role Summary
We're looking for experienced lead engineers or equivalent to lead targeted micro-workshops for small groups of software engineers. The sessions last up to 90 minutes, take place remotely via our app, and are based around high quality teaching material that we produce. Your job is to bring expertise and enthusiasm for software engineering and ensure our learners leave with a deep understanding of the topic (understanding why, not just knowing what or how), and the ability to apply new skills. You can expect to be teaching senior as well as junior engineers, answering interesting questions tangential to our material, and live-debugging their code. For this reason, we've found that the skill profile required is more similar to pairing or technical mentoring than it is to typical classroom teaching.
About Skiller Whale
Skiller Whale changes what tech teams are capable of through live sessions led by subject-matter experts. Developers attend a 60-90 minute session every week or two, learning something new through challenging exercises with an expert leading the session to explain the topic and answer difficult questions. Learners love us (they give us an average rating of 4.8 / 5) and we have a measurable impact on the teams we work with.
What We're Looking For
We'd love for you to apply if you enjoy building the skills and understanding of others, and you have expertise in the curriculum we provide. The technologies/topics that we need coaches for soon are:
- Advanced PostgreSQL
- React Native
- Leadership, Communication and Management (in the context of software teams)
If you are an expert in two or more of the following areas, we'll still consider you as a coach, although it may be longer before you are allocated a group:
- Common languages/frameworks (e.g. Go, React, Kotlin, Java etc)
- Platforms, Tools and/or Databases (e.g. AWS, Docker, PostgreSQL)
- Test-Driven Development
- REST API Design
- Leadership, Communication and Management (in the context of software teams)
You'll need to be able to give nuanced answers to difficult questions, give relevant examples from your experience with a topic, and explain advanced concepts clearly and succinctly.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If your expertise is in the lower priority technologies, but your application is strong, we may put your application on hold (we'll let you know if this happens) and then reach out again when we are more likely to have a group to offer you.
More Details
Working Hours
Most of our coaches lead between 1 and 4 sessions per week (1.5 - 6 hours), with Skiller Whale making up part of a portfolio career, or adding variety to their main employment, consulting or fractional roles. We typically book regular weekly 90 minute time-slots for these sessions, based around your availability.
The Platform
All our teaching is done through the Skiller Whale platform, which includes video conferencing and other tooling designed to make teaching as slick as possible. High quality written content and exercises are provided by Skiller Whale, so you shouldn't need to do significant preparation before a session (we assume half to one hour to get familiar with the material, and we pay for preparation the first time a module is taught).
Accommodations
Should you require any accommodations during the interview process, please reach out to Dave Millican (dave@skillerwhale.com) to let him know. We're always happy to help and will do everything we can to accommodate you.
Please Note
This is a rolling opportunity. Because we always have people going through our process, and only limited time to process them, our response times to initial applications may be slow (up to 4 weeks), in order to prioritise applicants already in the pipeline.
Requirements
Knowledge & Understanding
You should come across as an expert, able to expand beyond the provided material when appropriate. Examples from your experience in different settings; what you've found works well, and what doesn't.
Careful Listening and Clear Explanations
You must be able to deliver clear and concise explanations in spoken English and be able to adapt your explanation style to match the level of your audience.
Expert Spoken and Written English
You should be expert and eloquent in spoken English, with an accent that will be clear to non-native (but fluent) speakers from various backgrounds. You should be able to quickly understand questions with complex phrasing or grammar and know when you need to clarify.
A Personable, Passionate and Professional Demeanour
You should be able to easily build rapport with new groups of people, and create a safe space for learners to ask questions. You should come across as friendly and demonstrate enthusiasm for the topics you teach, whilst maintaining professionalism.
Live Debugging
You should be comfortable looking at code, quickly understanding how it works (or why it doesn't), and identifying bugs or potential improvements under time pressure (e.g. live in a session).
Industry Experience
In order to teach senior engineers with confidence, it's important that you have extensive real-world experience. Learners may well ask about how things are really done in practice and being able to give examples and anecdotes is important.
Teaching Or Mentoring Experience (formal Or Informal)
Experience teaching groups of software engineers, or mentoring other developers (even in an unofficial capacity) is a bonus, particularly if those people were relatively senior. Since this is an essential part of most senior, lead and engineering management roles we would expect most suitable candidates to have some experience here.
Bonus Points For Experience With Multiple Languages / Frameworks / Tools Etc.
All the people we teach are already software developers, but will come from various backgrounds / have experience with different programming languages. Having context from those is sometimes useful to help learners' understanding.
Benefits
Rate: £100 per hour (+ paid £50 for preparation for each new module taught)
Very flexible work - we will aim to schedule sessions that fit your availability, and you have no ongoing commitment
Fully remote, forever
Have a real impact on learners. Our sessions actually make people better at their jobs
Teaching is fun!
Software Engineering Coach: Flexible (TDD, Security + More) in Manchester employer: Skiller Whale
Skiller Whale is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and development of its team members through innovative remote teaching methods. With a strong emphasis on high-quality educational content and a collaborative work culture, employees are empowered to share their expertise while fostering a deep understanding of software engineering among learners. The flexibility of remote work combined with opportunities for professional development makes Skiller Whale a rewarding place to build a meaningful career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Engineering Coach: Flexible (TDD, Security + More) in Manchester
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We think you need these skills to ace Software Engineering Coach: Flexible (TDD, Security + More) in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your GitHub Projects:When applying for a freelance software engineering gig at Skiller Whale, make sure to include your GitHub link in your application. Highlighting your code repositories, contributions to Open Source, and any personal projects can really set you apart and give us insight into your skills and coding style.
Tailor Your CV with Relevant Skills:In software development, the specifics matter! Make sure your CV lists the programming languages and technologies you excel at. Focus on the ones that align with the projects Skiller Whale is working on. Listing your tech stack clearly will help us understand how you fit into our team.
Include a Portfolio of Your Work:A solid portfolio is a must when applying for freelance roles. Include links to any apps, websites, or software you've developed. Highlight any projects that reflect a strong user experience, efficiency, or innovative solutions—this is your chance to shine and show us what you can bring to the table!
Mention Your Availability and Rates:Since this is a freelance role, we want to know when you’re available and what your rates are like! Be upfront about your typical work hours and project timelines. This transparency will help us see if we can sync up for future projects at Skiller Whale.
How to prepare for a job interview at Skiller Whale
✨Showcase Your Code Wizardry
Since you're going for a freelance role in software engineering, have a solid portfolio ready to flaunt your best work. Include projects that highlight your coding skills, frameworks you excel in, and any problem-solving feats you've pulled off. This is your chance to shine, so choose pieces that reflect your unique style and expertise!
✨Prepare for Technical Challenges
Freelance gigs often involve tech assessments or coding challenges, so be ready to tackle some hands-on problems. Brush up on common algorithms, data structures, and any languages/frameworks relevant to the role at Skiller Whale. Being comfortable with platforms like HackerRank or LeetCode can give you an edge and showcase your skills under pressure!
✨Be Clear About Your Rates and Flexibility
As a freelancer, be prepared to discuss your rates upfront. It's crucial to communicate your pricing structure clearly and whether you're open to negotiation. Do your homework on industry standards to ensure you pitch a fair and competitive rate that reflects your skills and experience!
✨Understand Their Tech Stack
Before the interview, get familiar with the tools and technologies used at Skiller Whale. Whether it's a particular framework or a specific coding methodology, being knowledgeable about their tech stack not only shows your interest but also helps you present how you could fit seamlessly into their existing projects. Demonstrating you’ve done your homework can set you apart from other candidates!
