At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop innovative software solutions using Python and Rust.
- Company: Join Smarkets, a leading tech company revolutionising the betting industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, stock options, health insurance, and flexible working.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: 4+ years of software engineering experience and familiarity with Python or compiled languages.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with excellent career growth and mentorship opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 50000 £ per year.
We are always on the lookout for talented engineers. We welcome applications from candidates who are really energised about the challenges we are working on and have transferable skills and experience. We look forward to reviewing your application! We are hiring for different levels (mid and senior).
Who are we? Smarkets is a betting exchange for sports and political trading that has handled over £29 billion in volume since 2010. Our company's mission is to fix the betting industry with the best products and best prices. We are upending the sports betting industry by growing a transparent platform that offers the best value for bettors, with the fairest odds, best technology and a superior customer experience. Smarkets is a Series B tech company that brings a professional, product‑led approach to our mission. We embrace collaboration, trust, innovation and scientific rigour, while we celebrate ambitious goals and passionate energy. Our culture rewards people on merit and excellence and we strive to provide a working environment where recognition, challenges, support, collaboration, interesting benefits and shared meals provided by our chefs mix together to let you unlock your potential, grow with us and become your best self. Join our team and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our betting trading technology landscape.
The Role: As a Mid‑Level Software Engineer within our Engineering org, you will play a pivotal role in designing, developing, and maintaining the services that power Smarkets' business operations products. You will collaborate closely with engineering managers, technical leadership, and product managers to lead complex technical projects aligned with the Smarkets product roadmap. Smarkets is looking for talented and passionate engineers like you for an exciting opportunity to create a unified and high‑performing system that will not only optimize our services but also elevate Smarkets to new heights of success. We believe in using the best tools for the job. We support two programming languages – a fast compiled language (Rust) for critical path operations and a slower interpreted one (Python) for others. Our Kafka pub/sub MQ, the heart of our system, offers high availability, low latency and message persistence. We provide gRPC and HTTP APIs for various metadata, while PostgreSQL and ElasticSearch serve as our go‑to databases.
Responsibilities:
- Design, implement and maintain complex designs/features written in Python and Rust
- Implement alerting and monitoring to ensure the stability of our services
- Help reinforce the standard for code quality, by writing tests and reviewing merge requests
- Continuously improve engineering processes including CI/CD
- Mentor technically your direct teammates
- Work closely with Product and other engineering teams to scope and lead complex business goal‑aligned projects
- Be the champion of the stack by demonstrating first‑hand how to implement functionalities in the right way, with an eye to the horizon and your mind on the present
Role Requirements:
- 4+ years of experience as a software engineer
- Familiarity with Python or at least one compiled language (Java, C++, Rust, Go) and are keen on learning Rust
- Previous experience with building distributed systems in a modern cloud environment
- Previous experience with DevOps engineering stacks/tools/practices including GitLab and K8S
- Previous experience with message queues (e.g. Apache Kafka) and SQL databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL)
- Previous experience working in Sports Betting or Finance industries
- Strong written and spoken communication skills in English
- The ability to effectively collaborate with cross‑functional teams
Values:
- Push to win
- Make others better
- Give a shit
- Be a pro
- Bring the energy
Our values are at the heart of everything that we do. We believe these are the fundamentals to ensure we are delivering what’s expected of us in the best way possible for ourselves and for those around us.
Benefits:
- Competitive salary package and benefits
- Stock options which vest over 4 years
- Pension scheme – an impressive pension scheme via Aviva. We will match 6 % if you choose the same
- Health insurance
- Fresh fruit and snacks provided in the office every day! (tea, coffee, soft drinks also included)
- Cycle to work scheme
- £1000 yearly education budget that can be used on courses, conferences, books or training
- 25 days paid holiday + bank holidays to enjoy – you have the choice to carry over 5 days to the next year!
- Flexible working – hybrid model approach to working and provide you with 2 days a week working from home
- 20 days a year of globally working – ability to work from anywhere in the world for up to 20 days a year
- Lunch provided every day in the office
What happens next:
We aim to have a simple and speedy hiring process, and we want to make sure that we are right for you as much as the other way around.
- CV application review – We will review it as quickly as possible
- Let’s chat – Quick chat with our team about your experience and the role
- HackerRank Exercise – At‑home test to show off your skills
- Experience and Mindset Chat – with the Hiring Manager
- Technical Interview – Live Coding
- In‑office Interview – Lunch with other colleagues in the team + LT chat
Software Engineer employer: Smarkets
Contact Detail:
Smarkets Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees on LinkedIn or at industry events. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a GitHub or portfolio, make sure it’s up to date. Share projects that highlight your experience with Python, Rust, or any cool tech you’ve worked with. It’s a great way to stand out!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the technical interview! Brush up on coding challenges and system design questions. Practising with platforms like HackerRank can help you feel more confident when it’s time to show what you can do.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interviews, drop a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation. It shows you’re genuinely interested and keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Software Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the role. Highlight your experience with Python, Rust, and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how you can contribute to our mission!
Show Your Passion: In your cover letter, let us know why you're excited about the challenges we face at Smarkets. Share your enthusiasm for sports betting or finance, and how your background makes you a great fit for our team.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language and avoid jargon unless it's relevant. We appreciate direct communication, so make sure your points come across effectively!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Smarkets
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re familiar with the technologies mentioned in the job description, especially Python and Rust. Brush up on your knowledge of distributed systems and message queues like Kafka, as these are crucial for the role.
✨Show Your Problem-Solving Skills
Be prepared to discuss how you've tackled complex technical challenges in the past. Use specific examples that highlight your ability to design and implement solutions, and don’t shy away from discussing any failures and what you learned from them.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration
Since the role involves working closely with cross-functional teams, be ready to share experiences where you’ve successfully collaborated with others. Highlight your communication skills and how you’ve contributed to team success.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about Smarkets’ projects, culture, and future goals. This shows your genuine interest in the company and helps you assess if it’s the right fit for you. Plus, it’s a great way to engage with your interviewers!