Full Stack Developer (Java)

THE ROLE

We are looking for a fully remote Full Stack Developer to join the CourseKata team. Reporting to the CTO (Chief Technology Officer), Adam Blake, the Full Stack Developer will work alongside the CTO and an external development team to drive feature development, backend development, frontend development, code quality, and tool/technology maintenance in our existing Statistics and Data Science curriculum and future textbooks as they are developed. In the first year, the Full Stack Developer will primarily focus on the existing Statistics and Data Science textbook and over time the Full Stack Developer will develop our platform as we create new textbooks, features, and tools. Proficiency in Java is required, professional experience developing in Java will qualify candidates for the higher end of the salary range.

Technical requirements for the role:

• Technical skills that need to be proficient on day 1:
  • JavaScript, TypeScript, and Java
  • code documentation for both technical and non-technical audiences
• Technical skills that candidates need to have some experience with on day 1 (intermediate nonproficiency okay):
  • Both backend (Java) and frontend (JavaScript/TypeScript) development
  • Ability to independently implement medium-scope features
  • Strong understanding of web application security principles
  • Strong debugging skills, particularly in Java applications
  • Experience with PostgreSQL
• Technical skills that are preferred on day 1 but can be learned on the job:
  • Experience with Python backend development
  • Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and containerization (GitHub actions, Docker)
  • Knowledge of Spring Boot and Apache Tomcat
  • Experience with Kubernetes
  • Familiarity with, Web Components, and WebAssembly
  • Knowledge of AWS services
  • Experience with Jupyter Notebooks and developing extensions
  • Ability to center development on young adult and college-aged user

Primary responsibilities across all work include:

• Feature Development:
  • Lead development of medium-scope features from conception to deployment
  • Collaborate with team members to design and implement complex features
  • Develop scalable, maintainable code that adheres to project requirements
• Backend Development:
  • Build and maintain Java backend systems, ensuring efficiency and scalability
  • Work with databases, including PostgreSQL, to design and optimize queries
  • Write and maintain API endpoints for frontend-backend communication
• Frontend Development:
  • Develop and enhance user interfaces using JavaScript and TypeScript
  • Ensure applications are user-friendly and accessible for diverse audiences, including students and instructors
• Code Quality and Testing:
  • Write unit, integration, and end-to-end tests to ensure code stability
  • Participate in code reviews and ensure adherence to best practices
  • Document code effectively for internal and external use
• Tool and Technology Management and Maintenance
  • Contribute to CI/CD pipelines and containerization workflows (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)
  • Monitor memory usage, error rates, and other performance metrics
  • Identify, debug, and fix issues in existing applications
  • Ensure reliability and uptime of applications

How the Full Stack Developer will need to work to be successful includes:

• Collaboration and Communication:
  • Work asynchronously with a mentor and team members to align on goals and progress.
  • Provide clear explanations of application features to non-developers, including instructors and students.
  • Collaborate iteratively on project management tools to track and report progress when working on complex features
• Security and Compliance:
  • Implement security best practices in web applications.
  • Proactively identify and address vulnerabilities
• Create and document systems and processes to manage planning, implementing, and completing development work for both self and others
• Qualities that are characteristic of our existing team and will be expected of the Full Stack Developer:
  • Passion for social sector technology, with an emphasis on creating simple, user-friendly applications
  • Passion for K-16 education grounded in either work experience or life experience working with young people
  • Comfort with ambiguity and consensus driven decision making
  • Commitment to building products creating strong outcomes for diverse users
  • Optimistic, kind disposition, coupled with a tendency to be real and truthful about challenges and limitations resulting in a solutions-oriented approach to work
  • Diligent, with a high standard for quality of work
  • Able to view situations through multiple lenses to make well-informed decisions. Analyzes and diagnoses situations using sound judgment
  • Give and receive feedback with an authentic growth mindset for self and others
  • Communicates in a manner that is transparent, straight-forward and concise

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

CourseKata is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. In compliance with federal, state and local laws, all hiring decisions will be made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are deeply committed to building diverse candidate pools for all positions and creating a work culture and environment inclusive of all. Women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.

CourseKata has a collaborative culture characterized by our desire to provide our staff members with the support, resources, and information they need to be successful in our organization and in the nonprofit field in general. If you take on this position, you can expect to be offered a compensation package that is competitive within the nonprofit sector. Some of the benefits we offer include, but are not limited to:

• The salary for this role is $70,000 - $120,000
  • Candidate proficiency in Java is required to be hired into this position, professional experience developing in Java required to qualify for the top end of the salary range
• The candidate hired into this position will be hired into a three month probationary period tied to clearly defined skill outcomes as it relates to the role.
• This is a fully remote position
• Full time employment classification is characteristic of a 35 hour work week
• Medical, dental and vision insurance and a flex spending account for out of pocket medical expenses
• Generous time off policy-20 days of paid time off, 15 sick days, and 12 paid holidays
• 401(k) plan with a 10% employer match for 5% employee contribution; 403(b) plan option without employer match option