About Coursera
Coursera was founded in 2012 by Stanford professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller to make world-class learning accessible to everyone, everywhere. Today, over 190 million learners and 375+ university and industry partners use our platform to gain skills in fields like AI, data science, technology, and business. As a Delaware public benefit corporation and Certified B Corp, we’re driven by the belief that learning can transform lives through learning.
Why Join Us
At Coursera, we’re looking for inventors, innovators, and lifelong learners ready to shape the future of education. You’ll help build global programs and tools that power online learning for millions turning bold ideas into real impact. People who thrive here are customer-first builders who move fast, simplify ruthlessly, and iterate relentlessly on the metrics that matter.
We’re a globally distributed team and let you choose the best way you work, whether it's from home, a Coursera hub, or a co-working space near you. Our virtual hiring and onboarding make it easy to join us and start making an impact from anywhere. If you’re ready to make a global impact, scale unique products exclusive to Coursera, and expand your career horizons, apply below.
Role Overview
The Content Optimization Engineer, Hands-On Learning, is a full-time position focused on optimizing and enhancing the quality of technical course content within the Computer Science, Data Science, IT, AI, and Engineering domains. This role is dedicated to improving learner engagement, satisfaction, and retention by refining course content and guiding strategies and new experimentation for hands-on learning experiences. The role’s mission is to help increase access to high-quality and industry-relevant hands-on learning experiences that help learners master the technical skills they need to reach their career and learning goals.
We’re looking for a Contract Solutions Engineer who will work alongside Coursera’s Solutions Engineers and university and faculty Subject Matter Experts to build virtual learning labs and autograders on our advanced technical platform features. The Software Engineer should have experience working and consulting with STEM subject-matter experts, and be comfortable building basic Docker container-based applications. This role will support partners producing Computer Science, Data Science, and Engineering domains, where a STEM background (whether through formal education or relevant industry experience) is required.
Responsibilities
- Lead Technical Optimisation Implementation: Collaborate with internal teams, data scientists, product, and industry Subject Matter Experts to develop, prioritize, and manage technical and hands-on learning course optimisation opportunities and resourcing required.
- Technical Build & Optimization of Hands-On Learning Environments: Edit, create, and refine identified virtual learning environments, including labs, autograders, code blocks, Coach, and AI Grading opportunities based on learner feedback and data. Customize and maintain Docker container-based applications to support various technical learning environments and troubleshooting as needed.
- Monitor Success Metrics of Optimizations: Utilize data analysis and course metrics to track the success of technical content optimizations over time. Your shared goal will be to positively impact learner engagement, retention, and skill development metrics through optimization updates.
- Map Technical Optimization Challenges to Platform Solutions: Onboard to Coursera’s hands-on learning feature set, including Labs, Programming Assignments, Code Blocks, Coach, and AI Grading features. Use this knowledge to help consult on and brainstorm effective, efficient, and creative platform solutions for optimization opportunities and leverage.
- Implement partner feedback through Agile Development processes: Use an agile development framework and predefined sprint timelines to meet delivery milestones and incorporate learner feedback to final high-quality standards
- Conduct quality assurance on optimizations based on predefined checklists: Conduct quality assurance and end-to-end testing to ensure updated technical content meets predefined standards and best practices and is launch-ready.
- Document your code: Utilize industry best practices to document code, ensuring easy maintenance and hand-off for continued content optimization.
- Communicate & Document Product Enhancements & Feedback: Document and communicate product enhancements that could improve the technical build and learning experience to our product and engineering teams
Skills Required for this position:
- Technical consulting, Product knowledge; Communication; Relationship & influence; Customer empathy; Time Management; Ability to give/take constructive feedback; Teamwork
Basic Qualifications:
- 3+ years of professional experience, including at 2+ years of technical experience
- HTML, CSS, JavaScript and programming proficiency in Python or another programming language, comfort with CLI tools
- Demonstrated experience in debugging and troubleshooting skills, with the ability to pick up new languages and frameworks quickly
- Proficiency with Generative AI tools, Agents, and Prompt Engineering
- Data-driven and proficient in basic data analysis
- Demonstrated ability to build strong rapport with internal and external stakeholders
- Knowledge of software build, testing, and versioning best practices (Github and Version Control tools)
- Experience with Docker
- Experience with the following IDES: Jupyter Notebooks, RStudio, Visual Studio Code, Eclipse, Intellij
- Strong bias for action and ability to manage numerous projects and schedules simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong business acumen and consulting experience to effectively translate learning objectives into practical course enhancements.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with Test Driven Development (TDD) and related methodologies.
- Knowledge and experience in pedagogical principles and patterns to guide the creation of effective learning experiences.
Coursera is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a welcoming and inclusive workplace. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics and provide reasonable accommodations upon request at [email protected]. Learn more in our CCPA Applicant Notice and GDPR Recruitment Notice.
Top Skills
What We Do
Coursera was launched in 2012 by Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller with a mission to provide universal access to world-class learning. It is now one of the largest online learning platforms in the world, with 183 million registered learners as of June 30, 2025. Coursera partners with over 350 leading university and industry partners to offer a broad catalog of content and credentials, including courses, Specializations, Professional Certificates, and degrees. Coursera’s platform innovations enable instructors to deliver scalable, personalized, and verified learning experiences to their learners. Institutions worldwide rely on Coursera to upskill and reskill their employees, citizens, and students in high-demand fields such as GenAI, data science, technology, and business. Coursera is a Delaware public benefit corporation and a B Corp.
We’re a global platform aiming to transform lives through learning by offering transformative courses, certificates, and degrees that empower learners worldwide to advance their careers through skill mastery. We’re looking for inventors, innovators, and lifelong learners eager to shape the future of education. If you’re ready to build the global programs and tools that fuel the power of online learning, join Team Coursera.
Why Work With Us
People who thrive at here are customer-first builders who deeply understand our learners and partners, translate their needs into simple, high-impact solutions, and refuse to stop at “good enough.” They own outcomes end to end, move fast, simplify ruthlessly and iterate relentlessly on the metrics that matter to invent the future of learning.
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