Staff Full Stack Software Engineer - Data/AI

Job Description

We are seeking a skilled and experienced Staff Software Engineer focusing on personalization and AI-powered development and deployment at The Washington Post. As a key member of our team, you will be responsible for designing, building, and deploying full-stack solutions that leverage cutting-edge AI technologies, Python, Postgres, and AWS services. This role involves gathering requirements, writing code, testing, deploying, and maintaining software using best practices in development. The engineer will work collaboratively on large-scale projects, contribute to the creation of new features, products, and tools, and mentor junior developers.

Motivation:

• You are passionate about solving complex technical challenges and driving impactful projects that shape the user experience for a news media platform.
• You are a natural problem-solver, a strong communicator, and a proactive and curious individual who is always looking to learn and grow.
• You are motivated by the opportunity to tackle complex technical challenges, lead and influence a team, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive user-focused solutions.
• You like freedom to explore emerging technologies and trends, and to identify new opportunities for growth and innovation.

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Lead full-stack development using Python, Postgres, and AWS services, delivering scalable and secure web applications.
• Contribute to the architecture and decision-making processes of large, complex projects.

Project Planning and Execution

• Collaborate on gathering and analyzing project requirements to define technical solutions.
• Work with cross-functional teams to integrate front-end and back-end solutions, ensuring seamless user experiences.

Software Development

• Write clear, maintainable code in Python, following best practices in version control, code reviews, and testing.
• Ensure that all software solutions are scalable, secure, and meet the needs of our users.

Collaboration and Communication

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including data scientists, product managers, and designers.
• Communicate technical solutions to stakeholders.

Mentorship and Coaching

• Mentor and coach junior engineers, offering technical guidance and reviewing code to ensure quality.
• Contribute to the growth and development of our engineering team.

Personalization and AI Deployments

• Design, implement, and deploy personalization algorithms and AI models using Python and related libraries.
• Work with data scientists to optimize personalization and AI model performance and accuracy.
• Develop and deploy recommendation systems, content optimization, and other personalization features.

Requirements:

• Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field is acceptable, but a Master's degree is preferred. Equivalent professional experience will also be considered. 8+ years of overall experience in Software Engineering and 2+ years of AI experience.
• Technical Skills: Extensive experience with full-stack development using Python React, and Node with a strong understanding of front-end and back-end integration as well as expertise in working with NoSQL databases like MongoDB and DocumentDB. Experience with designing and developing databases using Postgres.
• Cloud Infrastructure: Proficiency with cloud infrastructure, including experience with AWS services (e.g., EC2, S3, RDS, Lambda, ECS etc) for building and deploying scalable, cloud-based applications.
• Software Development: Experience with software development best practices, including coding standards, code reviews, testing, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Performance Monitoring: Experience with performance monitoring and observability tools (eg, Datadog, Splunk) for maintaining application health and performance.
• Leadership and Communication: Proven ability to mentor and lead junior engineers, influence team-wide practices, and communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Problem-Solving: Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot and debug issues across the stack.
• Autonomy and Decision-Making: Ability to handle complex projects with limited supervision and manage technical decision-making.

The Washington Post’s policy for employees is five days per week in the office, with exceptions for newsgathering and general business travel.

Compensation and Benefits

Wherever you are in your life or career, The Washington Post offers comprehensive and inclusive benefits for every step of your journey:

• Competitive medical, dental and vision coverage

• Company-paid pension and 401(k) match

• Three weeks of vacation and up to three weeks of paid sick leave

• Nine paid holidays and two personal days

• 20 weeks paid parental leave for any new parent

• Robust mental health resources

• Backup care and caregiver concierge services

• Gender affirming services

• Pet insurance

• Free Post digital subscription

• Leadership and career development programs

Benefits may vary based on the job, full-time or part-time schedule, location, and collectively bargained status.

The salary range for this position is:

131,500.00 - 219,100.00 USD Annual

The actual salary within this range will depend on individual skills, experience, and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements. This position may be eligible for a bonus or incentive program, and a member of the Talent Acquisition team will discuss bonus payment terms and conditions during the interview process.

The Post strives to provide its readers with high-quality, trustworthy news and information while constantly innovating. That mission is best served by a diverse, multi-generational workforce with varied life experiences and perspectives. All cultures and backgrounds are welcomed. 

The innovation doesn’t end in the Newsroom – dozens of teams power The Washington Post.  We are now hiring the next innovator – how will you Impact Tomorrow?

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