Staff Software Engineer - Content Experiences

Job Description

Job Summary: The Staff Software Engineer for Content Experiences will lead full-stack development for The Washington Post site and content pipelines, focusing on delivering engaging, high-performance web applications. This role involves gathering requirements, writing code, testing, deploying, and maintaining software using best practices in development. The engineer will work independently on large-scale, complex projects, mentor junior developers, and contribute to the creation of new features, products, and tools.

Motivation: You thrive on solving complex technical challenges and driving impactful projects that shape the user experience for a news media platform. Your full-stack expertise, combined with deep knowledge of relational and NoSQL databases, allows you to influence the team and drive high-quality, scalable, and secure solutions.

Responsibilities:

• Lead full-stack development using React, Node, and Python, delivering scalable and secure web applications.
• Collaborate on gathering and analyzing project requirements to define technical solutions.
• Design, implement, and optimize database systems, including relational (Postgres) and/or NoSQL (MongoDB/DocumentDB).
• Write clear, maintainable code, following best practices in version control, code reviews, and testing.
• Contribute to the development of technical documentation and design specifications for team members.
• Mentor and coach junior engineers, offering technical guidance and reviewing code to ensure quality.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate front-end and back-end solutions, ensuring seamless user experiences.
• Collaborate with Product, Design, Newsroom and business stakeholders to manage and optimize project timelines, proactively identifying blockers and risks to ensure timely delivery.
• Actively contribute to the architecture and decision-making processes of large, complex projects.
• Stay current with industry trends, suggesting improvements to enhance performance, security, and scalability.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in related discipline or equivalent professional experience.
• Extensive experience with full-stack development using React and Node or Python.
• Proficiency in database management, with strong knowledge of relational (Postgres) and NoSQL (MongoDB/DocumentDB) databases.
• Strong understanding of front-end and back-end integration, as well as experience with cloud infrastructure.
• Ability to handle complex projects with limited supervision and manage technical decision-making.
• Experience with software development best practices, including coding standards, code reviews, testing, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot and debug issues across the stack.
• Strong communication skills, able to convey technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Proven ability to mentor and lead junior engineers and influence team-wide practices.

Knowledge and Problem Solving:

• Deep understanding of software architecture, design patterns, and performance optimization techniques.
• Experience designing and maintaining robust, scalable database solutions.
• Ability to foresee technical challenges and propose effective solutions to mitigate risks.
• Thorough understanding of the latest developments in full-stack web technologies and databases.

Negotiations and Interactions:

• Collaborate with peers, managers, and external stakeholders to deliver high-quality solutions.
• Provide technical leadership and influence the direction of key projects across the engineering team.
• Communicate technical decisions and processes clearly across different teams.

Assignment of Work and Oversight:

• Work on complex projects independently, setting technical direction and ensuring alignment with project goals.
• Drive the development of new features and tools, with significant impact on the platform’s performance and user engagement.

Leadership:

• Provide mentorship and guidance to junior developers, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented environment.

Lead technical discussions and decision-making for high-impact projects, driving innovation within the team.

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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