Senior Software Engineer
Magpie Literacy
- Saint Paul, Illinois, United States
- Saint Paul, Illinois, United States
Über
About Magpie At Magpie, we envision a world where every child, no matter their background, becomes a confident reader. Our nonprofit team combines research-backed instruction, joyful game design, and innovative technology to tackle America's reading crisis head‑on — with the goal of eradicating illiteracy through a digital‑first, student‑centered approach.
Role Summary We’re seeking an experienced
Full Stack - Senior Software Engineer
to join our small, mission-driven Platform team. You’ll wear many hats, work across boundaries, and help us build a platform that scales impact—not just traffic.
In this role, you’ll design and build the core systems that power Magpie’s learning experiences, from scalable backend services to intuitive front‑end interfaces and reliable data pipelines. You’ll help create experiences that meet every child where they are in their learning journey, while unlocking actionable insights for educators and families.
You’re drawn to missions that matter. You think deeply about the systems behind learning, not just the code. You balance pragmatism with curiosity and build for the long term. The ideal candidate pairs strong technical execution with deep empathy for users, thrives in a collaborative startup environment, and is motivated by the opportunity to make reading joyful and accessible for all.
What You’ll Do
Design and build platform capabilities that deliver reliable, high‑value features with safety, precision, and user focus
Collaborate closely with product managers, designers, and fellow engineers to create new features and improve existing ones
Approach the platform as a product: maintain a clear understanding of customer needs, identify friction points, and take ownership of outcomes with metrics‑driven decision making (KPIs, OKRs, and North Star metrics)
Use data to inform decisions, measure impact, and drive improvements through empirical evidence
Take ownership across all phases of development, from design to production, and monitor system performance in live environments
Continuously improve the flow of work from idea to production, using data to identify and remove friction
Write clean, efficient, and well‑documented code following best practices
Build and maintain APIs, and integrate with third‑party services
Ensure application performance, quality, and responsiveness across platforms
Participate in code reviews, testing, and debugging to maintain high‑quality deliverables
Mentor other engineers and contribute to their growth
Contribute to architectural decisions and help define technical standards and best practices
Stay up to date with emerging technologies and suggest improvements to enhance development processes
Requirements A strong candidate will possess
6‑8+ years of full‑stack engineering experience, with a track record of building systems, driving engineering standards, and setting technical direction
Experience building for both internal stakeholders and external users, including complex systems such as authentication, onboarding, or enablement features
Hands‑on experience with event‑driven architecture, system integrations, and content management platforms
Led the design or delivery of meaningful systems that improved outcomes for users or teams
Startup or early‑stage company experience, ideally as a founding engineer, with a strong sense of ownership over what you build
A pragmatic approach to tools and technologies, with the ability to explore alternatives and make recommendations to improve systems and processes
Tech Stack
Infrastructure / Backend: Terraform, IaC, AWS, SQL/NoSQL (Postgres, Mongo, Timestream), Lambda
Software / Frontend: TypeScript, JavaScript, CSS, React
Within your first 30 days, you will
Pair with teammates across disciplines to learn how we build, ship, and support new features
Start contributing to production code and exploring our workflows, tools, and deployment practices
Get comfortable in the codebase, understanding our architecture and systems
Embrace Magpie's spirit of curiosity and exploration—ask questions, challenge assumptions, and dig into our models and mission
Connect with cross‑functional teams to see how engineering supports product and learning goals
By day 60, you’re
A fully integrated member of the team, collaborating across product, engineering, and operations
Owning smaller features or components end‑to‑end and delivering user‑focused solutions
Contributing to technical discussions, code reviews, and team decision‑making
Identifying opportunities to improve systems, processes, or developer experience
Building deeper connections with teammates and understanding how your work drives Magpie's mission forward
By day 90, you will
Help shape how we build—mentoring teammates, influencing architecture, and evolving the platform for scale
Take an active role in design discussions and long‑term technical planning
Establish and refine patterns, processes, and documentation that strengthen our engineering culture
Lead by example in code quality, testing, and collaboration
Be recognized for your curiosity, craftsmanship, and ability to lift others up
What Success Looks Like
You consistently drive progress—enhancing our systems, sharing knowledge, and delivering meaningful results
You take initiative, spot and solve problems early, and bring creative solutions to the table
You elevate those around you through mentorship, collaboration, and communication
You directly contribute to Magpie's mission: making reading joyful, accessible, and transformative for every child
Benefits What You’ll Receive
Salary range of $145,000 - $160,000 per annum
Competitive medical, dental, vision benefits
Opportunity to work remotely for a mission‑driven company full of change‑makers
Enjoy the freedom of flexible time off to balance work and personal life, ensuring you stay refreshed and productive
401k with 4% guaranteed match
Work environment that values balance and harmony with a deep commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
Opportunity to travel and meet your team members in‑person 2x per year
Join Us At Magpie, your work will directly unlock the great reader in every child. If you're ready to lead with purpose, build with urgency, and partner with a mission‑driven team to solve one of America's biggest educational challenges — we want to hear from you.
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Sprachkenntnisse
- English
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