Guardian Software Engineering Fellowship 2022: apply now – The Guardian

We are proud to announce the opening of the application process for our Software Engineering Fellowship.

The Guardian Software Engineering Fellowship is an opportunity for developers who are at the beginning of their careers to join our Product & Engineering department. The scheme is aimed at individuals looking for their first professional developer role. A grasp of programming is a prerequisite to be successful in your application, however we don’t pass judgement on how these skills were learnt. If you love coding, mobile apps and digital media then you can apply to the Fellowship irrespective of your background.

Our 12-month scheme provides a platform for developing your skills as an engineer, gaining experience working on multiple teams and developing applications in the media industry. It provides a structured path to becoming a software engineer, with support from experienced engineers and other fellows.

As a fellow you will be building software hands-on as part of a team. We expect fellows to learn and grow throughout the scheme, and provide the space for them to do so. With the support of other developers, you will gain skills to become a fully fledged software engineer.

Over the 12 months you will be embedded in different teams to give you experience across the organisation, we expect you will spend six months in our mobile apps teams and another six months in different areas of the department.

In the Fellowship you could be working on anything from shipping your code changes to the website or mobile apps, adding functionality to the publishing tools used by our journalists, or analysing big data. Fellows rotate around different teams, giving them a wide experience of different technologies and working environments.

In the Product & Engineering department we work on a variety of projects with the common goal of supporting the mission of the Guardian. We are very open about our engineering culture and recruitment process. You can learn more about the Guardian’s Product & Engineering department and the work it does on our developers’ site and engineering blog.

To give you insight into the scheme from a fellow’s perspective, one of our previous fellows Amina has written two Medium articles describing her first week on the Fellowship and also her overall experience of the scheme. Want more? Visit our blog for posts from previous fellows on their first impressions after joining the scheme, their experiences on the scheme and how their careers progressed at the Guardian after promotion to a software engineering role.

We welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. To find out more please read our Diversity Statement.

To get started with your application, follow this link. Closing date for applications: Friday December 31 2021. Good luck!

FAQ

Do you teach programming?

We don’t teach our fellows how to code from scratch. You must have a grasp of programming to be successful in your application. There are many tutorials and self-learning resources available online. We advise you to attempt some programming challenges before submitting your application.

Do you need commercial programming experience?

No, in fact if you have commercial experience our other roles at Associate or Developer level would be more appropriate. If you apply with significant commercial experience you will be referred to those positions, if they are open.

If I am successful in my application, when will I start work?

We anticipate the start date to be Tuesday April 5 2022.

How long does the scheme last and what happens when it ends?

Fellows spend a year on the scheme. On completion they work with their manager to identify which team to join permanently.

What teams will I join over the year?

As a fellow you will be rotating three times throughout the year. The first placement is usually six months which gives you time to settle in. This year we expect successful candidates to spend six months throughout the year embedded within our mobile apps teams, with them spending time with both our iOS and Android teams.

Is the Fellowship a permanent contract?

Yes, fellows are permanent employees at Guardian News and Media.

What steps are involved in the application process?

Due to current coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions we are running our recruitment process remotely. The first step in this process is to submit a CV and written answers to our questions within the application. If your application is successful you will be invited to a remote assessment half-day, during which they will undertake a pairing test with one of our engineers followed by a face-to-face video interview.

To find out more about how we interview and conduct pairing tests please visit our Engineering blog.

What are the important dates?

Application closing date: Friday December 31 2021

Remote assessment begins: Monday February 21 2021

Expected start date: Tuesday April 5 2021

I’m not based in the UK, can I still apply?

Yes, provided you already have the right to work in the UK at the time of application.

Do you support full-time remote working?

No, we currently don’t. With the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic situation almost everyone is currently working from home most of the time, however this is a temporary situation and we do not forecast people remote working full-time once people are able to commute and work safely from the office.

However, we do offer flexible working to better balance the needs of the company and employees as their circumstances change over time, and in order to attract and retain a diverse team. No two situations are identical and can be discussed at an offer stage.

How often will I be expected to be in the office, once they reopen?

If you are a full time employee and wish to work at home, expect to be required to work in the office while you get up to speed, and then at least 60% time in the office after that in order to maintain a relationship with the wider team.

What benefits do we offer?

Flexible working
Generous pension scheme; if you contribute 5% then the Guardian will contribute 8-12% (depending on your age)
Mental and Physical Health insurance and dental scheme
26 days annual leave and the option to purchase an extra 5 days
Up to 18 weeks of parental leave at full pay
Multi-faith prayer room
Cycle to work scheme and subsidised gym membership
Paid volunteering days
Annual season ticket loan