Job Description
About The National College
At The National College, we empower your workforce to transform children's lives. Our all-in-one platform helps schools, trusts and nurseries stay compliant, raise standards, and reduce staff workload — all through intuitive, powerful software.
If educators need it, we build it.
We’ve created a unique platform combining the world’s largest CPD and policy library with custom-built tools — developed in collaboration with thousands of schools and over 1,000 education experts.
The Role
We’re looking for a Senior Fullstack Engineer (Ruby on Rails) to lead backend architecture and full-stack development. In this role, you’ll design and deliver new features, manage integrations, resolve complex issues, and review code. You’ll also guide and mentor the development team, ensuring high standards of quality and velocity across all engineering activities. Beyond the technical work, you’ll play a key role in fostering a culture of learning, innovation, and collaboration while helping us build industry-leading technology.
Job Requirements
Experience
* 5+ years’ experience in development roles.
* 2+ years’ experience lead development roles.
* Previous experience at leading and mentoring engineers.
* A track record of building high-performance products, preferably with ecommerce or SaaS applications.
* A strong portfolio showcasing previous projects, including personal or professional contributions.
* Ideally you have a degree in software engineering, computer science or similar field
Skills and Competencies
* Experience with managing and mentoring software engineering teams, including hiring, training, feedback, and performance evaluation.
* Experience with cloud platforms and services on AWS.
* Experience with DevOps practices and tools, such as CI/CD, Kubernetes, etc.
* A strong ability to work with detail and accuracy.
* Strong technical skills and understanding of software development and delivery practices.
* A passion for development and technology driven by being hands with coding and development.
* Demonstrable experience of development within a Ruby/Ruby on Rails environment on established large scale web products.
* Demonstrable experience with SaaS based products on cloud platforms, including API integrations with external systems.
* Experience working with relational databases (preferably MySQL/Aurora).
* Detailed knowledge of web development technologies and associated services including Vue.js, CSS (sass, scss, tailwind), JavaScript. Knowledge of erb templates, Ruby on Rails, Angular and React are major benefits.
* Experience with definition and implementation of software architecture, framework selection and implementation.
* Ability to design, implement and maintain scalable, reliable and secure software solutions that meet business and user requirements.
* Capability to build CSS and front-end implementation for multi-device support based on UI/UX designs.
* Experience interacting with Google Analytics, using Google Tag Manager and other third-party integrations such as VWO, product fruits, Algolia search
* Experience with video delivery platforms or learning management systems a huge benefit
* Practical experience working with automated unit and integration testing tools and frameworks such as RSpec, Rubocop or Minitest
* Experience with agile methodologies such as Scrum or Kanban, and tools such as Jira and Git
* Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills
* Flexible and able to work in a highly collaborative fast-paced culture
Job Responsibilities
* Own and improve development processes to provide structure and support for the team and collaboration and visibility to stakeholders, owning code review and improvement processes
* Carry out high quality development in Ruby, Ruby on Rails, CSS, HTML and JavaScript against the asks within the development backlog that were provided by product and design.
* Support both test and development teams to ensure both high quality automated and code level testing occurs during development, and full end-to-end testing can be carried out
* Resolve technical or operational challenges raised by internal teams or customers
* Leading engineers, providing clear expectations, feedback, mentoring and development, fostering the culture of continuous learning.
* Support the appropriate selection of tools, frameworks, recommending best architectural approach, ensuring scalability, security, maintainability and performance.
* Support the product and design teams throughout planning to support the scoping and scaling of new developments
* Work closely with design and standalone to ensure a high attention to detail and quality in all visual areas of the product, whilst being highly accessible.
* Ensuring high quality code through the use of implementation of automated testing for new and existing developments.
* Reviewing and supporting other engineers within the team through timely and supportive code reviews and continuously improving both own and other team members coding standards.
* Working as part of a scrum team, but collaborating with other development teams, product, design and test teams to ensure the best implementation and highest quality product.
* Supporting agile process for planning and estimation, ensuring realistic targets for each sprint.
* Resolve bugs and issues as reported by the QA, support and design.
* Provide capacity and input to enable both personal and team innovation within the product, processes and team, staying up to date on emerging technologies and best practices.
* Expanding and maintaining integration with third party interfaces (e.g. SalesForce, Hubspot, Xero, GTM, GA, SSO, etc)
Job Benefits
At The National College, we’re passionate about helping organisations grow and thrive through knowledge and connection. You’ll be part of a company that values people, encourages personal development, and celebrates success. You’ll work with people who value collaboration, innovation, and high standards.
You'll also be able to benefit from:
* Life Assurance
* Enhanced Maternity, Paternity, Shared Parental and Adoption Pay
* 24/7 Online GP
* Mental Health & Wellbeing support
* Charity Day
* 25 Days Holiday, Rising to 30 days
* Professional Study Support
* Plus more