Role Outline

• Location: Remote, must be eligible to work in the UK 
• Duration: Permanent contract
• Hours: Cool Farm supports flexible working arrangements. Applications for full time (5 days per week) or part time (minimum of 3 days per week) both considered. 
• Pay: £50 – £60K per annum (pro-rata for part time).
• Application Deadline: 8am BST, Monday 29th July
• Apply here

Role Overview

Cool Farm is looking for a Software Engineer who will play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of our principal digital services: the Cool Farm Platform (CFP) and Cool Farm Tool (CFT), you will work very closely with our technical development and support partners.  You will be responsible for providing technical support, developing new features, optimising AWS infrastructure, and collaborating with internal teams to drive innovation and scalability. 

We are looking for energetic and keen candidates who can grow into the role and eventually take over lead developer responsibilities from our development and support partners, becoming the main technical lead for the digital products. The ideal candidate will have experience of delivering webapps on AWS.

The technologies that you could be working with include:

• TypeScript to develop front-end and back-end functionality.
• React with Next.js for front-end development
• Python to develop carbon footprint calculations
• PostgreSQL for data persistence
• AWS Serverless for running scalable backend services
• Docker for containerisation
• SST infrastructure as code framework
• GitLab version control and GitLab CI/CD build, test and deployment automation tools
• Atlassian project management tools

Training will be provided to help you get up to speed on any areas that you are less familiar with. We are a friendly team and love helping people to hone their skills and realise their potential. The most important thing is to come with a desire to learn and grow and help others to do the same.

We actively invite applications from individuals represented by the criteria for broader participation outlined below, reflecting our dedication to enhancing diversity and inclusion and expanding opportunities in sustainability and environmental technical careers.

• Individuals from ethnic groups that are underrepresented.
• Individuals with care experience.
• Individuals who have been recognised as refugees in the UK.
• Individuals estranged from both of their primary caregivers (for example, both parents or carers).
• Individuals who were eligible for the 16-19 Bursary/Pupil Premium and/or those who received Free School Meals.
• Young carers, who are the main caregiver for a parent or sibling.
• Individuals who have faced disruptions in their education due to factors such as health issues, family circumstances, or homelessness.
  

As this role can be fully remote, the position can be adapted to your requirements for example allowing flexible hours, or to be fully based working from home. We aim to create flexibility in the role to suit our colleagues’ needs. We invite you to check out our Flexa profile here to learn more about our approach to work and our benefits.

 
Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical support for CFT and CFP alongside external support providers.
• Collaborate with technical partners on CFP developments.
• Document processes, configurations, and solutions for future reference and scalability.
• Optimise AWS services and components for cost and value. Ensure best use of component-based architecture.
• Work with the Training and Consulting team to support in the development of FAQs and guidance notes appropriate to the technical functioning of our digital platforms.

Essential Criteria

• Fluent in English
• Experience in some or all of the following; TypeScript, PostgreSQL, NEXT JS, REACT, Serverless solutions (such as SST), and cloud-based architecture for web apps.
• Familiarity with AWS billing and cost management tools.
• Continuous learning mindset to stay informed about best practices and emerging technologies.
• Research skills to explore and understand new technologies and their potential applications within the organisation.
• 2-3 years’ experience delivering hands on technical support to services built with cloud-native technologies such as containers and microservices.
• Ability to troubleshoot and fix bugs promptly.
• Skill in handling minor enhancements to improve system functionality.
• Collaboration and communication skills to work effectively within internal teams and articulate technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
  

Desirable Criteria

Whilst experience in the following would be beneficial, they are not essential. So, if you don’t have all of them, please apply or contact us to discuss the role.  We are looking for keen team players, with a can-do attitude and a desire to learn. We will support you to get up to speed in these areas, if you are a good fit for the role and our team.

• Vendor management experience to facilitate successful supplier interactions and contract negotiations.
• Analytical mindset to interpret data and identify opportunities for cost optimization while maintaining service quality.
• Experience in implementing cost-saving strategies in AWS environments.
• Knowledge of continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) practices.
• Active participation in AWS user groups or forums to exchange knowledge and remain up-to-date with industry trends.
• Participation in AWS training and certification programs to expand knowledge and skills.
• Past involvement in implementing advanced AWS solutions.
• Understanding of method modelling concepts for development and implementation.
• Experience of building scientific models in Python.
• Strong documentation skills for recording processes, configurations, and solutions.
• Experience working in environmental sustainability.
• Experience working in topic related areas such as carbon quantification, agriculture, industry alliances or FMCG food & beverage sector.

Application Process

• Interested candidates should continue with this application form. Deadline is 8am BST, Monday 29th July. 
• Two people will read the applications and the first page of the application will be hidden from those selecting candidates for interview.
• CVs are to be uploaded but will not be reviewed by the selection panel for the initial selection.  They will only be reviewed if successfully invited for interview
• We aim for the interviews to happen in August, with the position filled no later than November.
• Interviews will be virtual and approximately 1 hour long. We will send the main questions before the interview so candidates can prepare.
• Once the candidates have been shortlisted a technical test will be provided, and candidates will be given one week to complete.

We are striving to make this application process as accessible as possible. In the interest of accommodating diverse backgrounds and abilities, if you require any accommodations or assistance during the application process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Additionally, as we would like to assess your writing skills, this application is written-based.

For more information about Cool Farm, please see our website (https://coolfarm.org/) or contact us kirsten@coolfarmtool.org

About the team

This role reports to the Technical Manager. The Cool Farm secretariat is a small team based around the world who lead the Alliance, provide service, and support to our members and maintain the development of the Cool Farm Platform. It is host to some world-class expertise in the areas of science and methodology for agricultural GHG emissions, removals and biodiversity impact.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

The Cool Farm Alliance is dedicated to fostering a culture of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). We believe that diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences enrich our workplace and drive innovation. We seek candidates from all backgrounds and believe that diversity fuels innovation and that every team member’s contribution is essential to our success. Our workplace fosters inclusion, open dialogue, and equal opportunities for all team members.

We are on a journey to dismantle bias and barriers to ensure that everyone has an equal chance to thrive within our organisation. Join us, to create a diverse and inclusive workplace where every voice is valued and respected. The Cool Farm Alliance is an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply.

Join us in making a difference in the world of sustainable farming!

APPLY NOW!