2U

Education

Full-stackSoftwareEngineer

Cape Town, South Africa FULL TIME
Market Sentiment
HIGH DEMAND

Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for Mid candidates.

The Brief

“Full-stack Software Engineer at 2U. Skills: Full-stack development, Generative AI, Data pipelines, Backend development, Frontend development, Cloud infrastructure. Building and maintaining data pipelines. Developing generative AI solutions”

What You'll Achieve.

Deliver world-class digital education at scale; Eliminate the back row in education; Unlock human potential; Ensure efficient data management and AI integration; Drive technological advancement and operational efficiency throughout the organization; Improve maintainability of legacy code; Ensure high-quality software delivery; Make a material impact on the company’s success and its overall mission

Industry & Context.

Education
Problems you'll solve

Troubleshooting complex business and production issues; Efficiently debug complex problems; Creative Problem Solving: The ability to efficiently debug complex, interconnected problems that the UI, API, and data layers

What They're Looking For.

Must Have

5+ years of professional experience in a data-intensive environment, proven track record of building and scaling full-stack applications, Proficiency in Python for backend development, data processing, and AI integration, experience with React. js and the modern frontend ecosystem (TypeScript, state management, and responsive design), Experience designing and developing AI applications, specifically working with Large Language Models (LLMs) and the OpenAI API, Proven experience leading cross-functional initiatives, collaborating with product and design teams to take a feature from concept to production

Nice to Have

Ability to lead the technical design of applications, ensuring performant communication between React frontends and Python backends, Skill in building real-time AI experiences, including handling streaming data and prompt engineering, Hands-on experience with AWS services (S3, Lambda, SAM, Step Functions), Expertise in writing maintainable, performant code and a passion for refactoring legacy systems to improve long-term health, Proficiency in exploratory and automated testing across the entire stack to ensure high-quality software delivery, Familiarity with machine learning workflows, data modeling, and vector databases like OpenSearch, Experience with Tailwind CSS, Next. js, or Vite to streamline the development lifecycle, A natural inclination for providing technical guidance and constructive feedback to team members, A background in delivering software using Agile methodologies with a focus on long-term maintainability over quick-fix patches, The ability to efficiently debug complex, interconnected problems that the UI, API, and data layers

What You'll Do.

Building and maintaining data pipelines

Developing generative AI solutions

Designing robust backend systems

Participating in the discovery

and engineering of multiple cross-functional projects

Troubleshooting complex business and production issues

Upholding industry best practices

Encouraging team continuous improvement

Delivering quality software in a sustainable and timely manner

Leading technical design of applications

Participating in larger system design efforts

Designing and implementing generative AI experiences

Refactoring legacy code to improve maintainability

Conducting exploratory and automated testing

Efficiently debugging complex problems

Providing technical guidance and feedback to other team-members

Implementing and sustaining tools that leverage advanced generative AI systems and data pipelines

Ensuring efficient data management and AI integration

Creating and enhancing a versatile platform product

How You'll Work.

Team & Collaboration

Participate in the discovery, design, and engineering of multiple cross-functional projects; Help encourage our team to continuously improve; Provide technical guidance and feedback to other team-members; Proven experience leading cross-functional initiatives, collaborating with product and design teams to take a feature from concept to production; Working directly with product managers and business analysts in a highly collaborative manner; Cross-functional, self-organizing and autonomous teams

Communication Scope

Providing technical guidance and constructive feedback to team members

Process & Methodology

Leading cross-functional initiatives

Full Job Description

At 2U, we are all in on purpose. We are motivated by our mission – to eliminate the back row in education – and connected by our shared passion to deliver world-class digital education at scale. As the parent company of edX, the world’s leading online learning platform, 2U powers more than 4,000 online higher education offerings – from free courses to full degrees. Together with more than 230 colleges, universities, and corporate partners, we are helping to unlock human potential. What We’re Looking For: We are looking for a Software Engineer III with experience building and maintaining data pipelines, developing generative AI solutions, and designing robust backend systems. You will participate in the discovery, design, and engineering of multiple cross-functional projects, while troubleshooting complex business and production issues. You will uphold industry best practices and will help encourage our team to continuously improve. Above all, you care about delivering quality software in a sustainable and timely manner and about software craftsmanship. Sitting within the Technology portfolio, the Xpert Platform team develops and maintains innovative tools that connect users to cutting-edge generative AI capabilities, effectively supporting our students, faculty, and internal content and learning teams. The team implements and sustains tools that leverage advanced generative AI systems and data pipelines, ensuring efficient data management and AI integration. Additionally, the team is responsible for creating and enhancing a versatile platform product that can be utilized across various business units, driving technological advancement and operational efficiency throughout the organization. Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To: Lead technical design of applications and participate in larger system design efforts Design and implement generative AI experiences Write maintainable, performant code Refactor legacy code to improve maintainability Conduct explor

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