Job Title: Software Engineer - Back-end

Department: English Language Learning

Location: Madrid or Spain, hybrid*

*If you live in Madrid, you will be able to enjoy our brand-new office because we have a hybrid working model policy in place.

About Pearson:
Our purpose: At Pearson, we ‘add life to a lifetime of learning’ so everyone can realize the life they imagine. We do this by creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. Pearson was founded in 1844 and has been built on our ability to grow with and adapt to a constantly evolving market. Our 20,000+ employees are dedicated to creating high-quality, digital-first, accessible, and sustainable resources for lifelong learning.

About ELL:
We aspire to become the world's leading destination to learn and improve English language skills. Our main focus is on committed learners from around the world who are motivated by outcomes and want to reach their full potential through learning English.

Role Overview:
Are you passionate about backend technology and eager to be part of an exciting venture? We are thrilled to announce an opportunity to join our team as a Software Engineer - Backend in our brand-new technology hub in Madrid. We are looking for talented individuals from all backgrounds and experiences to join us as we grow our Engineering team within our ELL Division. As part of our technology hub, the Software Engineer - Backend will contribute to shaping the future of technology and innovation in ELL.

In this role, you will be responsible for the analysis, design, implementation, and automated testing of backend services as a valued member of a high-performing, experienced team. You will apply industry best practices in an agile environment, collaborating closely with product teams to understand user needs and develop backend solutions. Although we use the Play framework and SBT for our development, we are looking for engineers with strong backend skills in Java rather than specific framework experience.

Key Responsibilities:

Analyse, design, develop, and test backend components and applications for one of the largest digital assessment providers in the world. Work on an agile engineering team, following Agile best practices while writing maintainable and scalable backend code for software components. Implement designs following Pearson coding standards and industry best practices. Create testable code and implement automated unit, integration, and functional tests as part of new product development. Collaborate with stakeholders to design, develop, test, and launch backend solutions that impact our customers. Solve backend challenges by defining a design, turning it into high-quality code, and delivering it on schedule. Contribute to improving backend software quality, customer experience, and maintainability of products/features. Actively collaborate with other team members, fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and teamwork.

Requirements:

Professional experience in software development within an Agile environment.

Demonstrated experience with backend development for web applications.

Strong backend engineering skills with knowledge in:

Backend Technologies: Java, Play framework (preferred), SBT, Microservices, Serverless, and CI/CD practices. Database Experience: MongoDB, NoSQL, SQL. Cloud and Infrastructure Tools: AWS technologies, Docker, Selenium, Sonar. Application Servers and Build Tools: Familiarity with application servers, SOA, automation tools, Yarn, npm, or similar.

High-quality standards; experience with unit testing, code reviews, and test automation.

Basic understanding of backend security practices, including familiarity with OWASP.

Ability to work closely with the product team to implement requirements, focusing on quality and maintainability.

Familiarity with non-functional requirements such as scalability, security, and performance is a plus.

Critical thinking, an innovative approach, and open-mindedness.

Passion for education and learning.

Effective team player with good communication skills.

Desire to stay up to date with emerging technologies and industry trends.

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field is desirable.

Our Benefits:

24 Days annual leave (increasing by 1 day with every 2 years of continuous service up to 30 days) Life insurance Policy Work-Life Balance Benefits Family Benefits Complementary Benefits Development and Training Benefits (Access to Pearson+: Pearson´s digital library, Discounts on books, wide access to internal learning platforms and development plans)

Diversity: At Pearson we value the power of an inclusive culture and a strong sense of belonging. We promote a culture where differences are embraced as strengths and opportunities are equal and accessible.

Flexible working: Pearson is committed to hybrid working practices and has adopted flexible remote and virtual working. Where possible our employees can choose to manage their attendance to the office more flexibly.

How to apply: Thank you for your interest in applying for a role at Pearson. Please submit an updated CV and cover letter (optional) in English. If you have any additional questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

We look forward to receiving your application - Talent Acquisition Team