Software Engineer

Location: Remote in the US, with travel to key conferences and summits

Salary: $120K – $140K/year, depending on prior experience

Visa Sponsorship Available: No

About the App Inventor Foundation

App Inventor was founded in 2007 by educators and researchers at MIT and Google with the vision of enabling anyone—including those who may not think of themselves as coders—to create mobile apps for real, effective change in their communities. The App Inventor Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established by the same team, and expands upon the educational initiatives of the MIT App Inventor project by offering additional resources for teachers and students across the globe. Our mission is to empower students of any background and any age to make apps that improve their lives, uplift their communities, and change the world. Learn more on our website: https://www.appinventorfoundation.org/. 

About the Software Engineer Position

We are looking to hire our first Software Engineer to join the App Inventor Foundation team and contribute to the expansion of the MIT App Inventor platform. You will work alongside a dedicated and mission-driven team, collaborate with top engineers and researchers from the MIT App Inventor Lab, and build tools and features that make app creation more accessible and impactful for users of all backgrounds. Over the next 2 years, our key software development priorities are: 

  1. Developing a Classroom Portal for K-12 users that ensures compliance with privacy and security regulations for technology use in schools and addresses the needs of educators, especially those from Title I schools.

  2. Providing a more inclusive and accessible user experience, with a focus on improving the platform’s usability for students with disabilities, to ensure all learners can engage with App Inventor effectively.

Role and Responsibilities

  • Work with App Inventor curriculum developers, educators, researchers, and program managers to ensure that the platform meets the needs of diverse user groups, including those new to programming and those with accessibility needs.

  • Develop PRDs and design docs that incorporate feature requests from end users and iterate on feedback from other members of the technical team.

  • Participate in code reviews, testing, and troubleshooting with the MIT App Inventor Lab to maintain high-quality software and documentation standards.

  • Provide engineering support for specific technical needs of various educational programs such as app development competitions and showcases.

  • Collaborate with the devops team at the MIT App Inventor Lab to improve platform performance, security, and scalability, ensuring App Inventor is a reliable tool for users across the globe.

  • Design, develop, test, and deploy innovative features for the App Inventor platform, such as novel components, enhanced user interface features, and accessibility improvements.

  • Actively engage with the broader MIT App Inventor open-source community, reviewing external PRs, sharing ideas, and providing feedback.

We’re Looking for Someone Who…

  • Has a strong background in software engineering, with 4+ years of industry or relevant nonprofit experience

  • Is familiar with working on open-source software and is excited about contributing to a broader software ecosystem

  • Has experience leading and managing a software development team

  • Has managed a large-scale technical project that involves wearing different hats, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and receiving direct feedback from end-users

  • Has excellent communication skills and is able to work effectively with other engineers as well as non-technical stakeholders such as educators, curriculum developers, and project managers

  • Is passionate about the mission of democratizing app creation and is eager to contribute to an educational platform designed for diverse, global communities

  • Preferably has experience in designing and implementing accessibility features for software products in collaboration with UX researchers

Desired Technical Experience

  • Has experience with Java, JavaScript, iOS, and Android development

  • Is comfortable with a variety of programming paradigms, including functional programming in dynamic languages, server-side technologies, and web client technologies like AJAX

  • Has experience on a development team that implemented and successfully deployed a system to a diverse set of users in a web environment

  • Operational responsibility for an extensive system with >1 million active users per month

  • Has experience with cloud-based infrastructure and web technologies, including Google App Engine and Firebase

  • Has experience with cloud computing platforms such as AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Kubernetes

Benefits

  • Remote work with core work hours and flexible scheduling

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance with 99% premium coverage

  • 401(k) after one year of employment with 6% matching

  • 11 paid federal holidays per year

  • 13 additional days of PTO per year

  • Unlimited sick leave

Location

The work can be primarily performed remotely but requires occasional travel, approximately twice a year. Occasional nights or weekend work may be required. If the employee is based in the Greater Boston Area, they have the option of attending in-person meetings at MIT during the week.