Senior Software Engineer, Python

As a Senior Software Engineer at YouGov, you will be responsible for developing, maintaining, and optimizing backend applications using Django and FastAPI. You’ll also customize Wagtail CMS websites, design RESTful APIs, integrate with third-party services, and manage relational databases like PostgreSQL. Leading system design and code architecture discussions, you'll work on impactful projects that handle high volumes of production traffic, ensuring you produce high-quality, maintainable code.

To qualify for the Senior Software Engineer role at YouGov, candidates need at least 5 years of experience as a Python backend developer. Expert knowledge in Python and frameworks such as Django, Flask, and FastAPI is essential. Proficiency with relational databases (especially PostgreSQL) and experience with Git and CI/CD pipelines are also critical. Knowledge of Elasticsearch, Docker, and testing principles will give you a significant edge. A strong focus on operational excellence and excellent communication skills are crucial to convey complex technical concepts clearly.

Yes, as a Senior Software Engineer at YouGov, you can work remotely. The position is designed to accommodate full-time engagement from anywhere, which gives you the flexibility to manage your work-life balance effectively. This remote structure allows you to collaborate with our global team while still contributing to projects that impact millions of people. You'll be using collaborative tools to ensure you stay connected with your team and can deliver efficient results.

YouGov boasts a vibrant company culture that emphasizes shared values of being fast, fearless, and innovative. As a Senior Software Engineer, you'll find yourself in an environment that encourages open communication and trust among colleagues. Everyone is driven to get it right while adhering to accuracy, ethics, and proven methodologies. Our mission is rooted in making millions of opinions heard, so we value diversity and inclusion, ensuring that people from all backgrounds contribute to our projects.

In your role as a Senior Software Engineer at YouGov, you will be working with a modern stack that includes tools and technologies like Python frameworks (Django, FastAPI), Docker, Kubernetes, PostgreSQL, Redis, and perhaps some experience with AWS technologies. You'll engage with tools such as JIRA for project management and collaborate using Slack and Confluence for documentation. The experience you gain from using these technologies will not only enhance your productivity but also expand your skill set in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

In answering this question, focus on specific projects where you've utilized Django, highlighting the challenges you faced and how you overcame them. Discuss your familiarity with its components like models, views, and templates. If you’ve optimized performance or implemented security measures within your Django applications, be sure to mention these as they showcase your depth of knowledge.

Talk about your methods for maintaining code quality, such as code reviews, following coding standards, and implementing testing strategies. Mention any specific testing frameworks or CI/CD practices you use to facilitate this. Providing examples where your commitment to quality led to improved system reliability will strengthen your answer.

Discuss your mentorship style and how you create an inclusive learning environment. Highlight strategies like one-on-one sessions, pairing code reviews, and shared learning resources. Giving specific examples of how mentoring has impacted your previous teams can further illustrate your effectiveness in this area.

Outline your approach by mentioning the steps involved, such as understanding the API documentation, authentication requirements, and handling data flow between the systems. Emphasize your experience in managing potential risks associated with these integrations and ensuring data integrity throughout.

Select a specific challenge that you encountered, such as slow response times or high load handling. Describe the analysis you conducted to identify the issue and the optimizations you implemented, whether it involved database indexing, caching strategies, or code refactoring. Highlight the positive outcome as a result of your efforts.

Share your experiences with Wagtail CMS, focusing on the specific features you've utilized and customized, such as page models and stream fields. Discuss any challenges you faced during customization and how you addressed them. Emphasizing your hands-on experience will demonstrate your capability in this area.

Speak about your experience using Git for version control. Discuss branching strategies, committing practices, and how you manage merge conflicts. If you’ve used collaboration tools like GitHub or GitLab for code reviews, explain how these practices have contributed to better team dynamics and overall project success.

Explain your awareness of security best practices, mentioning aspects like data encryption, secure handling of user authentication, and regular security audits. Discuss any specific security challenges you've tackled in past projects and the measures you implemented to mitigate them.

Discuss the tools and methodologies you use for performance monitoring, such as APM tools or custom logging solutions. Explain how you analyze the data collected to identify bottlenecks and improve system performance. Providing examples of past improvements will reflect your understanding and proactive approach to performance monitoring.

Convey your belief that effective communication is crucial at every stage of the software development process. Whether it's explaining technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, providing feedback during code reviews, or facilitating team discussions, being able to communicate clearly fosters collaboration and ensures that projects align with business goals. Share experiences where strong communication led to project success.