Senior Software Engineer

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Website Give Directly

Senior Software Engineer

Location: Remote (London, UK preferred)
Organization: GiveDirectly (GD)
Reports to: Engineering Team Lead
Level: Senior
Type: Full-time
Travel Requirement: 1–2 times per year (team retreats or field visits)
Application Deadline: Not specified

Introduction

GiveDirectly (GD) is transforming global philanthropy by sending cash directly to the world’s poorest people—empowering recipients to choose how to improve their lives. Since 2011, GD has raised over $1 billion and delivered cash to 1.5 million people across 15 countries.

Recognized by Fast Company, The Economist, and The New York Times Magazine as one of the most innovative nonprofits, GiveDirectly combines data-driven technology, rapid response systems, and financial transparency to redefine international aid.

As a Senior Software Engineer, you’ll play a critical role in scaling GiveDirectly’s technology infrastructure—building reliable, scalable systems that deliver life-changing cash transfers efficiently and securely across the globe.

About the Role

The Senior Software Engineer will help design and build the platforms powering GiveDirectly’s programs, fundraising, and rapid response systems. You’ll work on projects that directly impact people in extreme poverty, from developing donor-facing tools to automating large-scale payment operations.

This is a high-autonomy, hands-on role in a fast-moving, mission-driven environment. You’ll collaborate across product, data, and operations teams, shaping architecture, deploying production-ready code, and contributing to the long-term technical vision of the organization.

You may join one of three engineering teams:

  • Programs Engineering: Delivering payments and monitoring systems for recipients.

  • Fundraising Engineering: Building platforms that scale global donor contributions.

  • Rapid Response Team: Developing tools to deliver emergency cash transfers within days of crises.

Key Responsibilities

Core Engineering (Technical Delivery)

  • Design, build, and maintain scalable, reliable systems supporting GD’s cash delivery and fundraising operations.

  • Own the end-to-end development lifecycle: architecture, coding, testing, deployment, and monitoring.

  • Improve developer workflows by enhancing CI/CD pipelines, increasing test coverage, and automating repetitive processes.

  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand operational needs and translate them into effective technical solutions.

  • Troubleshoot and resolve production issues, focusing on long-term, sustainable fixes.

  • Advocate for best engineering practices—clean code, testing, documentation, and maintainability.

  • Contribute to the technical roadmap, ensuring system scalability and resilience.

Qualifications / Requirements

Education & Experience

  • 4+ years of professional experience developing production-grade software.

  • Proven background in backend architecture, database design, and API development.

  • Experience with cloud services (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and deployment infrastructure.

  • Strong command of one or more object-oriented languages (e.g., Java, C#, Go) and scripting languages (e.g., Python, Ruby).

Technical Skills

  • Hands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines, version control, and automation tools.

  • Ability to design and optimize microservice or serverless architectures (preferred).

  • Strong debugging and analytical skills for diagnosing and resolving complex issues.

  • Familiarity with financial or payment systems is an advantage.

Personal Attributes

  • High ownership mindset: proactive in improving systems and processes.

  • Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.

  • Ability to work independently in a remote, globally distributed team.

  • Strong alignment with GiveDirectly’s values—transparency, impact, and recipient-first thinking.

  • Fluency in English (required).

Compensation

GiveDirectly ensures equitable and competitive pay across locations. Salaries are benchmarked at the 75th percentile of similar roles in comparable organizations.

  • United States: USD $157,500 per year

  • Kenya: USD $92,500 per year

  • United Kingdom: GBP £108,150 per year

  • For other countries, compensation will be benchmarked accordingly during the hiring process.

Additional Benefits:

  • Comprehensive health insurance (country-specific)

  • Unlimited paid time off (encouraged)

  • Professional development and remote work setup allowances

  • Flexible, supportive, and growth-oriented culture

Recruitment Process

  1. Take-home coding assignment

  2. Live Coding Interview (60 minutes)

  3. System Design Interview (60 minutes)

  4. Project Deep Dive + Behavioral Interview (60 minutes)

(Any adjustments to the process will be communicated during recruitment.)

How to Apply

Apply directly through the GiveDirectly Careers Portal:
👉 https://www.givedirectly.org/careers

Commitment to Safeguarding

GiveDirectly maintains a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH). As a member of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, GD conducts thorough background checks and reference verifications for all hires.

Equal Opportunity Employer:
GiveDirectly is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. All qualified applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status.

To apply for this job please visit job-boards.greenhouse.io.

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