Role
Full or part time, flexible
Salary
£50-55,000
Where
Anywhere (ideally UK or mainland Europe)
Closing date
Closes
September 30, 2022
Apply anytime.

About the role

We are working to transform the UK planning system. Planning is one of the most fundamental layers of democracy, and yet our planning system is famous for being slow, opaque and inaccessible, especially to those who don’t have money or time. 

Open Systems Lab is working with local planning authorities and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC) to build the first fully digital planning services. That means services that are simpler, more transparent, and more accessible, allowing users to submit information as structured, machine-readable data, instead of as long, impenetrable PDF documents.

They are also some of the first ‘Rules as code’ services in the world: that means they can pre-check schemes against the relevant planning legislation and policy. 

To make that possible, we are building Plan✕, a platform that allows planning authorities to write, operate and collaborate on shared ‘rules as code’ planning services as flowcharts. A kind of Github for public services and policies. 

With the first services now in public BETA, we‘re looking for a talented, creative javascript developer to take a key role in building a new, potentially transformative piece of open source digital infrastructure that we hope will leave the planning system – and democracy – changed for the better. 

Required

  • Experience of working with TypeScript, JavaScript, Node.js, and React.
  • Excellent problem solving, critical thinking and communication skills with both technical and semi-technical team members. 
  • A natural doer-deliverer, who can work in an agile way, weigh up priorities and make good judgements, balancing short term delivery against long-term vision and future-proofing.
  • Enthusiasm for building highly modular, containerised software.
  • High level of proficiency working with GraphQL and / or REST APIs.
  • A love of building fantastic, simple, accessible user experiences and interfaces.
  • Able to thrive in an iterative and sometimes ambiguous agile R&D environment, which requires trade-offs.
  • A love for clean, standards-compliant, well-patterned, well-documented code.
  • Comfortable and effective working collaboratively (and remotely) using Github.

Nice to have

  • A skill and enthusiasm for UI design, especially beautiful, well-patterned interfaces with a focus on usability and accessibility.
  • Experience of working with GIS data.
  • Experience of working with Docker, AWS, and Pulumi (or other Infra-as-Code solutions).

What's in it for you?

  • Work with a small, but incredibly talented, friendly, and motivated team of people in a high-expectations, but always kind and inclusive environment.  
  • Ridiculously flexible working. Work where you want and when you want (most of the time at least).
  • Take a key role in a transformative public digital project, with potential to have a hugely positive impact on a key layer of everyday democracy.

Got questions? Not sure if you quite fit this role? Get in touch. Or just apply anyway.

enquiries@opensystemslab.io

Apply

Do not contact us if you represent an agency.