Everyone is welcome at Handshake. We know diverse teams build better products and we are committed to creating an inclusive culture built on a foundation of respect for all individuals. We strongly encourage candidates from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized or underrepresented groups to apply.
Your Impact
Handshake is hiring a Senior Software Engineer to shape the future of career discovery for Generation Z. Over the years, Handshake has become a trusted platform for millions of students seeking jobs, connecting with communities, and showcasing their professional identities. While we've built a fantastic and highly-rated experience, there's still so much more we can achieve—and that’s where you come in.
Your Role
As a Senior Software Engineer, you will:
- Cross-functional teamwork: Work closely with product managers, designers, and fellow engineers to improve our marketplace for universities, students and employers.
- Lead projects: Own and deliver sizable projects, including those requiring collaboration across teams and functions in our organization.
- Maintain high standards: Lead by example in producing quality code and providing thoughtful feedback in reviews and architecture discussions. Contribute to organization level technical standards and enhancements.
- Shape the roadmap: Use your expertise to influence team priorities, balancing innovation with operational health initiatives like quality control, reliability and technical excellence.
- Mentor and guide: Provide mentorship to your fellow engineers, unblocking challenges, and fostering growth within the team.
Your Experience
- 6+ years experience with any systems programming language and/or backend web frameworks. We use Ruby-on-Rails so past experience is a plus but not required.
- Demonstrated success collaborating with partners in product, design and analytics to define, build, and ship great products and experiences.
- Experienced in driving successful architectural decisions across backend and frontend systems with confidence.
- Knowledge of observability systems and practices and can use them to avoid or quickly resolve incidents.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to work well within and across teams at Handshake.
Let's talk!
About Us
Handshake is the career platform for Gen Z. With a community of over 17 million students, alumni, employers, and career educators, Handshake’s network is where career advice and discovery turn into first, second, and third jobs. Nearly 1 million companies use Handshake to build their future workforce—from Fortune 500 to federal agencies, school districts to startups, healthcare systems to small businesses. Handshake is built for where you’re going, not where you’ve been.
When it comes to our workforce strategy, we’ve thought deeply about how work-life should look at Handshake. With our hybrid-work model, employees benefit from collaboration and shared team experiences three days per week in our vibrant offices, and enjoy the flexibility of remote work two days per week (unless noted in the specific job posting). Handshake is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in New York, London, and Berlin.
What We Offer
At Handshake, we'll give you the tools to feel healthy, happy and secure.
Benefits Below Apply To German Employees In Full-time Positions.
- 💰 Equity and ownership in a fast-growing company.
- 🍼 16 Weeks of paid parental leave for birth giving parents & 10 weeks of paid parental leave for non-birth giving parents.
- 💝 Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision policies including LGTBQ+ Coverage. We also provide resources for Mental Health Assistance, Employee Assistance Programs and counseling support.
- 📚 Generous learning & development opportunities and an annual €1,850 stipend for you to grow your skills and career.
- 💰 Financial coaching through Origin to help you through your financial journey.
- 🛜 Monthly internet stipend and a brand new MacBook to allow you to do your best work.
- 🚃 Monthly commuter stipend for you to expense your travel to the office (for office-based employees).
- 🥗 Free lunch provided 3x a week across all offices.
- 🤝 Referral bonus to reward you when you bring great talent to Handshake.
- 🏝 25 days of annual leave + 5 days of a winter #ShakeBreak, a one-week period of Collective Time Off across the company.
- 🤝 Regular offsites each year to bring the team together + opportunity to travel to our HQ in San Francisco once a year.
- 🧘 Urban sports club membership offering access to a diverse network of fitness and wellness facilities.
- 🛍️ Discounts across various high street retailers, cinemas and other social activities exclusively for Handshake Germany employees.
Looking for more? Explore our mission, values and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.
Handshake is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or reasonable accommodation, please let your recruiter know during initial communications.
