Junior Software Engineer

Our vision is to “Create a World Where Giving and Volunteering Are a Natural Part of Everyday Life.”™  UniversalGiving is an award-winning global social-entrepreneurship nonprofit organization who is seeking a Junior Software Engineer to build new features and improve existing server-side components for UniversalGiving’s website (http://www.universalgiving.org).  Join our growing Product Development team, working closely with our frontend developers and senior management, to code elegant solutions for our website while furthering a worthy cause.  UniversalGiving™ offer exciting probono opportunities to those wishing to make a significant impact and contribution to our global communities.  Join UniversalGiving and work with a dedicated international team, while gaining valuable skills and insight within a social entrepreneurship nonprofit organization.


Testimonial
“The Product Development team at UniversalGiving is a smart, effective, and responsive group of people. Team members constantly offer each other feedback and support. You never feel that your work is being taken for granted. I feel very lucky to be a part of the PD team!” - Jane Lanman, QA Intern

About UniversalGiving
UniversalGiving™ is an award-winning website allowing people to donate and volunteer with top performing projects all over the world. Our projects are vetted through a proprietary Quality Model™ to ensure the most effective, trustworthy philanthropy possible. Unique to UniversalGiving, we take no cut on donations. 100% of your donation goes directly to the cause. Located in the heart of San Francisco, UniversalGiving has been profiled on CBS and in FOXBusiness Network, and has also been featured in BusinessWeek, Fast Company, CSRWire, WomenEntrepreneur, Oprah.com, NBC News, The Christian Science Monitor, The New York Times, The Financial Times, MarketWatch, CNNMoney.com, Change.org and See Change Magazine. UniversalGiving™ is the 2010 winner of the Opportunity Knocks' Best Nonprofit to Work for Award. CEO Pamela Hawley is a winner of the Jefferson Award (the Nobel Prize in Community Service) and was selected as one of 50 leaders to the White House's Next Generation Leadership and Social Innovation event. She is also a Finalist for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and a Colburn S. Wilbur Leadership Fellow at the Global Ethics Institute. She has been chosen as a Fast Company Expert Blogger on CSR.

Responsibilities:
● Develop server-side Java technologies for new application components and existing interfaces experienced by hundreds of internet viewers around the world
● Collaborate with frontend developers and senior management to deliver quality code with efficiency
● Participate in scoping, developing, and implementing new user features and new web components
● Increase operational efficiency and system visibility by developing tracking analysis features
● Provide recommendations on coding standards and guidelines
● Contribute to strategic and tactical product planning
● Assist with cross-browser testing and debugging to maintain quality user experience across environments
 
Qualifications:
● 1+ years experience
● Experience in programming server-side technologies Java, Struts, Hibernate, Tomcat, JSP
● Experience with relational databases (MySQL) and strong data modeling skills
● Understanding of client-side web technologies JQuery, AJAX, HTML, CSS, and Javascript
● Experience with Apache Lucene is strongly preferred
● Experience developing a public web API is strongly preferred
● Robust debugging and troubleshooting skills
● Experience with source control (CVS, SVN, Git, VSS)
● Knowledge of design patterns, object oriented modeling, and user-centered design principles
● Ability to design and tune for performance and scalability
● Self-directed problem solver with a solution-oriented focus
● Strong work ethic, including the ability to work within defined priorities and weekly deadlines
● Unyielding professionalism
● Proficiency in creating, writing, and editing technical documentation
● Disciplined development approach with a respect for coding standards
● Excellent communication and collaboration skills
● Proactive, team player who thrives within a small team, fast-paced environment
● Passion for engineering internet websites
● Interest in nonprofit work, international issues, philanthropy
● Full support of the mission and vision of UniversalGiving™
 
Education:
Bachelors Degree in Computer Science (or equivalent knowledge and experience)
Benefits:
● Applied, hands-on experience owning and leading engineering projects for a global website
● Experience working at a global, social-entrepreneurship nonprofit
● Collaboration within a positive team environment
● Increased understanding of and alignment with global issues
● Networking with other nonprofit professionals
● Career mentoring with Pamela Hawley, Founder & CEO of UniversalGiving™
● With positive work experience, references provided
● For students, class credit can be arranged according to school requirements
 
Reports To:
Head of Product Development
 
Duration: 
This is an unpaid position with a commitment of 20-30 hours per week for at least 6 months. Ideal candidates are available to work remotely, but able to come into our San Francisco office as needed.

To Apply:
Email cover letter and resume to volunteers@universalgiving.org with “Junior Software Engineer” in the subject line. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and recruitment is ongoing. Please no phone calls.

UniversalGiving™ is committed to understanding and representing the diverse populations it serves worldwide. Members of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, races, ethnicities, nationalities, physical abilities or disabilities, religions or beliefs, and cultures are welcome as employees and volunteers in our organization. We believe that a diverse team will best serve our diverse populations.

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