Freelance Full Stack Developer

Open Systems Lab is a non-profit R&D lab bringing together designers, researchers, technologists, engineers, lawyers, government workers and domain experts to solve difficult social problems. We imagine, build and deploy open source tools and infrastructures that allow citizens, communities, governments and businesses to operate in new ways, in order to meet the big social, economic and environmental challenges of our time.

We’re especially focused on addressing deep challenges related to the built environment - from housing, zero-carbon construction and rewiring ownership to transforming the planning system.

In particular we are currently working with a growing number of Local Planning Authorities and the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local government to build Plan – a tool that allows government to collaboratively create intelligent planning services that make complex bureaucratic processes simpler and more transparent. We are currently scaling this service to 50+ councils and government departments.

As we scale, we are looking for experienced freelance web developersto join our team and bring skill and expertise to OSL projects .

You will enjoy this work if you are 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.
• Fast learner who knows how to ask for feedback, take it on board, and turn it into meaningful improvements.
• Collaborative interdisciplinary problem-solver who can confidently and consistently see through solutions with minimal external management.

OSL is a fully remote team of specialists who are comfortable operating independently and assuming a high level of autonomy from day one. For this reason, we're looking for people who have ample experience working within remote software teams using GitHub and async project management tools. At this time, we're not able to support junior developers or those new to working on software teams.

What we're looking for

We’re eager to connect if you are experienced in any of the following problem spaces:

• Building robust front end features using React TypeScript.
• Building performant, collaborative, low-code editors which utilise JSON Operational Transforms (OT) or Conflict-free Replicated Data Type (CRDT) data structures. Implementing role-based permission models across multiple layers of an application stack
• Testing and improving accessibility of front-end components and maintaining customised design systems
• Designing and implementing scalable testing strategies
• Integrating with both new and legacy systems like payment processing APIs and document management systems, and contributing to the development of open data standards that support interoperability, especially of planning application data and policies.
• Thinking about how AI may be applied to these challenges while still prioritising design principles like auditability
• Fine-tuning PostgreSQL databases and managing infrastructure-as-code using tools like Pulumi and AWS. Configuring Github Actions, PNPM workspaces or similar monorepo tools, and error monitoring to help small developer teams work smarte

What's in it for you?

• Work with a small, incredibly talented, friendly, and motivated team of people in a high-expectations, but always kind and inclusive environment. You will be part of a team coming up with creative strategic and tactical solutions together.
• Ridiculously flexible working. Work where you want and when you want (most of the time at least).
• Take a key role in transformative public digital projects, with potential to have a hugely positive impact on improving a key layer of everyday democracy, and giving governments and communities the tools they need to rise to the climate crisis.

Open Systems Lab is a non-profit company
registered in England & Wales 9152368