Pro Bono Software Engineer Returnship

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UniversalGiving ( http://www.universalgiving.org ) is seeking an experienced Software Engineer to help engineer major server-side development projects. Become a Lead Engineer for a global nonprofit helping people give and volunteer all over the world!

UniversalGiving's Returnships offer exciting opportunities to those wishing to make a significant impact and contribution to our global communities. Returnships are for experienced professionals, who are returning to the workforce, desiring to change professions, or simply yearning to give back.

Full Description

UniversalGiving is seeking a Pro Bono Software Engineer to join our diverse team. The Software Engineer will 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 is an award-winning website allowing people to donate and volunteer with top performing projects all over the world. Unique to UniversalGiving, 100% of a donation goes directly to the cause. UniversalGiving has been profiled on CBS and in FOX Business Network , and has also been featured in BusinessWeek Fast Company , CSRWire , WomenEntrepreneur , Oprah.com , NBC News .

We would like someone who has the ability to work with executive level management, as you will be reporting directly to the CEO and the management team. If you are interested in joining or contributing to the nonprofit sphere and would like to combine your engineering talents with philanthropy, please read below!

Responsibilities include:

• Strong work ethic, with flexibility and willingness to work according to priorities set forth by the organization’s Product Development Annual Plan, including weekly and monthly deadlines

• Robust development skills in a multi-tiered environment: client-side Ajax-based software, server-side J2EE software, object-relational persistence, and MySQL

• Proven experience with scoping, developing, and implementing new user features and new web components

• Keen ability to work closely with UniversalGiving’s Product Development Senior Management and Engineering Team with unyielding professionalism and sound communication skills

• Solid background in creating new site content and maintaining ongoing site update requests

• Proficiency in creating, writing, and editing technical documentation

Qualifications:

• Degree in Computer Science (or equivalent)

• 4 years of software development experience

• Strong debugging skills and principles

• Self-directed problem solver

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills

• Experience with client-side web technologies such as DHTML, CSS, AJAX, Javascript, and JQuery

• Experience with server-side Java technologies such as Struts, Hibernate, Tomcat, JSP, or J2EE application servers

• Experience with database technologies such as MySQL, Oracle, or PostgreSQL

• Knowledge of design patterns and object oriented modeling (e.g. UML)

• Strong data modeling skills

• Ability to design and tune for performance and scalability

• User-centered design principles

• Interest in nonprofit work, international issues, and philanthropy

• Full support of the mission and vision of UniversalGiving

Benefits:

• Contribute to UniversalGiving’s work to create a world where giving and volunteering are a natural part of everyday life

• Gaining exposure and experience in a new industry

• Getting entry into an industry that is often difficult to access, where new positions do not open up frequently and are hard to obtain

• Work directly with the CEO

• Experience at a unique global, social-entrepreneurship nonprofit

• Collaboration within a positive team environment

• Increased understanding of global issues

• Networking with other nonprofit professionals

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.

We’ve been profiled on CBS and in FOX Business Network , and have 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 has been voted a top-rated nonprofit on the "Top Rated Awards" list at Greatnonprofits.org .

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. Pamela has been chosen as a Fast Company Expert Blogger on CSR.

TESTIMONIAL:

"UniversalGiving is a great place to work where your contributions have a direct impact on the success of the organization. There is nothing more rewarding than knowing at the end of the day that the work you do will directly result in getting better donations for the needy. The product development/engineering is both exciting and challenging, as we are set to grow in a big way with the adaption of the latest technologies. Scaling, making the application robust, and devising better processes are our objectives. The management has always been supportive of new initiatives, making it a good learning experience for all of us."

Adithya Raghavendra

Software Engineer

Duration: Minimum 15-20 hours per week for 3-4 months required for the duration of the Returnship. Ideal candidates are available to work out of our San Francisco office 3-4 days a week with possibly some work completed remotely.

*Please note that Returnships are unpaid. In some cases, they can lead to paid positions with positive commitment, attitude, and performance.

TO APPLY:

Please send your resume, cover letter, a brief writing sample (2 pages maximum), and two professional references to volunteers@universalgiving.org . No phone calls please.

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.