Senior Engineer

Sefaria, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building the future of Torah in an open and participatory way, is in search of a full-time Senior Engineer. The Senior Engineer must be based in Israel and will report directly to the Director of Engineering. This is a fully remote position.

Our core engineering team is responsible for developing and maintaining Sefaria’s backend, API, website, structured data, research, cloud operations, and mobile apps. Over the last decade the team has transformed the world of Torah learning with commitments to excellence in design, user experience, engineering, open data, and collaboration.

Position Overview

We seek a leader with a proven history of contributing to complex software projects. Prior experience in overseeing engineering projects and teams is essential, as well as fluency in both Hebrew and English.

As a Senior Engineer, you will play an active role in the development of our engineering department and be involved in planning and developing the next generations of Torah software. You are expected to have solid engineering, project management, and leadership skills.

We are a dynamic team committed to continuous growth, exploring cutting-edge technologies in both the realms of data science and full-stack development. This role primarily involves engaging with full-stack development. Our technology stack is centered around Python, Django, and Celery for server-side operations, React for the client-side, and React Native for mobile development. We use MongoDB and Postgres databases. Our infrastructure is supported by Kubernetes, and proficiency in these technologies, along with expertise in Git for code management and a solid understanding of SCRUM will be highly beneficial.

In this position you will:

• Understand, refine, extend, and maintain complex software systems
• Provide technical guidance and leadership to the engineering team
• Maintain relationships with other engineering teams and departments
• Develop and maintain our API as well as our client-side app
• Breakdown complex projects into discrete components and successfully implement them

Attributes we’re looking for include:

• Strategic, analytical, and innovative problem solving skills
• Ability to achieve stretch goals in an innovative and fast-paced environment
• Commitment to excellence in the craft of software development
• Commitment to direct, clear, professional, and thoughtful communication
• Demonstrated success in working independently in a remote setting
• Willingness and ability to adapt to change
• Passion and enthusiasm for the work Sefaria does, and dedication to supporting Sefaria’s mission

Experience, qualifications, and requirements:

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Science or Engineering, or equivalent practical experience
• At least 5 years of relevant work experience in software development and delivery
• Proven expertise in Python and React
• Core technical expertise in more than one of the following:
  • Systems architecture
  • Software architecture
  • Structured (SQL) and semi-structured (NoSQL) databases
  • Mobile development
  • Javascript
  • Python

• Experience in AI and embedding vector databases
• Understanding of emerging AI/ML technologies and techniques
• Knowledge of Judaic texts (e.g., Torah, Talmud, Kabbalistic works, halakhic works, commentaries, etc.)
• Understanding of written Hebrew
• Excellent English proficiency (written and spoken) in order to work closely with US-based team members
• Ability to work in a remote environment using GSuite, Slack, Zoom, Shortcut, and Trello
• Ability to work a flexible schedule 2-3 days per week to sufficiently overlap with colleagues in the US

Nice to Have:

• Experience with Sefaria API
• Experience with Kubernetes

Compensation:

• 27,000 - 31,000 ILS per month, depending on experience
• Generous paid time off, including Jewish holidays
• Standard Israeli taxes and benefits plus Keren Hishtalmut
• Work from home utility reimbursements
• Professional development budget

Location:

The Senior Engineer may be based anywhere in Israel.

How to apply:

Click below to apply; you’ll be invited to include your resume and brief cover letter in English. In your cover letter, please indicate why you are interested in working at Sefaria.

Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Sefaria does not accept solicitations of any kind from job placement services or phone calls from prospective candidates.

We will review applications on a rolling basis starting the week of April 15th. The deadline to apply is May 20th.

Our office is closed April 22 - April 30 in observance of Passover.

Additional considerations:

• If you meet more than 75% of the qualifications listed in this description, we encourage you to apply
• If you have a disability and require accommodation or assistance with our application process, please send an email to hiring[@]sefaria.org

About Sefaria:

Sefaria is a non-profit organization dedicated to building the future of Torah in an open and participatory way. We are assembling a free, digital library of Jewish texts and translations and developing digital tools, educational resources, and engagement opportunities that enable people to deepen their study. Sefaria was founded in 2013 and has since become a mainstay of Jewish learning and education with more than 4 million users annually. Sefaria’s API powers nearly 80 independent projects and dozens of Torah-focused websites. Sefaria's team of nearly 30 full-time staff is remote, with employees based in several US cities and in Israel.

Sefaria provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Nothing in this job description or advertisement postings guarantees employment.