Lead Instructor - Senior Software Engineer: Full Stack JavaScript

Alchemy Code Lab is one of the most comprehensive software development training programs, ranked #1 in the U.S. by grad reviews on SwitchUp. We consistently produce high graduate outcomes: job placement, job tier, and starting salary. We specialize in training ambitious career switchers to become exceptional software developers through depth of instruction, emphasis on care and quality code, and supportive community environment. Our instructors are experienced software engineers, intelligent, and excited about their craft—they're a big part of what makes us different.

Instructors at Alchemy

Being an instructor at Alchemy is a next step for senior software engineers and developers (7+ years of experience) who are passionate about influencing the next generation of developers. It is an opportunity to share your accumulated experience and synthesize current best practices, designs, architectures, and approaches to modern software development. Candidates should be looking for new challenges that continue their interests in technology.

We are more interested in experienced technologists than instructional backgrounds.

Compensation

• Salary commensurate with industry experience: $125K - $185K
• Fully paid medical, dental, and vision for you plus partner and kids
• Matching 401(k)

Where

All instruction is remote. Alchemy is based in Portland, OR and our classroom schedule is 9am - 6pm Pacific Standard Time; we are open to instructors anywhere in the US available during that time.

DE&I

Since we founded Alchemy in 2016, increasing representation in tech among marginalized groups has been part of our mission. We have followed through on that commitment internally by investing in DE&I training and by providing staff tools and support to foster belonging and community. This includes focusing on how we are structured and our policies and practices. We have also continuously focused on attracting and supporting the growth of participants in our program from a number of underrepresented communities. We have work still to do, but we are deeply committed to doing the work to make Alchemy and our industry more diverse and inclusive..

Responsibilities

Instructors lead classroom lecture and discussion, and work with their team of Teaching Assistants to support student project work. We do not require our instructors to have prior experience leading classrooms.

That being said you likely have experience leading teams or projects, and will need to:

• Lead a group in a way that centers empathy and patience
• Use clear and effective verbal and written communications
• Lecture, lead discussions, and live code to groups of 20-35 students and connect in one-on-ones with clarity and warmth
• Take responsibility for fostering a safe and collaborative space
• Be present and available to students, both in their technical training and professional development
• Offer honest and direct feedback, even when the message is hard to deliver
• Stay connected to the industry, keeping up to date on technology
• Leverage what you know with what excites you and bring that passion into the classroom
• Interpret and integrate feedback from students and fellow team members
• Uphold high standards for quality code and work
• Encourage the practice of writing quality code that can be sustained and maintained (don’t just teach “getting it to work”)
• Model the qualities you believe make an outstanding developer

Your Developer Experience

• Minimum 7-10 years working in production software development environments, including guiding a product across multiple releases and versions and experience in how things are done across more than one company or team.
• Insights based on both successes and failures, and qualities, both technically and collaboratively, that are important for an impactful developer.
• Collaboration with both colleagues and technology leaders to help solve problems and challenges, navigate trade-offs.
• You like to think about how you think about code and process. An advocate for clean and organized code and artifacts. You likely have some stories to tell about messy code and projects too.
• Track record of helping your teammates and sharing what you know. Also not afraid to ask for help, talk it out, or pick up something new.
• Have left behind "needing to know it all" by trusting in your own ability to figure it out and learn.

Your Technical Experience

• Comfortable with the entire tech stack we teach
• Modern JavaScript (ESNext); you keep track of new JavaScript features
• Using NodeJS to design and build maintainable systems
• ExpressJS
• SQL and noSQL databases
• React, React router, hooks
• Strong craft ethic and/or agile engineering practices
• E2E and unit testing

Nice to have an interest in some of the following:

• Typescript
• GraphQL
• UI/UX accessibility
• Design systems/Storybook
• Advanced React state management
• DS&A

On the Job

Here’s what we see your first few months looking like:

Welcome! (0 - 30 Days)

• Shadow and learn from principal instructor
• Develop rapport with students
• Actively engage with students during project time
• Suggest ideas to refine or expand topics
• Review and provide feedback on student code
• Help instruction staff with prep work and presenting material

Settling In (30 - 90 Days)

• Lead instruction on a regular basis
• Meet with students 1:1
• Manage and leverage teaching assistants
• Manage the learning management system for your course
• Anticipate and identify student challenges and get in front of them

Taking the Lead (90 - 120 Days)

• Own class instruction
• Represent Alchemy in tech community (meetups, sponsors, info sessions)
• Refine and improve our full stack JavaScript development curriculum

Making an Impact (120+)

• Help evangelize Alchemy and support our mission
• Attend conferences or make a significant release of your open source project  

How to Apply

Email your resume to workwithus@alchemycodelab.com and tell us:Why are you interested in being an instructor?