Lead Platform Engineer - Backend Modernization (Remote)

Senior Software Engineer - Platform & ModernizationEnglish Language Learning (ELL) - Assessments TechnologyDepartment: English Language Learning (ELL)Job family: Software EngineeringContract: Full-time (FTE)Location: Hybrid / Full Remote (Spain or Poland)ABOUT PEARSON AND ELLPearson is the world's leading learning company, committed to helping people realise the life they imagine through learning. Within Pearson, the English Language Learning (ELL) organisation builds platforms and products that support language learning and language proficiency assessment at global scale. This role sits within ELL Technology, in teams responsible for secure, reliable, and scalable assessment systems, where engineering quality, operational stability, and long-term sustainability are critical.ROLE SUMMARYWe are looking for a Senior Software Engineer to help modernize and strengthen core assessment technology within ELL. This role is designed for an engineer who is comfortable working across legacy and modern systems, raising engineering maturity, and enabling multiple teams through shared platform improvements. This is not a single-team, feature-only role. You will have a home squad, while also contributing to cross-team enablement, modernization initiatives, and engineering best practices that scale across ELL.WHAT YOU WILL DO1. Modernization of critical backend servicesDesign, implement, and evolve Java / Spring-based servicesReduce long-term technical risk by improving maintainability, modularity, and clarity of ownershipApply incremental modernization techniques that allow teams to continue delivering while architecture evolves2. Platform and cross-team enablementContribute to shared platform capabilities used by multiple ELL squads (e.g. release safety patterns, feature-flagging approaches, service integration standards)Act as a technical partner for teams adopting new responsibilities or inheriting complex systemsHelp make platform improvements visible, measurable, and repeatable across teams3. Quality and testing maturityTreat unit testing as a first-class responsibility, ensuring new and changed code is well covered and reliableImprove testing practices across the test pyramid (unit, integration, contract), collaborating with QA/QE and SRE partners where neededSupport teams in building sustainable quality habits that improve release confidence and reduce incidents4. Trunk-based delivery and engineering disciplineWork in a trunk-based development model, with short-lived branches, frequent integration, and a main branch that is always releasableUse feature flags and automated tests to enable safe, continuous deliveryContribute to code reviews and CI pipelines that protect trunk stability and quality5. AI-assisted engineeringUse Pearson-approved AI development tools (e.g. GitHub Copilot Business and, where approved and funded, Cursor-style IDEs) to improve productivity, code comprehension, refactoring, and test creationApply strong engineering judgment: review AI-generated output critically, add appropriate tests, and ensure security and quality standards are metAct as a role model for responsible AI usage in software development6. Operational excellenceContribute to systems with real customers and real reliability expectationsSupport sustainable operations by addressing root causes, not just symptomsCollaborate effectively with product, QA, and SRE stakeholders in an environment with defined operational processes and SLAsWHAT WE'RE LOOKING FORMust-haveStrong backend engineering experience, including Java and Spring (or equivalent Java frameworks)Solid software engineering fundamentals: API design, clean code, CI/CD awareness, observability basicsComfortable with modern "vibe coding" practices - collaborating with AI coding assistantsTrunk-based development experience or mindset: short-lived branches, continuous integration, trunk always in a releasable stateStrong unit-testing discipline: writing deterministic unit tests, integrating them into CI pipelines, and treating unit tests as part of "done"Ability to collaborate across teams and influence technical direction pragmaticallyStrongly preferredFront-end development experience (e.g. React/Angular applications)Experience implementing or operating feature flag solutions to support safe deliveryExperience improving automation testing strategy beyond a single codebase (patterns, standards, enablement)Familiarity with cloud-hosted, distributed systems and reliability concernsExperience mentoring engineers and improving team-level engineering practicesWAYS OF WORKING / MINDSETComfortable operating in ambiguity and evolving architecturesOutcome-driven: balances ideal solutions with real-world constraintsQuality-focused without being dogmaticCommunicates trade-offs clearly and constructivelyWHY JOIN PEARSON ELLWork on global, mission-critical assessment technology where reliability, security, and scale truly matterHigh autonomy and visibility: your work will influence multiple teams and long-term platform directionStrong collaboration culture across Engineering, QA/QE, Product, and SREOpportunity to apply modern engineering practices - including responsible AI-assisted development#CM-L1Who we are:At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. We are the world's lifelong learning company. For us, learning isn't just what we do. It's who we are. To learn more: We are Pearson.Pearson is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other group protected by law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.If you are an individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing ******.Job: EngineeringJob Family: TECHNOLOGYOrganization: English Language LearningSchedule: FULL_TIMEWorkplace Type: RemoteReq ID: #LI-REMOTE#J--Ljbffr

Must-have Strong backend engineering experience, including Java and Spring (or equivalent Java frameworks) Solid software engineering fundamentals: API design, clean code, CI/CD awareness, observability basics Comfortable with modern "vibe coding" practices - collaborating with AI coding assistants Trunk-based development experience or mindset: short-lived branches, continuous integration, trunk always in a releasable state Strong unit-testing discipline: writing deterministic unit tests, integrating them into CI pipelines, and treating unit tests as part of "done" Ability to collaborate across teams and influence technical direction pragmatically Strongly preferred Front-end development experience (e.g. React/Angular applications) Experience implementing or operating feature flag solutions to support safe delivery Experience improving automation testing strategy beyond a single codebase (patterns, standards, enablement) Familiarity with cloud-hosted, distributed systems and reliability concerns Experience mentoring engineers and improving team-level engineering practices WAYS OF WORKING / MINDSET Comfortable operating in ambiguity and evolving architectures Outcome-driven: balances ideal solutions with real-world constraints Quality-focused without being dogmatic Communicates trade-offs clearly and constructively, If you are an individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing ******.

Pearson is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other group protected by law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Pearson is the world's leading learning company, committed to helping people realise the life they imagine through learning. Within Pearson, the English Language Learning (ELL) organisation builds platforms and products that support language learning and language proficiency assessment at global scale. This role sits within ELL Technology, in teams responsible for secure, reliable, and scalable assessment systems, where engineering quality, operational stability, and long-term sustainability are critical., At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. We are the world's lifelong learning company. For us, learning isn't just what we do. It's who we are. To learn more: We are Pearson.