Senior Software Engineer (Python)

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Ask First is First Utility's award nominated NLP engine, serving thousands of customers 24/7. Customers can communicate with Ask First via the mobile app, website, and email, allowing them to self serve quickly and efficiently.

Ask First has been serving customers for 2 years, and is now ready for a new exciting journey to introduce machine learning, and new ways to continuously teach and improve the bots corpus, and the customers experience.

We need an experienced and motivated individual to join the team at First Utility.

Role Overview

The Customer Service Platforms (CSP) department is responsible for a wide range of customer facing and back office applications that are essential to the delivery of excellent customer service.

We are an energetic, innovative and multi-skilled agile group split into three development teams: Salesforce (our chosen CRM), 360 (a series of next generation web tools) and Ask First (our innovative and highly successful virtual agent).

We take a collaborative and data driven approach to everything we do. Every problem encountered is considered an opportunity for innovation and good ideas are promoted quickly.

As a Software Engineer on the Ask First development team you will play a critical role in the development of Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing tools including Ask First, our highly valuable virtual agent.

Areas of Specific Responsibility

-Collaborate with business stakeholders, developers, architects, UX specialists and cross platform testers to deliver innovative software solutions with a key focus on customer experience

-Produce high quality, efficient, and defect free software that successfully meets requirements specified as user stories

-As a member of a scrum development team, have an active role Scrum ceremonies

-Participate in code reviews

-Provide mentorship to more junior members of the team

-Promote software craftsmanship best practices

The Desirable Candidate Will Have

-Experience working with machine or deep learning would be very desirable

-Working experience of Python 3

-Ability to work within a layered SOA and use, implement and test RESTful and micro services

-Experience of working with NoSQL databases such as MongoDB or Cassandra

-Good understanding of Testing, for example unit testing and TDD

-Version control, ideally GIT

-A solid understanding of Agile / SCRUM methodologies

The Benefits

All software engineers get a Mac when they start, and a number of other perks including 12 research days a year to learn new technologies, internal hackathons, and development guilds. From January 2017 First Utility will also be hosting the Coventry Tech Meetups.

As well as a rewarding career, development opportunities and competitive salary, you’ll also enjoy 25 days holiday (plus Bank Holidays), pension, option to purchase childcare vouchers, and become eligible for our staff tariff along with other great ad-hoc offers.

We believe in putting energy into looking after our teams, so you’ll benefit from BUPA Private Healthcare, cycle to work scheme, a great working environment with relaxation areas to recharge your batteries and free soft drinks available all day. We also have "Fruit Friday" where fresh fruit is available every week for all employees.