Tech Lead

Hive Helsinki is seeking a hands-on Tech Lead to maintain, develop, and enhance the technical infrastructure of our unique peer-to-peer coding school. In this role, you'll ensure the reliability and long-term stability of critical systems that form the backbone of our students' learning experience.

As a Tech Lead, you will take ownership of Hive’s system infrastructure, tackling technical challenges to ensure the reliability and availability of critical services. While you'll have the creative freedom to explore and implement new solutions, this must always align with our core mission of enhancing the student learning experience. Hive is not a technology-centric organisation. Our infrastructure exists to support pedagogy and foster student growth.

While you will be working alongside a small team of staff developers, this position emphasises collaboration over teaching. You'll work with the team, leading by example, providing guidance and support as you collectively tackle technical challenges, rather than adopting a purely mentorship-focused approach.

This is a hands-on role, ideal for someone with strong technical expertise in development and infrastructure management who is passionate about building reliable systems that directly contribute to the success of both students and the broader community.

As a Tech Lead you will:

• Manage the infrastructure: Oversee servers, networks, databases, and tools to ensure smooth daily operations. Develop and optimise internal tools for reliability and usability, and assist with troubleshooting as needed.
• Support Development: Contribute to the development efforts when necessary, providing technical guidance, conducting code reviews, and maintaining coding standards within the team.
• Communicate Clearly: Communicate technical updates, challenges, and feedback clearly to the internal team, external support teams, and service providers. Ensure technical requirements and issues are well understood and addressed on time.
• Lead developers: Work alongside and lead a small team of developers by offering hands-on coding guidance, troubleshooting, and technical support. Foster professional growth by setting clear objectives and providing continuous feedback.
• Resolve Technical Issues: Tackle daily technical problems, prioritise multiple issues effectively, and ensure minimal disruptions to the development workflow. Propose long-term solutions to prevent future issues.

Relevant Technical expertise for this role:

As a Tech Lead at Hive Helsinki, you will work in a diverse technical environment that requires proficiency across a wide range of technologies.

The following skills and knowledge form the core of what you'll work with daily. Whereas proficiency in these areas correlates directly with success and performance in this position, there’s also room for growth and improvement over time.

• Operating Systems: Proficient in Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS)
• Containerisation & Orchestration: VMware, vSphere / vCenter
• Security: Strong experience with SSH, iptables/UFW, and SELinux
• Day-to-Day Operations: Project management skills
• Web Server Management: Nginx or Apache
• System Administration Tools: LDAP, Kerberos, DHCP/DNS, SAN management
• Hardware Knowledge: Server hardware (e.g., RAID configuration, memory replacement)
• Programming Languages: Proficiency in at least one of the following languages: Python, Ruby, JavaScript/TypeScript (experience in additional languages is a plus). Shell scripting experience.
• Automation: Experience with Ansible

Good-to-have experience:

The following skills and knowledge would be a valuable addition to your application. These technologies and tools are less critical than the relevant technical expertise, but they are still part of our environment and useful for accomplishing specific tasks.

• Operating Systems: Apple macOS (workstations), Windows Server (2016)
• Containerisation & Orchestration: Docker
• Networking: WAN/LAN management, experience with Cisco equipment (switches, routers), Cisco certification (CCNP+)
• Databases: PostgreSQL, InfluxDB
• Monitoring Tools: Syslog, Sentry, Grafana, Telegraf, InfluxDB
• Frameworks: Flask/FastAPI, Django, Ruby on Rails, React/Next.js
• Programming Languages: C/C++ (used in parts of the curriculum)
• CI/CD Tools: Experience with CI/CD tools
• Security: Familiarity with advanced security practices

What we offer you

This role offers a unique opportunity to help build and shape an educational institution unlike any other. Hive isn’t just a coding school - it’s a non-profit foundation driven by a mission to make a positive, lasting impact on society.

You’ll join a small, hands-on, international team that operates with startup agility and a non-profit focus. We work together to create meaningful, inclusive educational experiences and explore new ways to support our students and the community.

Benefits Include:

• Lunch, travel, recreational and phone benefits
• Fair and flexible vacation policies
• Your choice of laptop (Windows, Linux, or Mac) and phone (Android or iPhone)
• One of the most colourful and vibrant working spaces in Finland.
• Being a part of a buzzing and inspiring community of students and visitors from the ecosystem (e.g. engaging visiting partners & speakers, attending educational and/or IT conferences)

Hybrid role

This is a full-time hybrid role with a blend of on-campus and remote work. For the first 2-3 months, we’ll prioritise on-campus time to support onboarding and help you get to know the team. After that, you’ll have flexibility to work remotely, with around 2-3 days a week expected on campus. We’ll work together to set a weekly rhythm that balances both remote and on-site days to keep things running smoothly!

Recruitment Process

Please apply by sending your CV and application to [email protected] by 22nd November 2024.

About Hive Helsinki

Hive Helsinki is a pioneering, peer-to-peer coding school that enables people from all walks of life to learn future-proof skills through collaborative learning. Hive has no teachers or lectures, and applicants do not need any prior coding experience, degrees, or diplomas. We strive to bridge the gap between untapped talent and the increasing demand for highly talented problem solvers across all industries.

Hive operates as a foundation, and we prioritise long-term values-driven work offering an environment where the impact of your work is felt directly. See more at www.hive.fi

About Our Team

While we're looking for someone with certain technical skills, we're equally interested in finding a cultural fit that aligns with our mission and values.

Here’s who we are:

• Mission-driven: We’re passionate about making a meaningful difference in the education and growth of students from diverse backgrounds.
• Collaborative and inclusive: We thrive in a team where everyone is treated as a peer. We value open communication and the collective success of the group over rigid hierarchies. We enjoy working closely with others to achieve common goals.
• Curious about education: While we don’t have any teachers working at Hive, we’re genuinely interested in how technology can enhance the student learning experience. We’re eager to explore new solutions that improve Hive’s learning environment while keeping students’ progress front and centre.
• Hands-on problem solvers: We approach challenges with a proactive mindset. We’re comfortable rolling up our sleeves and getting involved in day-to-day operations, especially when things need fixing.
• Flexible and adaptable: We embrace the unique aspects of working at a non-traditional school that blends education with technology. We create an environment where innovation and experimentation are welcomed, as long as they support the students' learning paths.
• Independent yet collaborative: We value trust and ownership, confidently leading projects while knowing when to seek input and feedback from colleagues.
• Detail-oriented: We take pride in delivering reliable, high-quality work, understanding that even small issues can disrupt the learning environment.
• Passionate about inclusion: We share Hive’s commitment to providing opportunities for all, believing that everyone deserves access to education and a chance to build a better future through technology.