Location: Remote; UTC+5.5 to UTC-6 preferred, but flexible for the right candidate

Job type: Full-time

Reports to: CTO

Availability: Immediately

Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience

Overview of the role

Meedan is seeking a Full Stack Engineer with experience in Node.js and chatbots/messaging platforms to play a key role in our global engineering team. We build Check, a web platform for collaborative media annotation and claim-checking used by some of the world’s leading fact-checking and media organizations, such as India Today, Rappler, BOOM, Africa Check, Agencia Lupa and others. This includes handling thousands of fact-check submissions every month in multiple languages from a variety of countries. The architecture comprises microservices that talk to each other through their APIs. One of those APIs exposes machine learning features related to image and text analysis used by the Check product. These include text similarity, image similarity, and classification. We have developed a wider messaging platform that offers solutions to all social good verticals, such as NGOs, Health Ministries, and any community-driven organization. Now, “Check” for Journalist-type use cases is merely another App on our wider platform. Our technology platform is expanding and so is our team.

The full stack engineer will own the further evolution and maintenance of the larger platform, which includes a chatbot builder, human agent console, WA API connection points, and integration hub for larger customers to connect their tech stack. In addition to our existing WA API integration, we will also need to add other channels such as Messenger, Telegram, Linel etc. The engineer's problem-solving skills, attention to detail, ability to learn fast, sense of initiative and positive attitude will ensure a long and rewarding tenure in a similarly-minded group. The engineer will be supported by the DevOps team.

As part of Meedan you will have the opportunity to help improve the global misinformation ecosystem for global and local audiences, and contribute to critical communities in dissemination of critical information services. This is an ideal position for someone wanting to grow with a dynamic and diverse technology organization focused on solving hard information distribution problems. We encourage diverse applicants from underrepresented communities.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define requirements and architect solutions for our omnichannel chatbot and messaging platform, with a focus on the WhatsApp API, and adding other channels such as Telegram, Instagram, LINE & Messenger.
• Design and develop backend services, APIs, and data models to support WhatsApp integration and other channel functionalities.
• Collaborate with our front-end engineers in React.JS where needed, but the emphasis of this role is backend messaging and chat bot skills.
• Integrate advanced features such as message templates, rich media, and chatbot capabilities into the WhatsApp channel to enhance customer engagement.
• Optimize platform performance, scalability, and reliability to handle large volumes of messages and interactions across multiple channels.
• Conduct thorough testing and debugging to identify and fix issues, ensuring a high-quality product that meets customer needs and expectations.
• Stay updated on the latest WhatsApp API updates, best practices, and industry trends, and incorporate them into our platform roadmap and development processes.
• Provide technical guidance, mentorship, and support to team members, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Other duties as assigned, as organizational needs and priorities dictate.

Qualifications

Required

• Demonstrated experience delivering production-grade Node.js services
• Experience building API-related web technologies: HTTP, REST, etc.
• WhatsApp API experience and WA BSP experience is required
• More than 5 years of experience building production SAAS
• Solid experience with GIT version control, preferably GitHub.
• Strong command of English language

Preferred

• Working knowledge of AWS services and MongoDB
• Experience with OpenSearch or Elasticsearch
• Experience with automated testing
• Familiarity with Docker or other containerization technologies
• Familiarity with frontend development, especially React.js
• Familiarity with machine learning tools and Natural Language Processing

About Meedan

Meedan is a global technology not-for-profit that builds software and programmatic initiatives to strengthen journalism, digital literacy, and accessibility of information online and off. We have an affiliated for-profit, Meedan Labs, which works with our for-profit clients. We develop open-source tools for creating and sharing context on digital media through annotation, verification, archival, and translation. We work with technologists, newsrooms, fact-checkers, public health professionals, NGOs and academic institutions on award-winning projects from election monitoring to pandemic response to human rights documentation. This work supports our vision of a more equitable internet.

Our team members are distributed through multiple cities and time zones. Our team members are able to work flexibly and respond to challenges across a range of project areas. This includes the following:

• Flexible work from home
• Flexible schedule
• Support for home office
• Internal EDI training and regular EDI impact and policy reviews
• Code of Conduct

Benefits

At Meedan, we believe that the work we do is only as strong as the wellbeing of the people who make it happen. We’re committed to providing a broad range of employee benefits that uplift the engagement and growth of our people, and to truly embody awesomeness in our Meedan culture.

Professional Development and Social Support

All candidates around the world have the following resources available:

• Professional development support
• Mentorship program plus regular learning sessions/seminars
• Regular optional team social activities online and offline, including games, yoga, meditation and meals
• Generous travel support for in-person meetings and retreats with colleagues, where public health guidelines allow
• Paid subscription to meditation apps and other mental health resources
• Complimentary access to publications like New York Times and others
• Digital security training and support

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We actively recruit and encourage applications from individuals from historically underrepresented communities in technology and journalism to apply, including women, people of color and/or from underrepresented cultural communities, veterans, people with disabilities and those who identify as LGBTQ+.