Senior Software Engineer, MediaWiki

About the Role

Being part of this team offers the chance to combine technical depth with mission-driven impact. As a Senior Engineer, you will not only write robust code but also lead by example, prioritize high-impact work, and foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement. The Wikimedia Foundation values commitment to its mission and values, and the team operates in a fully remote setting, requiring your working hours to overlap with UTC-2 to UTC+3 time zones to accommodate global team members.

What You Will Do

• Design, improve, and maintain key parts of the MediaWiki stack to ensure the platform remains scalable and reliable.
• Drive technical quality and operational excellence by defining and reinforcing standards in testing, observability, and system reliability.
• Create proofs of concept, write design documents, and break down complex projects into actionable tasks to support less experienced team members.
• Develop and improve shared capabilities (e.g., authentication, caching, rate limiting) that enable other teams to build efficiently and consistently.
• Champion key product metrics by focusing on measurable outcomes that guide our decisions and help us evaluate success.
• Lead by example in code review, decision-making, and team culture, fostering transparency, empathy, and collaboration.
• Improve and automate processes for identifying, tracking, and resolving production issues.
• Collaborate with the Product team and the community to ensure technical solutions align with WMF strategy, feature teams, and volunteer contributor needs.
• Coach and mentor teammates to support continuous growth and confidence in both technical and interpersonal skills.

What We Are Looking For

• Extensive experience in backend software engineering, with a strong focus on scalability, reliability, and performance.
• Familiarity with the MediaWiki platform or similar open-source projects, and a willingness to learn and contribute to MediaWiki.
• Commitment to the Foundation's mission and values, and a passion for contributing to a project with global impact.
• Excellent communication skills, able to explain complex ideas simply and foster shared understanding across technical and non-technical audiences.
• Outcome-oriented mindset, prioritizing work that delivers value to users and aligns with organizational goals.
• Accountable and self-motivated, with the ability to own your work end-to-end and establish a culture of responsibility and follow-through.
• Candid and respectful, offering feedback directly, constructively, and with care, and inviting the same in return.
• Experience with collaborative leadership, inspiring trust and progress through support, example, and thoughtful contributions.

Nice to Have

• Experience with Adjust and Excel, or similar tools, for data analysis and optimization.
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and version control systems like Git.
• Participation in open-source projects or communities, demonstrating a commitment to collaborative software development.

Benefits and Perks

• The opportunity to work on a project with global impact, contributing to the mission of providing free knowledge to everyone.
• A fully remote work environment, with flexible working hours to accommodate different time zones.
• Access to a global community of developers and contributors, offering a unique opportunity for collaboration and learning.
• Professional development opportunities, including mentorship, training, and support for conference attendance.
• A competitive compensation package, including benefits and perks that support work-life balance and professional growth.
• The chance to be part of a diverse and inclusive team, with a strong focus on equity and social responsibility.

• Highlight your experience with open-source projects, especially if you have contributed to MediaWiki or similar platforms, as this demonstrates your ability to work collaboratively and understand the platform's ecosystem.
• Be prepared to discuss your approach to technical leadership, including how you prioritize tasks, lead by example, and foster a culture of transparency and accountability.
• Showcase your ability to communicate complex ideas simply, as this is crucial for working with both technical and non-technical teams and audiences.
• Prepare examples of how you have driven technical quality and operational excellence, including standards you've implemented for testing, observability, and system reliability.
• Emphasize your passion for the Wikimedia mission and how your skills and experience align with the foundation's values and goals.
• Familiarize yourself with the MediaWiki platform and its community, as understanding the project's context and the community's needs will be beneficial during the application and interview process.
• Be ready to discuss your experience with collaborative tools and practices, as the ability to work effectively in a remote, global team is essential for success in this role.