ROLE OVERVIEW

Croud is a global, full service digital marketing agency with a unique business model that helps businesses drive sustainable growth in the new world of marketing. Croud was recently named a Sunday Times Best Place to Work for the second year in a row, and was named Performance Marketing Employer of the Year by PMW.

At Croud, we unlock potential by elevating our people, clients, and communities within a rapidly advancing and complex economy. We operate as a unique scaled network of Intelligent, Creative Specialists, enabling us to deliver superior brand outcomes and unlock potential for our people, our clients and our communities.

Our culture is strategically driven and inspired by a shared long-term vision. It is collaborative and connected, with a focus on continuous learning and mutual support. We are energised by future thinking, driving innovation to achieve better outcomes. We are instinctively generous, actively including and empowering our people. Above all, we are purpose-driven, committed to positively impacting our people, the planet, and our global communities.

We are energised by future thinking, driving innovation to achieve better outcomes. We are instinctively generous, actively including and empowering our people. Above all, we are purpose-driven, committed to positively impacting our people, the planet, and our global communities.

We are investing in cutting-edge products that leverage marketing data to deliver unparalleled client performance. This strategic role is part of the Croud Engineering team, working alongside the Data Engineering and Platform teams, and reporting to the Director of Engineering.

Our team has a track record of delivering innovative solutions, such as SEO.max—a serverless, scalable GCP microservices-based tool that integrates multiple data sources, custom algorithms, and Large Language Models (LLMs) to benchmark client website performance through advanced data analysis and industry best practices.

As a Lead Tools Software Engineer, you will spearhead the development of internal tools and automation that drive revenue opportunities, support the productionisation of cutting-edge solutions, and promote engineering excellence across the organisation.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Croud is committed to innovation and excellence in engineering, delivering tools that drive business value and client success. As a Lead Tools Software Engineer, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our technology and its impact on our clients.

• Design and implement revenue-generating tools and solutions aligned with the engineering roadmap, working closely with the Director of Engineering, Lead Engineer, and other stakeholders
• Oversee end-to-end feature delivery, including solution design, dependency planning, infrastructure setup, testing, QA, monitoring, and maintenance
• Ensure deployed tools remain up-to-date with changing requirements, third-party API updates, and user feedback through continuous maintenance and bug fixes
• Develop new features and upgrades to enhance the performance and utility of existing tools
• Embed robust engineering practices, ensuring tools and services meet consistent quality standards across teams, offices, and clients while maintaining cost efficiency and compliance
• Foster the growth of software engineering capabilities by showcasing the business value of internal tools and expanding the team’s impact.
• Work with the client-facing Data Engineering team to deliver and deploy ETL pipelines and processes on GCP for broader utilisation
• Communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders, from technical engineers to non-technical executives, ensuring expectations are met
• Deliver tools and solutions efficiently, monitoring their adoption, impact on client revenue, and overall satisfaction

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential:

• Proficiency in Python programming, including scalable, maintainable, and test-driven development (TDD)
• Strong experience in applications/system design, deployment, and maintenance on cloud platforms (preferably Google Cloud Platform)
• Solid understanding of CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitHub Actions) and containerization tools like Docker
• Expertise in secure software development and adherence to best practices (e.g., SOLID principles)
• Hands-on experience with Python frameworks for building RESTful APIs, such as Django/DRF or FastAPI
• Clear and effective communication skills tailored to technical and non-technical audiences

Highly Desirable:

• Experience with Generative AI and LLMs for delivering advanced solutions
• Familiarity with diverse database types (SQL, NoSQL, graph, document, etc.) and selecting the right fit for specific use cases
• Knowledge of infrastructure automation using tools like Terraform, CloudFormation, or AWS CDK
• Exposure to front-end technologies (preferably Vue.js with TypeScript) to collaborate effectively with front-end teams
• Google Cloud Certifications or equivalent experience with cloud-native development

COMPANY BENEFITS

Croud operates a hybrid working model with a minimum of 3 days a week based in our Shrewsbury office and the remaining days from home if you wish.

Croud offers a clear path to progression for all members of staff. We are committed to offering development opportunities alongside a support system of regular performance reviews. The opportunities are endless!

On completion of the three-month probation period, every employee is eligible for the benefits listed on our careers site which include:

• 25 days holiday per year with the option to purchase an additional 5 days
• Discretionary annual performance based incentive (up to 7% of annual base salary)
• Sales Commission
• Sabbatical: Paid sabbatical at 7 years with an option to take it unpaid at 5 years
• Recruitment Referral Bonus
• Health & Wellbeing Contribution
• Ride to Work Scheme
• Railcard & Season Ticket Loan
• Home Office Equipment (chair and screen)
• Office Perks: Free fruit, breakfast cereals, lunches twice a week, snacks, and tea/coffee
• Enhanced Family Leave: Including primary and secondary family leave, extended parental leave, and shared family leave
• Life Assurance & Income Protection
• Medical Cash Plan
• Pension
• Learning & Development: Access to Croud Campus, curated third-party learning platforms, and an IPA Membership with subsidised training and events
• Peer Recognition: Through our “Bonusly” program
• Team Off-Sites & Social Events
• Year-round Holiday Celebrations
• Flexible Working Options
• A Day to Make a Difference

Standard hours are from 9.00am to 5.30pm, there’s flexibility if agreed in advance with your line managers (it may also be necessary on occasions to work outside of these hours).

Croud is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the grounds of a person's gender, marital status, race, religion, colour, age, disability or sexual orientation. All candidates will be assessed based on merit, qualifications and their ability to perform the requirements of the role.

OUR VALUES

At Croud, our vision centres around the idea of unlocking potential. We do this by elevating everyone in an inclusive and progressive culture, empowering individuals to deliver their best work. This means we build better brand outcomes, and unlock potential for our people, our clients and our communities.

We live and breathe five core values that foster a culture where everyone can thrive. Our commitment to elevating each other is fundamental to both our cultural and business success. The ideal candidate will excel in and demonstrate the following:

• In it together - our value on integration, collaboration and outcomes
• Eye on the future - our value on futurism, creativity and passion
• Generous in spirit - our value on people, development and inclusion
• Do what you say - our value on integrity and accountability
• Make a difference - our value on purpose and impact