Junior Software Engineer

About Fosterli

Fosterli is a venture-backed Tech for Good startup transforming the way people become foster carers.

We are building software that makes the fostering assessment journey more intuitive, efficient and human, helping agencies, social workers and prospective foster carers navigate a process that has traditionally been complex, time-consuming and heavily reliant on paperwork.

As we prepare to onboard our first customers and scale the platform, we're looking for a Graduate / Junior Software Engineer to join our growing team.

The Opportunity

This is a rare opportunity to join an early-stage startup where your work will directly influence both the product and the future of the business.

You'll work closely with our CTO, founders and existing engineering team, gaining hands-on experience across the full software development lifecycle. From designing and building new features to improving engineering processes and supporting customer onboarding, you'll play a key role in shaping Fosterli's next stage of growth.

Unlike larger organisations, you'll see the direct impact of your work on real users and contribute to decisions that influence both the product roadmap and technical direction.

What You'll Be Doing

• Building, testing and maintaining features across the Fosterli platform
• Developing front-end and back-end functionality using modern web technologies
• Designing and consuming APIs to support platform integrations and services
• Working with databases, authentication systems and cloud infrastructure
• Collaborating within agile sprint cycles, contributing to planning, estimation and retrospectives
• Participating in code reviews and helping maintain high standards of code quality
• Writing automated tests and supporting platform reliability and performance
• Supporting deployment and release activities across development and production environments
• Working directly with users to understand challenges and translate feedback into practical product improvements
• Contributing to technical documentation, engineering processes and platform scalability as the business grows
• Supporting customer onboarding and helping resolve technical issues as agencies begin using the platform

Our Technology Stack

We currently work with:

• Next.js
• React
• TypeScript
• Node.js
• PostgreSQL
• AWS
• GitHub
• REST APIs

Experience with some of these technologies is beneficial, but not essential. We're more interested in your ability to learn, solve problems and adapt quickly.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone with strong technical foundations and a genuine enthusiasm for building software.

You may be a recent graduate, self-taught developer, bootcamp graduate or early-career engineer looking to accelerate your development within a startup environment.

You'll likely have experience with some of the following:

• JavaScript and/or TypeScript
• React or modern front-end frameworks
• Backend development using Node.js or similar technologies
• SQL databases and data modelling
• API development and integration
• Git version control
• Testing and debugging applications
• Cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure or Google Cloud

You'll also demonstrate:

• Strong problem-solving and analytical thinking
• Curiosity and a willingness to learn new technologies
• The ability to work independently and take ownership of tasks
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• An interest in startups and fast-moving environments
• A passion for building products that create meaningful social impact

Desirable Experience

The following would be advantageous, but are not required:

• Experience developing SaaS products
• Understanding of secure software development practices
• Knowledge of GDPR and handling sensitive personal data
• Awareness of accessibility standards (WCAG)
• Exposure to CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices
• An interest in cybersecurity and maintaining standards such as Cyber Essentials Plus

What You'll Learn

This role provides the opportunity to gain experience across:

• Full-stack application development
• Cloud infrastructure and deployment processes
• SaaS platform architecture
• Product-led development and user-centred design
• Agile software delivery
• Security, compliance and data protection best practices
• Customer onboarding and support
• Scaling a platform from pilot stage to commercial growth

You'll work closely with our CTO, receiving mentorship, technical coaching and exposure to engineering decisions that would typically take years to access within a larger organisation.

Why Join Fosterli?

• Work directly with experienced founders and senior technical leadership
• Receive ongoing mentorship and support from our CTO
• Gain exposure across product, engineering and customer delivery
• Help shape an early-stage product from the ground up
• Build technology that delivers genuine social impact
• Be part of a supportive, ambitious and purpose-driven team
• Develop your skills rapidly in a real-world startup environment

Our Culture

At Fosterli, we put people first.

Our company was founded by a former Children's Social Worker, and that ethos shapes how we work. We believe technology should empower people, not create additional barriers.

We're committed to building an inclusive workplace and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.

We particularly encourage applications from individuals with lived experience of care, fostering or the wider social care sector, although this is not a requirement for the role.

Working Arrangements

We operate a hybrid working model from our central Bristol office, therefore you will need to be living locally for this role.

During onboarding, we'd expect more regular office attendance to help you build relationships, develop your understanding of the platform and work closely with the team. As confidence and familiarity grow, we anticipate a balanced mix of office and remote working.

Salary range - up to £35,000 P/A depending on experience, part-time options available.

Interested?

If you're looking for a role where you'll learn quickly, take ownership, work alongside experienced founders and engineers, and help build a product that genuinely improves lives, we'd love to hear from you.