Software Engineer: Code Improvement Expert

As a code improvement expert, you are a software engineer who is passionate about taking existing products and making them better. Resolving thorny and tricky customer issues; tracking down obscure behaviors specific to old versions of a forgotten UNIX; hanging out with your favorite profiler and spending quality time making a large codebase dance faster: if these sound like fun to you, we have just the opportunity for you.

You'll solve mysterious problems. You'll part the rivers of doubt and confusion separating users from enlightenment. You'll work with a gifted team of software engineers on diagnosing and resolving customer issues and concerns, primarily in multi-million line C and C++ language codebases and all in a variety of Windows, Mac, mobile and Unix/Linux environments (and possibly others).

Responsibilities:

• Write and debug your code and others' across a variety of products and programming environments
• Show us drive and curiosity in helping us improve how we approach software development
• Welcome occasional interruption to save us from whatever urgent stuff comes in
• Play nice with others

Sometimes all in the same day. Sure, everyone thinks they can do all of these - but we're looking for the best. Expect a variety of interesting problems and wide latitude in solving these. We'll expect you to learn new languages, technologies and techniques quickly and to share your knowledge with others.

Our list of absolute requirements is brief. You must have:

• Industry experience writing and debugging C and/or C++ code and applications on multiple architectures and platforms -- whether Windows, Mac, UNIX, Linux or a different place entirely, and
• Skill in interacting with panoply of different personalities, from fellow developers, to product support, to potential customers, and all points betwixt. Without confusing everyone with technical jargon, TLAs or words like "betwixt" and "panoply".

Your ability to demonstrate some or all of the following will help greatly:

• Expert-level C and/or C++ skills
• C#, Java and/or Python experience; user-interface experience and experience interfacing with native code and DLLs a definite plus
• Experience writing and debugging multithreaded applications
• An ability to deliver accurate and punctual project estimates
• A proven knack for delivering projects with multiple, sometimes conflicting deadlines
• A relentless drive to maintain long-term optimism in the face of short-term setbacks
• Exceptional curiosity and drive to keep learning and improving

We strongly prefer candidates with a degree in computer science, math or a related field; and who have at least 3 years of professional experience specifically in maintaining C or C++ language codebases. Because occasional travel and interaction with customers is part of this position, we prefer candidates who are able to clearly articulate technical ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences.

These positions are based at our offices in downtown Chicago. Because we believe strongly in the value of personal interaction, local candidates will be strongly preferred. If you're planning on being remote, please give us some examples of how you have been able to successfully work in teams where the majority of participants are co-located. You'll also need to be willing and able to come join us in the office for a week every two to three months.

What do we have to offer you?

• A small company atmosphere with a unique blend of growth and maturity - we've been around since 1967 and have no plans on going away
• A talented group of smart, kind and honest people with a range of experiences and interests to work with
• Flexibility in how you get work done. Where we have standards and process, these exist to help us accomplish things with the minimum interference possible
• Actual honest balance between your working life and the rest of your life. We work to keep emergencies and necessary heroism to a minimum
• Comprehensive benefits package: medical and dental coverage, life and disability insurance and 401(k) with unlimited 50% matching on your contributions
• Chicago loop location within walking distance of all train stations
• Free gym in building with showers and secured bike storage
• Comprehensive training benefits including tuition reimbursement for courses taken. We're serious about investing in skills and experiences for our teams
• Of course, we also offer competitive remuneration packages in addition to the above

But we're not for everyone. If you're looking for any of the following, pass us on by:

• Regular grueling all-evening coding sessions with your closest "work friends" interrupted by occasional Counterstrike matches to make your night of frustration pass by faster
• An office full of people who all have offices and attitudes that require they shut their doors all the time
• Bosses who are paid by the number of times they disturb you in a given day
• Measurement of your worth by the amount of time you spend in your seat
• Opportunity to hang with self-proclaimed ninjas, gurus or rockstars of anything

Founded in 1967, Datalogics has been a leader in document typesetting and publishing software solutions for over 45 years. As an Adobe® Portfolio Company we are a leading source for Adobe PDF and eBook technologies. We are an experienced small company whose business is software and whose mission is helping the world communicate.

Interested? Please email your resume in text or PDF format to recruiting@datalogics.com. Include some information about yourself and why you're the person who can help make our products shine.

Datalogics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on gender, race, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age or veteran status. Because doing any of that is just stupid.