Join us
What makes Exoweb a great place to work?
Exoweb is owned, built, and managed by people that are software development craftsmen at heart, by people who believe in:
... and we're hiring ;)
Putting people first
The most important factor of any project’s success is whether you have good people working on it. Smart people working together can usually figure out and overcome any problem.
By definition, the work we do is unique and difficult. If there are shrink-wrapped products out there that do the job, we wouldn’t need to build anything. We don’t do projects that are very repetitive, like massive manual testing and some types of localization. We do work that require lots of teamwork, communication, and creativity. So, we need people that thrive with this kind of work; we need smart people that gets things done.
A nice side-effect of this extreme focus on recruiting the right people is that you’ll find that your colleagues are generally people you can respect and learn from. Things are just a little bit less… stupid. We trust in people, avoiding rules and control structures where possible, so we have a very flat organization structure with minimal bureaucracy; work is as painless and straightforward as possible.
The right person is someone that has the right talents and passions. We place limited emphasis on experience or skills, as those are easily picked up if you have the right talents. Gender, educational level, hometown or nationality do not matter. We do, however, carefully check that you are a good programmer — in any programming language of your choice.
Overall, our recruitment and management philosophy is quite in line with what you find on Joel on Software, and in the books First, Break All the Rules and Now, Discover Your Strengths. We think Joel's Test for what makes a good software development shop is not good for evaluating agile shops, however, and have put up our qualified answers.
This focus on putting people first is continued from recruitment into management, through the way we develop software, using an agile methodology called Scrum.
Agile methodologies
Our mission is to invent the best way to build software, to help pull the software development industry out of the software crisis that has plagued it the last 40 years. We’re not alone: software developers around the world are gathering around what's called agile methodologies. The future is clearly agile, but as of now we are one of very few agile shops in China.
We started out with the Scrum agile software development method. In true agile fashion, however, each team owns and evolves their own process. They purposefully and constantly experiment with the process, keeping what works and throwing away what doesn’t. The result is a process that is uniquely suited to the team, technology, client, and project at hand.
There are many differences between agile and traditional software development, but what matters for you as a software developer are:
- you spend less time writing and reading big documents
- you spend lots of time with real code, discussing designs and quality with colleagues
- you’re not alone — you always work closely together with other developers
- you only work 40 hours per week — we believe in having a balanced life
- you never have to live with a stupid process — your team can change it
- software development can be your lifetime career — you don’t have to become a manager if you don’t want to
Software development done in this agile way is so radically different from traditional software development that we have to have a radically different office environment. Our office is pretty cool:
- it's a big loft — open to foster communication
- it's filled with whiteboards — to encourage collaboration
- it has plenty of relaxation areas inside and outside — for when you need inspiration
- it has an extensive library — monthly Amazon orders keeps it fresh
- it has a coffee machine, a selection of teas, and a fridge stocked with soft drinks — all free for you, as brains need fuel throughout the day
- it has a big screen TV, with PlayStation 2, Wii (4 wiimotes), DVD, Apple TV, 3 AC 5.1 speaker systems connected via AirTunes — for when you need to relax
Many visitors comment on our office when they see it for the first time. Its design goals convey the spirit of our company: a place that values creativity and collaboration; a place that is humane; a place that puts people first.
Open source
A couple of other things will probably also strike you when you enter our office; nearly all computers have two monitors, and you you'll have to look a while to find a computer running Windows.
Today’s world is rapidly moving towards open source, but Exoweb has been committed to using and supporting open source communities and technologies for the last 7 years. And for good reasons!
Open source:
- can be freely customized to perfectly fit our requirements
- enables us to share maintenance and development costs of non-core components with world-wide developer communities
- are often of great quality, security, scalability, and robustness
Our culture is deeply rooted in open source. Years ago we established the Chinese Python community, and since then we have donated a server and IDC network fees to run this and other communities. We participate in world-wide sprints for projects we use, such as Django, and we contribute components and bug fixes back to the open source community whenever we can.
Some people join Exoweb because they love the technologies we use, such as Python, Linux, Apache, Django, PostgreSQL, and MySQL. But many of our best people didn’t know anything about Python before they joined. So, don’t worry if you don’t know much about open source… you’ll learn quickly.
Job Openings
All positions are in Beijing and are effective immediately.
Software Engineer
Python / JavaScript / Ajax / Django / SQL
Responsibilities
Software development using advanced technologies and practices (distributed processing, scripting object-oriented languages, Extreme Programming).
Requirements
- Creative and analytical — You must be a great problem solver, with the ability to dive deeply into complex problems and emerge with clear and pragmatic solutions.
- Ability to create excellent code — You must write correct, clean and efficient code that you are proud of. You must be able to learn any programming language. We assume that you can use at least one of Java, C, C++, C#, Python, JavaScript, SQL, Perl or PHP and are willing to develop your skills in Python and other web languages.
- Passion — You must have passion for what you do. Involvement in Open Source projects or a portfolio of your hobby projects is a big plus.
- Ability to learn in English — You must have good enough English reading/writing to study new technologies in English quickly, and preferably a good base for improving your spoken English if necessary.
- Understanding of web technologies — We assume that you know HTML and that you can quickly master all the rest. Understanding of network protocols such as HTTP, TCP/IP and DNS as well as core web technologies such as CSS, JavaScript, Ajax, DHTML, and others is an advantage.
- Prior knowledge of any of Python, Linux, Twisted, TurboGears, Ruby on Rails, Django, Scrum, or Extreme Programming is a plus.
Benefits
Free drinks (e.g., soft drinks, tea, coffee) — flexible work hours — partially sponsored broadband at home — free flu shots and yearly health check — access to our events and extensive book library — discounted gym membership. See also agile methodologies for a description of our office and its facilities.
Qualified and tempted to join us as a Software Engineer?
Please send your English (and optionally also Chinese) resume to job-software-engineer@exoweb.net and mention that you found our ad on www.exoweb.net. We are sorry to say that we can not consider your job application if it comes without an English version of your resume. Thanks!
Software Tester
Responsibilities
- Entire product test — Walking through a checklist of features and functionality for Exoweb products and verifying that everything works. Clearly identify any defects encountered and document how to reproduce them.
- Feature verification — Verifying that work just completed by a developer follows the requirements given.
- Usability testing — While testing the site, identify features that have been implemented in a way that is hard to use and point out clearly the problems with it.
- Breakage testing — Going through the site, trying new and ingenious methods to "break" the site. This ranges from breaking aesthetic design to usability and security failures.
- Defect analysis and reporting — Besides the normal defect reports generated above, also identify any trends in defects discovered. This can range from type of defect to particular developer generating defects.
Requirements
- Eye for detail and quality — You agree that details are important, since details make quality and quality is what we strive for. You perceive the world through a magnifying glass and the smallest problem is very obvious to you.
- Sensitive to visual aesthetics — You know about the value of both form and function, and can almost intuitively point out the very solution that combines both of them optimally. Usability? Your passion!
- Passion for "breaking" things — You would never cease trying until you have undertaken everything imaginable to make features fail. If you can't break it, no one can, the respective feature can be declared robust and bulletproof.
- Great reporting skills — You not only analyze bugs and try to establish patterns but also communicate them in a concise, easily reproducible and timely fashion to your team mates and project manager. You know that an issue swept under the carpet today is likely to be a problem in the future and therefore raise all issues immediately.
- Quickly understand requirements — You can read a simple 1-2 line (English) email and figure out what the requester wanted. From this, you can quickly determine if a feature or requirement was implemented correctly, or if you need to send the task back to the software developer to re-implement.
- Basic English — You are able to learn in English and keen on profiting from a bilingual working environment to improve your English skills.
- Value repetition — You recognize that repetition is a crucial part of the job and are very sensitive to how things have changed from the last time you have performed a test. You understand that it is only through continuously and repeatedly testing things that we can quickly catch any errors introduced.
- Tech experience — Prior experience with or academic background in technologies related to software development is a big plus, but not required.
Qualified and tempted to join us as a Software Tester?
Please send your English (and optionally also Chinese) resume to job-tester@exoweb.net and mention that you found our ad on www.exoweb.net. We are sorry to say that we can not consider your job application if it comes without an English version of your resume. Thanks!
HR assistant
Responsibilities
- Human resource management — You take care of tasks ranging from job advertising to on site and remote interviewing, in a way that Exoweb is always the earliest bird recruiting the best talents. You create and maintain a working and learning environment that is challenging, organized and fun - just the right one to make sure none of our employees thinks that the neighbor's grass is greener.
- Career development system and training — You help in the development of a career development system for the company with the objective to make the learning curve of our employees skyrocket. You design internal training materials and hold training seminars. Subjects of the trainings can vary from English, to business communication, researching all the way to more technical subjects.
- Represent and network — You help establishing relevant contacts and enjoy following up on them.
Job Requirements
- Eye for detail — You agree that it's by minding the detail that one makes the real difference. You might compromise in discussions but never on quality.
- Service oriented — You make sure you always know our employees needs and desires and come up with efficient and convenient solutions that meet these needs.
- Get things done — You are a great problem solver, with the ability to dive deeply into problems and emerge with clear and pragmatic solutions. You won't rest until the solution you came up with is implemented.
- Great language and (business) communication skills — You are a natural when it comes to connecting with people and take pleasure in communicating with them. You are professional and quick at it. People around you think you are a native English speaker, even this may not be the case. Elementary Chinese language skills and the “fire” to quickly improve them are a big plus.
- Think out of the box & persistence — "Impossible?" - you won't believe this until you haven't thought of and tried every option imaginable. Your team mates almost call you obsessed.
- Training and presentation skills — Learning propels you, training excites you. You prefer the stage to the seat in the audience. You have some experience, the rest you assure with your talents.
- Structured and organized — You must be able to multi task in an organized and efficient manner. You know what it takes to establish and keep time lines on track and take troubleshooting as a challenge and/or fun rather than stress.
Qualified and tempted to join us as a HR assistant?
Please send your English (and optionally also Chinese) resume to job-hr-assistant@exoweb.net and mention that you found our ad on www.exoweb.net. We are sorry to say that we can not consider your job application if it comes without an English version of your resume. Thanks!
PM assistant
Responsibilities
- Management of project schedule — Work with developers to break new projects/features into tasks. Gather time estimates and commitments from team members. Supervise progress on different tasks and assure their timely implementation.
- Correspondence — Keep clients and team members up-to-date on all issues and progress and make sure you always know about their needs and desires. Most of the correspondence is done in English, the rest in Chinese.
- Training & documenting — Help step clients through new features and create documentation that allows users quickly get up to speed on new features/software and reduce support calls.
- Troubleshooting — Work with clients to figure out where they are having difficulties with certain features. Determine if client issues are bugs/features/omissions. Create bug reports that allow developers to quickly reproduce and pinpoint the cause of any bugs.
Job requirements
- Structured and organized — You must be able to multi task in an organized and efficient manner. You keep on the ball and inspire people to do the same.
- Eye for quality and detail — You agree that it's by minding the details that one makes the real difference.
- Persistent and through — You wouldn't cease trying until you are convinced that you have thought of and tried every option imaginable. Your team mates almost call you obsessed.
- Customer oriented — You get a kick out of making sure that our clients and your team mates are always up-to-date on all progress and issues and make sure you know his needs and desires.
- Get things done — You are a great problem solver, with the ability to dive deeply into complex problems and emerge with clear and pragmatic solutions. You won't rest until the solution you came up with is implemented.
- Good (business) communication skills — You take pleasure in communicating with clients and team mates. You are professional and quick at it. Decent English are a must.
- Excited by learning — You are interested in what users are trying to accomplish with their software and willing to learn about their business to ensure that the features being developed will be immediately understood and appreciated by users at all levels of the business.
- Problem solver / Out of the box thinking — Able to cut through unclear requirements and find out what a client is really trying to solve and whether or not new software or features is really the right solution.
- Prior experience — Prior experience with or academic background in technologies related to software development is a plus but not required.
Qualified and tempted to join us as a PM assistant?
Please send your English (and optionally also Chinese) resume to job-pm-assistant@exoweb.net and mention that you found our ad on www.exoweb.net. We are sorry to say that we can not consider your job application if it comes without an English version of your resume. Thanks!
