Software Engineer, Advertising

We're looking for a well-rounded software engineer to work on high-availability, scalable advertising technology. You'll be comfortable programming in multiple languages and able to produce robust, optimized code. Good requirements gathering and communication skills are a must, since you'll work with a variety of technical and non-technical people across departments. Techniques for large-scale data storage and data mining will be beneficial, as will experience with high-volume, scalable infrastructure design as well as web development skills. If you feel well-suited to this role but don't match the requirements precisely, feel free to send us an application.

Responsibilities:

• Work with our advertising, marketing & data teams to design & implement features for our internal advertising platform.
• Collect and analyse a wide range of advertising data in a scalable fashion.
• Work with a variety of third-party advertising software.

Requirements:

• Excellent knowledge of object-oriented PHP plus either Java (J2SE 5.0) or C/C++.
• Independent problem solving skills.
• Good knowledge of relational databases (PostgreSQL/MySQL)
• Experience developing scalable applications for high-volume sites.

Pluses:

• Experience with distributed data storage (e.g. HBase).
• Experience working with Doubleclick's DART platform or other industry-standard advertising solutions.
• Web development experience.
• Knowledge of other scripting languages (e.g. Ruby, Python, Smalltalk).
• Experience with test-driven development.
• Working knowledge of Subversion and Linux CLI.

^ How to Apply

Flash Developer

Last.fm is looking for an in-house Flash developer to join the team. The ideal candidate will be creative, enthusiastic, and good at “getting things done”. Chief responsibilities will include maintaining Last.fm's existing roster of Flash products (streaming players for both audio and video, Flash widgets for 3rd-party sites, scrobbling lib, etc), as well as building the next generation of Last.fm Flash applications for the website and beyond.

Requirements:

• Strong object-oriented Actionscript 2.0 skills
• Ability to build robust applications from the ground up
• Proven experience in interaction design and an eye for detail
• Comfortable dealing with web services and the inherent design issues
• Experience using Last.fm / Audioscrobbler

Pluses:

• Experience with Actionscript 3.0
• Experience with source control tools (SVN/CVS)
• Flex/Laszlo
• Experience with streaming applications
• Fluent in another (non ECMAScript compliant) programming language

^ How to Apply

PHP Developers

Last.fm is looking for developers with a combination of strong PHP / SQL, software design principles and HTML skills.

The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic and innovative, good at “getting things done”, and have experience using Last.fm / AS.

What you’ll be doing:

• Designing and implement new features on your own, as well as building on existing features of the website.
• From conception through to implementation, you’ll be writing code used by millions of people every day.
• Working well within the Last.fm team to help improve the product and take over the world.

Requirements:

• Excellent knowledge of object-oriented PHP & standards-compliant SQL.
• Sound knowledge of HTML.
• Independent problem solving skills, ability to write code that scales well.
• Understanding of how the web works, from low to high levels.
• Familiarity with a wide range of relevant technologies and web standards.
• Flexibility: we are small company, but we move quickly.

Pluses:

• Smarty templating system (smarty.php.net).
• Subversion.
• Web services and syndication.
• Linux CLI.
• Experience with PostgreSQL, MySQL.
• Experience developing scalable web applications for high-volume sites.
• Javascript, and when not to use it.
• Flash.
• Interest in fields of music, social networking, blogging and related technologies, recommendation systems, and data mining.
• A preference for vi over emacs

^ How to Apply

Linux Sysadmin (varying levels)

Last.fm is looking for a system administrator to help support our growing infrastructure. The role is mainly focused on our server infrastructure, and also includes some desktop support in the office. A keen interest in Linux and networking is essential, as is a thirst for more knowledge in related areas. You will be working within our systems engineering team to maintain and expand the hardware and tools that keep Last.fm on the air.

We have junior and more senior positions available.

Responsibilities:

• Configure new servers, including linux installs (debian/ubuntu) and network setup
• Assist in network management tool administration
• Sysadmin related development support
• Hardware installs and bringing new equipment online at our datacentres (this includes rackmount server installs)
• Hardware maintenance and troubleshooting (why is it broken, dead disks and what not)

Desired skills:

• Linux and sysadmin-fu
• Good LAN and WAN troubleshooting skills
• Windows Desktop Support; email / printing / network connectivity
• Desktop installation and setup of new office machines
• Scripting skills
• A preference for vi over emacs

^ How to Apply

DBA, PostgreSQL and MySQL

Last.fm is looking for an experienced SQL Database Administrator to act as DBA and co-Architect in the development and maintenance of our federated database environment (PostgreSQL and MySQL).

This position reports to the CTO and is part of our core engineering team.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage our existing PostgreSQL and MySQL databases
• Perform DB administration, maintenance, upgrades, and monitoring
• Plan and perform stress test and volume test on pre-production databases
• Work closely with developers to ensure availability and integrity
• Manage the expansion and scale up of our database environment as we continue to grow
• Document and update procedures and processes

Required Skills/Experience

• Minimum of 3 years as a PostgreSQL or MySQL DBA for large scale databases
• Experience in database performance tuning, clustering, replication, backup and recovery, system architecture and design
• Work experience on UNIX / Linux
• Ability to quickly identify and resolve performance problems
• Excellent communication and analytical skills
• Strong sense of ownership
• Computer Science degree or equivalent

^ How to Apply

Data Warehouse Developer

Last.fm is looking for a Data Warehouse Developer, equipped with experience in databases, software development, a knowledge of common data analysis methods and natural curiosity, to explore some of the largest data sets in the industry.

Job Description

• Software Developer with focus on implementing data warehouses
• You will develop and maintain the storage and data processing layers of your systems: database design, ETL, automation systems
• Analysis and long-term monitoring of e.g. product feature success, ad revenue management, …

Requirements

• Good knowledge of Java 1.5
• Good knowledge of Hibernate, Ibatis, Spring, …
• Excellent knowledge of SQL using MySQL or PostgreSQL
• Independent problem solving skills
• Experience in designing and maintaining large databases
• Experience in data warehouse design and implementation, ETL, …

Pluses

• Experience with distributed data processing systems (grid computing, MapReduce)
• Experience with open source warehousing and analytics software (Pentaho, BIRT, or others)
• Experience in creating secure web interfaces for database-driven applications using Java, PHP, Rails, …
• Sound background in statistics
• Subversion, Linux CLI
• Interest in fields of music, social networking, blogging and related technologies, recommendation systems, and data mining

^ How to Apply

Software Engineer, Data and Recommendations

We’re looking for someone who can help us improve our recommendation engine, someone who knows how to handle large amounts of data, and knows C++ really well. You’d be joining a small, enthusiastic, and flexible team.

Requirements

• Expert knowledge developing and debugging in C++ is a must
• Good understanding of scalability issues
• Understanding of how recommendation algorithms work
• Strong interest in data analysis
• BS/MS in computer science or equivalent
• Development experience in a Unix/Linux environment
• Last.fm user

Pluses

• Boost libraries and templates
• Java, Python, PHP

^ How to Apply

QA Tester

Last.fm are looking for a smart and thorough software tester for its desktop application and web site.

What you’ll be doing

• Testing the Last.fm desktop application for bugs prior to release
• Keeping abreast of new releases of operating systems, devices and 3rd party player software
• Drawing up test plans in cooperation with the development team
• Implementing testing procedures and documenting them
• Ultimately improving the quality of the Last.fm software

Requirements

• An obsessive attention to detail
• Experienced Last.fm user
• Familiarity with different flavours of Windows and Mac OS X
• Familiarity with a wide range of desktop applications
• Excellent communication skills

Pluses

• Experience in software testing
• Familiarity with Linux
• Some coding skills

^ How to Apply

Product Manager Digital Music

Last.fm is looking for an experienced, enthusiastic Product Manager to play an important role within the digital music team. With a minimum of 2-4 years product management or similar experience, you will be working as part of a team looking after all subscription models available to last.fm users and driving subscriber growth through effective management and implementation of projects/promotions, maximising selection and catalogue integrity, enhancing merchandising, customer, and site experience to enable the company to meet its targets. You will have proven analytical capability and project management skills and will be customer focused, extremely detail-oriented, and able to effectively prioritise and multi-task.

The ideal candidate will be a self-starter with a passion for music, a high level of flexibility, commitment, and a sense of humour.

Job Description

• Looking after digital catalogue and liaising with digital content providers to ensure the last.fm digital catalogue is as complete as possible
• Liaising with labels to ensure digital content availability
• Develop and execute project plans for the launch of new product and content development initiatives
• Designing and maintaining reports based on collected data
• Liaising with labels to ensure monthly reporting obligations are met
• Working with cross-functional teams, and communicate with internal and external parties, while meeting tight deadlines
• Manage some third party relationships – manage content providers, manage day-to-day relationships
• Monitor performance and competitor/market developments
• Contribute to the launch of major new releases, involving coordination of a virtual team from across the business

Suitable candidates will have a strong work ethic, strong analytical and commercial judgment, interpersonal skills, and effective communication skills. The successful candidate will have 2–4 years of relevant experience, be comfortable with ambiguity, making assumptions with imperfect data and presenting findings to senior management. Bachelor’s degree required. Licensing or royalty experience a bonus.

^ How to Apply

Lead Copywriter

You are a technically-minded person with an understanding of Last.fm's honest, transparent tone and ready to nurture this into a strong brand identity and messaging. You're a responsible leader and work well in a fast-paced, changing environment.

What you’ll be doing:

• Writing and managing copy for the Last.fm interface informed by use-cases and SEO
• Maintaining a consistent message and vocabulary across various products within the Last.fm service working closely with the design and product teams.
• Writing for marketing and promotion while maintaining the honest transparent tone indicative of Last.fm product integrity
• Writing FAQs and working with the customer support team achieve clear communication and a tone indicative of the Last.fm brand
• Working closely with the Technical Writer and Head of PR to maintain consistent tone and message.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent
• 5+ years copywriting experience
• Fluent English speaker
• Basic HTML, ability to use a text-editor a plus
• Quickly develop rapport with engineers, designers and translators

^ How to Apply

Head of Financial Planning and Analysis

Last.fm is seeing a Head of Financial Planning and Analysis to lead the development of a function that will provide the analytical horsepower supporting important business decisions facing the company. Reporting directly to the CFO, this position will directly support the entire business, driving both top and bottom line success. The company is building a finance function whose role is to be both business partners as well as leaders who challenge the business to maximize controllership and return on investment. This position will have a tremendous range of responsibilities and expectations for success.

Qualifications

This position will work closely with the product and executive teams to ensure that the business is maximizing is goals of growth, involvement, and monetization. A very important part of the role’s reasonability is in providing robust analytical modelling and analysis. The second key requirement will be to maintain strict controllership over the business so that we can forecast and report accurate financials. Lastly, our expectation is that this position will be critical in continuing to emphasize a culture of data-driven decision making.

Responsibilities

We are now seeking a Head of Financial Planning to help grow our business by:

• Providing financial analysis to prioritize and lead business decision-making
• Designing & maintaining metrics models
• Analyzing new business ideas and making an analytical judgment on the quality of the idea.
• Collecting and analyzing quantitative data
• Designing and maintaining reports based on collected data
• Challenging the business on performance and assumptions
• Maintaining data and financial integrity
• Formulation of strategic & corporate plans to operating profit
• Leadership of ad hoc projects
• Interrogating data using excel (pivot tables/v-lookups) and access
• Driving process improvements

Suitable candidates will have a strong work ethic, strong analytical and commercial judgment, interpersonal skills, and effective communication skills. The successful candidate will have 2-4 years of relevant experience, be comfortable with ambiguity, making assumptions with imperfect data and presenting findings to senior management. Bachelor’s degree required, MBA preferred.

Location: London, GB

^ How to Apply

Senior Advertising Executive (Germany)

Last.fm is looking for a Senior Advertising Executive to help grow and manage a unique, innovative line of online advertising products. World-class agencies and brands are beginning to leverage the rich profile information on Last.fm to find the right audience and spread the word about their products in a new way.

What you'll be doing

• Devising and executing sales strategies
• Interfacing w/ key German clients and partners (ad-agencies, media buyers, brands etc.)
• Working closely with internal design and development teams, clients and advertising agencies to develop new advertising and promotional concepts
• Helping drive the creation of tools and metrics to run the German business
• Meeting monthly and quarterly sales targets, and reporting these to the executive team.

Requirements

• Minimum 3 years postgraduate experience
• An outstanding track record of sales is essential
• Previous experience in advertising sales within another highly successful German online business would be highly desirable

This position is ideally based in Germany, with regular trips to London.

^ How to Apply

Artist & Label Support Intern

Last.fm is looking for an intern to join its Music Team. As an intern with us you'll be on the frontline of our communication with artists and labels, providing support to those using our Music Manager as well as helping with the day to day running of the department. The ideal candidate will be passionate about music and have excellent IT skills, as well as bucket loads of enthusiasm and a willingness to 'muck in'. Knowledge of the music industry and an interest in digital media and social networking would be a bonus.

The position runs for a minimum of three months and is unpaid, however travel and lunch expenses are covered.

Responsibilities

• Provide email and online support to artists and labels
• Ingest and import received music and video content
• Day-to-day departmental admin tasks
• Work with the rest of the team to enhance the experience of artists and labels on Last.fm

Requirements

• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• A passion for music and something akin to good taste
• IT skills: confident with Office and ripping/encoding CDs
• Enthusiasm, a good sense of humour and ability to juggle tasks

Pluses

• Prior knowledge of the music industry
• Good understanding of Last.fm and/or the Music Manager

^ How to Apply