Application Guide

How to Apply for Back End Engineer

at Vizzuality

🏢 About Vizzuality

Vizzuality is a purpose-driven company creating innovative digital tools to tackle pressing global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and inequality. Unlike typical tech firms, they combine scientific rigor with cutting-edge technology to empower decision-makers and communities with actionable insights. Working here means contributing directly to meaningful environmental and social impact through technology.

About This Role

As a Back End Engineer at Vizzuality, you'll build and maintain scalable systems using NodeJS, TypeScript, and Python to support tools that address climate and biodiversity issues. This role requires a DevOps mindset to manage infrastructure and ensure reliable deployment of applications used by researchers, policymakers, and activists worldwide. Your work will directly enable data-driven solutions that drive positive environmental and social change.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day involves collaborating with team members across Europe to design and implement back-end features using NodeJS, TypeScript, or Python for tools that visualize environmental data. You might deploy updates via CI/CD pipelines, monitor system performance, and troubleshoot infrastructure issues, all while participating in agile ceremonies to align with project goals for climate or biodiversity initiatives.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Vizzuality Is Looking For

  • Has proven experience building production back-end systems with NodeJS, TypeScript, and Python, ideally in applications related to data visualization, geospatial analysis, or scientific computing.
  • Demonstrates a strong DevOps mindset with hands-on experience in infrastructure management, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud deployment (AWS, GCP, or Azure) for scalable applications.
  • Is passionate about Vizzuality's mission and can articulate how their technical skills align with creating tools for climate, biodiversity, or social equity challenges.
  • Can work effectively in a remote, collaborative environment across time zones (UK, Spain, Portugal) and communicate clearly with diverse teams including designers, scientists, and front-end developers.

📝 Tips for Applying to Vizzuality

1

Highlight specific projects where you used NodeJS, TypeScript, and Python together, especially if they involved data-intensive or geospatial applications.

2

Emphasize your DevOps experience by detailing infrastructure you've managed, deployment processes you've optimized, or monitoring solutions you've implemented.

3

Tailor your resume to show how your work aligns with Vizzuality's mission—mention any projects related to sustainability, data for social good, or environmental tech.

4

If you have remote work experience, specify how you've collaborated effectively in distributed teams, including tools and practices you've used.

5

Include links to relevant code samples, GitHub repositories, or live projects that demonstrate your back-end and DevOps skills in action.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Explain why Vizzuality's mission resonates with you and how your technical expertise can contribute to their tools for climate change, biodiversity, or inequality.", 'Provide concrete examples of your experience with NodeJS, TypeScript, and Python in back-end development, linking them to scalable system design or performance optimization.', "Describe your DevOps approach, including specific infrastructure or deployment challenges you've solved, and how it ensures reliable, maintainable systems.", 'Mention your ability to thrive in a remote, collaborative environment and experience working with cross-functional teams on complex projects.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Explore Vizzuality's key projects like Global Forest Watch, Resource Watch, or Half-Earth Project to understand their tech stack and impact.
  • → Review their blog, case studies, or GitHub repositories to see how they use NodeJS, TypeScript, Python, and DevOps tools in practice.
  • → Learn about their team structure and remote culture from LinkedIn profiles or company updates to gauge collaboration styles.
  • → Investigate the specific challenges in climate tech or biodiversity data (e.g., data scalability, geospatial processing) to discuss knowledgeably in interviews.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Technical deep-dive into your experience with NodeJS, TypeScript, and Python, including architecture decisions, performance tuning, or integration challenges.
2 DevOps scenarios: How would you design, deploy, and monitor a scalable back-end service for a data-heavy environmental tool?
3 Discussion of Vizzuality's projects (e.g., Global Forest Watch, Resource Watch) and how you'd approach back-end challenges for such applications.
4 Behavioral questions on remote collaboration, such as handling time-zone differences or communicating technical concepts to non-technical team members.
5 Problem-solving around building maintainable, secure systems that handle large datasets or real-time data for social or environmental impact.
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic application without mentioning Vizzuality's mission or how your skills relate to environmental/social impact tech.
  • Overemphasizing front-end or unrelated technologies without concrete examples of back-end and DevOps experience in NodeJS, TypeScript, or Python.
  • Failing to address remote work requirements—not demonstrating experience or strategies for effective collaboration across UK, Spain, or Portugal time zones.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Vizzuality!

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