Application Guide

How to Apply for Full Stack Software Engineer

at Octopus Energy

🏢 About Octopus Energy

Octopus Energy is revolutionising the energy sector by combining cutting-edge technology with a mission to drive down carbon emissions. Known for its transparent pricing, innovative use of AI, and commitment to renewable energy, it's a place where engineers can directly impact the fight against climate change while working on modern tech stacks.

About This Role

As a Full Stack Software Engineer, you'll join a cross-functional team building products that empower customers or streamline internal operations. Your work on frontend and backend systems will directly enhance user experience and ensure reliability at scale, contributing to Octopus's goal of making energy simpler, greener, and more affordable.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day might start with a stand-up to align with your cross-functional team, then you'll dive into coding a new feature using React and Python. You'll collaborate on API design, write tests, and review peers' PRs, with time for learning and contributing to team discussions on improving system performance.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Octopus Energy Is Looking For

  • Proficient in Python and React, with a strong portfolio of projects or contributions demonstrating your skills.
  • Experienced in designing and building RESTful or GraphQL APIs, with an understanding of best practices for security and performance.
  • A collaborative team player who thrives in agile environments, communicates clearly, and values code reviews and pair programming.
  • Passionate about clean, maintainable code and automated testing, ensuring high quality and reliability across the stack.

📝 Tips for Applying to Octopus Energy

1

Tailor your CV to highlight specific Python and React projects, especially those involving APIs or complex frontend-backend integration.

2

In your cover letter, mention Octopus Energy's mission and how your technical skills can help achieve their low CO2 goals.

3

Include links to your GitHub or portfolio with working examples of full-stack applications you've built or contributed to.

4

Demonstrate your understanding of testing by mentioning specific frameworks (e.g., pytest, Jest) and how you've used them in past projects.

5

Research Octopus's tech blog and open-source contributions to show you've engaged with their engineering culture.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience building scalable APIs and modern frontends with React.', "Your alignment with Octopus's mission to decarbonise energy and their use of AI and transparency.", 'Your ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams, with examples of successful delivery.', 'Your commitment to code quality through automated testing and clean coding practices.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read Octopus Energy's tech blog and understand their engineering principles and tech stack (e.g., Python, React, AWS).
  • → Familiarise yourself with their product offerings like Octopus Agile, Go, or their smart tariff algorithms.
  • → Look into their open-source contributions on GitHub and their involvement in the Kraken platform.
  • → Understand their company culture, including their approach to remote work, diversity, and sustainability.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Design a small full-stack feature (e.g., a customer dashboard) and discuss your approach to both frontend and backend.
2 How would you optimise an API endpoint for high traffic? Discuss caching, database indexing, or async processing.
3 Explain your experience with React state management and how you handle complex UI state.
4 Describe a time you resolved a conflict in a team or handled a difficult technical decision.
5 How do you ensure your code is maintainable and testable? Walk through your testing strategy.
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic application without mentioning Octopus Energy or their mission.
  • Ignoring the requirement for automated testing – failing to mention testing frameworks or practices.
  • Overemphasising backend or frontend only, without demonstrating full-stack capability.

📅 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 Octopus Energy !

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