Application Guide
How to Apply for Senior Software Engineer (Hub-Remote: DC or Philly Metro)
at Element84
🏢 About Element84
Element84 is a woman-owned small business that focuses on building geospatial data processing platforms and scientific software, often for government clients like NASA. They emphasize a collaborative, remote-first culture with a strong commitment to open source and mission-driven work.
About This Role
As a Senior Software Engineer, you'll own the delivery of medium-to-large features for geospatial or scientific software systems, working across the full lifecycle from design to operations. Your work directly impacts how large-scale data is processed and made accessible, with a focus on scalability and reliability.
💡 A Day in the Life
You might start with a stand-up to sync with your team, then dive into coding a new feature for a data processing pipeline. After lunch, you could review a colleague's pull request, attend a design discussion for an upcoming feature, and wrap up by investigating a production issue.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Element84 Is Looking For
- Has 5+ years of backend engineering experience with a focus on building scalable, secure, and well-architected systems.
- Is proficient with AWS (or Azure/GCP) and can design cloud-native solutions, including serverless, containers, and databases.
- Thrives in collaborative environments, actively participates in code reviews, and communicates clearly with cross-functional teams.
- Is comfortable owning features end-to-end, from estimation to deployment and operational support, with a proactive debugging mindset.
📝 Tips for Applying to Element84
Tailor your resume to highlight backend system design and cloud architecture experience, especially with AWS (e.g., Lambda, S3, ECS).
In your cover letter, mention any experience with geospatial data, scientific computing, or open-source projects—Element84 values mission alignment.
Showcase examples of how you've improved code quality through reviews, testing, or refactoring—emphasize collaboration.
If you've worked on distributed systems or data pipelines, describe your role in ensuring scalability and reliability.
Research Element84's projects (e.g., STAC, NASA Earthdata) and mention how your skills apply to their work.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Emphasize your experience with AWS and building scalable backend systems that handle large datasets.', 'Highlight your ability to own features from start to finish, including estimation, implementation, and operational support.', 'Demonstrate your collaborative spirit through examples of code reviews and cross-team communication.', 'Express enthusiasm for mission-driven work, especially in geospatial or scientific domains.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Familiarize yourself with Element84's open-source contributions, especially the SpatioTemporal Asset Catalog (STAC) specification.
- → Read about their work with NASA, such as the Earthdata platform or the Harmony API.
- → Understand their company values: mission-driven, remote-first, and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- → Check their blog or case studies to see how they solve real-world geospatial data challenges.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't submit a generic resume—failing to highlight backend/cloud experience will make you blend in.
- Avoid being vague about your role in past projects; be specific about your contributions to scalability and architecture.
- Don't neglect to mention collaboration: this role requires active participation in code reviews and team discussions.
📅 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:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!