Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Full Stack Software Engineer

at Octopus Energy

🏢 About Octopus Energy

Octopus Energy is a UK-based energy supplier that’s disrupting the traditional market with a focus on transparency, AI-driven efficiency, and 100% renewable electricity. Their unique tech-forward culture and commitment to a low-CO2 future make them an exciting place for engineers who want to use their skills for environmental impact.

About This Role

As a Senior Full Stack Software Engineer, you’ll work in a cross-functional team to build customer-facing and internal products, from APIs to frontend UIs. Your work directly contributes to automating energy processes and creating seamless user experiences, helping Octopus scale its green mission.

💡 A Day in the Life

You’ll start with a stand-up with your cross-functional team, then dive into coding—maybe building a new GraphQL endpoint for customer data or refining a React component. After lunch, you might pair with a product manager to refine a feature spec, then review pull requests before wrapping up with a retrospective on sprint progress.

🎯 Who Octopus Energy Is Looking For

  • Deep expertise in Python and React, with a portfolio showing production-level full-stack applications.
  • Strong GraphQL skills—you can design expressive APIs and integrate multiple data sources efficiently.
  • Experience with design systems and component libraries (e.g., Storybook, Material-UI) to maintain consistent UI/UX.
  • Proven ability to take ownership of features end-to-end, collaborate across disciplines, and champion code quality and maintainability.

📝 Tips for Applying to Octopus Energy

1

Highlight any experience with energy or sustainability projects—Octopus values mission alignment.

2

Showcase your GraphQL work: include a link to a public API or repo where you designed schema and resolvers.

3

Mention specific Python frameworks (e.g., Django, FastAPI) and React patterns (hooks, context) you’ve used in production.

4

Tailor your resume to emphasize cross-functional collaboration and feature ownership, not just technical skills.

5

Research Octopus’s tech stack and open-source contributions (e.g., Kraken, their platform) and mention how your skills fit.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

Emphasize your passion for renewable energy and transparency, your experience building scalable full-stack systems with Python and React, and your ability to own features from ideation to deployment. Also highlight your collaborative mindset and commitment to code quality.

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • Read Octopus Energy’s blog and engineering posts to understand their culture and tech challenges.
  • Explore their open-source projects on GitHub, especially Kraken and OctoPrint integrations.
  • Understand their product: smart meters, renewable tariffs, and how they use AI for customer service.
  • Check recent news about Octopus’s expansion or sustainability initiatives to show informed interest.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Design a GraphQL schema for a smart meter data system.
2 How would you optimize a React component that re-renders too often?
3 Describe a time you took ownership of a feature that required cross-team coordination.
4 How do you ensure code maintainability in a fast-paced startup environment?
5 What’s your experience with design systems and how do you contribute to them?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don’t submit a generic resume—Octopus looks for passion and specificity; tailor every bullet point.
  • Avoid overemphasizing legacy tech (e.g., jQuery) without showing modern stack proficiency (React, GraphQL).
  • Don’t neglect the mission: failing to mention interest in climate or energy could signal misfit.

📅 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 !