Junior Software Engineer

Organisation: parkrun Global Limited
Salary: Depending on location and experience
Location: This role can be based at either our London or Leeds office
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 28 April 2026
Job Description: About parkrun

parkrun is a health and wellbeing charity and our vision is to create a healthier and happier planet.

Since our conception in 2004, parkrun has evolved into a global social movement with a vibrant and inclusive community at its core. As of 2025, we have recorded over 120-million instances of walking, jogging, running, and volunteering.

Our mission is to transform lives by empowering people to be active, together, outdoors in their local community; and to protect parkrun for the generations to come. Each and every weekend, we deliver free, weekly timed events that people of all ages and backgrounds can join in. By tackling barriers to participation, we encourage communities to come together and embrace regular physical activity.

Now in its 21st year, parkrun spans over 2,600 locations in 21 countries with more than 10 million people registered, and counting.

And we have really only just begun.

Brief role description:

At parkrun, we’re working to transform our tech stack to make it fit for the future. The Junior Software Engineer will be a key team member, supporting this transformation.
The Junior Software Engineer will work on a wide range of systems and technologies, including C#, PHP, JavaScript, AWS, Azure. Working independently and collaboratively, you will help to build and maintain our websites, apps and backend systems.
No two days will be the same as you find ways to balance technical best practice against the requirements of the wider business as it grows.
The Junior Software Engineer must be proactive and have a willingness to learn, rather than having deep technical knowledge.
Please note this role will require regular travel between our London and Leeds office.

Main responsibilities:

Supporting the implementation of accessible and responsive websites and apps, supporting parkrun’s mission to make a healthier, happier planet.
Proactively contributing to the development and maintenance of new and existing systems.
Maintaining accurate documentation.
Diagnosing and fixing issues within parkrun’s technical ecosystem.
Participating in the out-of-hours support rota.
Commitment to personal and professional development, keeping up-to-date with new technology trends and tools.

Essential experience requirements:

Degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience
Basic knowledge of a programming language (e.g. Python, PHP, JavaScript/TypeScript, C#) and databases (SQL or NoSQL)
Understanding of:
how REST APIs work
using automated software testing such as unit and integration tests
version control systems (e.g Git)
Awareness of:
frontend/backend decoupling and design patterns such as MVC
web accessibility requirements
computer security fundamentals and best practices

Desirable experience requirements:

Basic understanding of mobile application or web development
Awareness of accessible and responsive web pages
Team collaboration and ability to work independently
Usage of a cloud platform such as AWS or Azure
Awareness of best software development practices and methodologies such as Agile and Scrum

Most relevant skills:

Attention to Detail: Able to process detailed information effectively and consistently.
Problem Solving: Able to detect problems, recognise important information and link various data; to trace potential causes and look for relevant details.
Adaptability: Able to easily adjust to changing circumstances and learn new systems independently and quickly .
Communication: Able to convey and share ideas clearly, concisely and accurately, both verbally and in writing.
Initiative: Able to recognise and create opportunities and to act accordingly, with a desire to improve and learn new skills.
Teamwork: Able to work well with others in multiple situations to achieve a shared goal.
Organisation: Able to determine goals and priorities and to accurately assess the actions, time and resources needed to achieve those goals.
Proficient in use of a variety of IT tools, such as Google Workspace, and the ability to learn new systems independently and quickly.
Technically curious and a problem solving mindset

Our values:

Family
We act with humility and always put the family first.
We’re humble. We know a lot but not everything. We take responsibility, acknowledge personal errors, and are open to learning, developing and improving. There’s no room for ego and no one is bigger than the family. We lead by example, and we share in our successes.

Bravery
We are brave, bold, and creative.
We’re ambitious and dynamic. We dream big, make bold decisions, challenge the status quo and get things done. We’re not afraid to question, innovate and be different.

Fairness
We act with kindness, compassion, and fairness.
We’re kind, caring, compassionate and empathetic. We assume others mean well. We’re aware of our actions and how what we do impacts others. We apply our founding principles of equality and inclusivity to every situation and opportunity.

Authenticity
We are honest, authentic, and accountable.
Trustworthiness, honesty and integrity are foundational to our family. We’re honest about what we know and what we don’t know. We hold each other to account. We communicate with transparency and empathy, acknowledging that communication influences behaviours, emotions and feelings, and underpins effective collaboration.

Recognition
We recognise and respect each other.
We see and hear each other. We respect ourselves and others, support and help one another, listen attentively, and celebrate the uniqueness, strengths and diversity of our family

General information:

The post holder will be required to comply with all policies and procedures issued by parkrun Ltd.

This job description is not exhaustive and serves only to highlight the main requirements of the post holder. The organisation may stipulate other reasonable requirements. The job description will be reviewed and may be subject to change.

parkrun is an inclusive employer and we are committed to diversifying our staff and therefore we welcome applications from all backgrounds.

At parkrun, we strive to make every voice heard and valued, and we are dedicated to breaking down barriers to inclusion in all aspects of our workplace. For more on our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, please see our Global DEI Statement.
How to apply: To apply, please visit: https://forms.gle/928UztUAZndn7TrN9