Frontend Software Engineer (placement)

Location: Remote-first with offices in Milton Park, Abingdon. Initial onboarding will include some on-site time to collaborate with the team, then flexible arrangements based on your preferences and business need.

Salary: Circa £25,000 (based on 12-month contract)

We're seeking a Frontend Software Engineering student for a 3, 6 or 12-month placement (flexible start). This is a paid opportunity where you'll be a full member of our engineering team, gaining hands-on experience in a fast-growing startup on the bleeding edge of agtech.

Unlike typical corporate placements, you'll have real responsibility for features that ship to customers worldwide. This is an ideal opportunity for students who want to make a tangible impact whilst practicing product design in a fast-paced startup environment.

You'll be a full member of our product team, gaining hands-on experience in a fast-growing startup on the bleeding edge of agtech.

What we're looking for

Imagine if plants could tell growers exactly what they need to thrive. That's what Gardin enables - but all that data is only valuable if it reaches growers through fast, reliable, and intuitive interfaces. We need an engineer-in-training who's excited to build the frontend that brings this plant intelligence to life. Someone who cares about code quality, user experience, and making complex plant science data feel responsive and meaningful. If you want to help us make plant-driven growing not just possible but delightful, you're exactly who we're looking for.

More specifically, we're after someone who:

• Is currently studying Computer Science, Software Engineering, Web Development or a related field
• Has experience with React or similar modern frontend frameworks
• Understands responsive design and has built interfaces for different screen sizes
• Can write clean, readable code and is eager to learn best practices
• Has written tests for their code - (unit tests at a minimum, experience with Cypress or similar frameworks is ideal)
• Can explain technical concepts clearly and work effectively in a team
• Has used Git for version control
• Is eligible to work in the UK

Bonus points if you have:

• Built web experiences with React/Next.js - Personal projects, hackathon entries, or coursework using modern frameworks
• Created data visualizations - Charts, graphs, or dashboards using libraries like Recharts, D3.js or even just Canvas API
• Worked with APIs - Fetched data from or sent data to APIs (REST, GraphQL, or WebSocket)
• Accessibility awareness - Understanding of semantic HTML, ARIA labels, and/or the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
• Side projects or contributions - GitHub profile with personal projects, contributions to open source, or participated in hackathons
• Interest in our space - Projects related to sustainability, data visualization, or IoT/sensor applications

What you will be achieving with us

As part of our product team, you'll take on meaningful design work that directly impacts how growers around the world interact with their crops:

• Build user interfaces for new product features using React and Next.js
• Transform wireframes and design mockups into responsive, accessible web applications
• Write clean, maintainable code following team conventions and best practices
• Participate in code reviews and learn from senior engineers' feedback
• Help optimise application performance and loading times
• Contribute to our component library and design system implementation
• Write tests to ensure code quality and prevent regressions
• Collaborate with designers and backend engineers to deliver complete features
• Document your code and contribute to team knowledge sharing

What we can offer you

Your placement year is a chance to test yourself in the real world while still having the safety net of being a student. At Gardin, we take that responsibility seriously. We'll challenge you with real work, support you when you struggle, and celebrate your successes. Alongside these, we'll also provide:

• Structured mentorship - Pair programming, code reviews, and regular 1:1s with senior engineers
• Real project ownership - Production code that impacts real users worldwide
• Modern tech stack - Work with Next.js, AWS, GraphQL and other leading technologies
• Competitive package - Fair salary, flexible working, and all tools provided
• University alignment - Full support for academic requirements and supervisor reports (where necessary)
• Career development - Professional growth, industry exposure, and solid references for your next steps
• Startup experience - See how engineering works in a fast-paced, high-impact environment

How to apply

Please submit:

• CV - Including expected graduation date, relevant modules, and any technical experience
• Portfolio/GitHub - Links to any code you've written (university projects are fine)
• Cover letter - Why Gardin? What do you hope to learn? (max 300 words)

Gardin is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on any grounds. We empower, engage, enable and value differences between people, including; different races, ethnicities, genders, ages, religions, disabilities, sexual orientations and sex, with differences in education, backgrounds, skill sets, experiences and knowledge.

"Before, I mainly focused on the climate conditions in the greenhouse with Gardin I can measure the effect of the climate conditions based on the plants themselves. The sensor data contributes to a homogeneous production of high quality and to cost control. On balance, I estimate that the result per square meter is at least 5% higher."

"We pay closer attention to the shading strategy now we work with Gardin, and take better steps to plan for periods of high light, like we have seen this year. Gardin has helped us to think more about the long-term effects of our crop strategy on plant health rather than choosing short term gains."

Rob Van Enckevort, Owner and Grower
De Peelkroon

"For the first time, Gardin's advanced sensors have enabled us to remotely explore plant activity in an industrial setting. This breakthrough has been a significant milestone in our quest to perfect recipe development and crucial for creating the optimal plant environment."

"Gardin sensors added value in seeing a response before we saw the crop deteriorating. I could definitely see the sensors being used to enhance quality and yield in lit crops, particularly as a way to increase their light use efficiency."

"Before, I mainly focused on the climate conditions in the greenhouse with Gardin I can measure the effect of the climate conditions based on the plants themselves. The sensor data contributes to a homogeneous production of high quality and to cost control. On balance, I estimate that the result per square meter is at least 5% higher."

"We pay closer attention to the shading strategy now we work with Gardin, and take better steps to plan for periods of high light, like we have seen this year. Gardin has helped us to think more about the long-term effects of our crop strategy on plant health rather than choosing short term gains."

Rob Van Enckevort, Owner and Grower
De Peelkroon