Job Description

Mission

Your mission as an Solution Engineer at Root is to technically deliver the solutions we design with our clients as projects. Your performance will be measured against the accuracy, scalability and robustness of your craft; clean code, solid tests, sound architecture and the technical judgement to make the right call when the solution design meets reality.

You will work closely with our Solutions team, as a technical specialist, providing technical input for the solutions they design with our clients. You are responsible for taking these solutions and building them for production: configuring Product Modules, integrating with client and third-party systems, developing middleware and writing the code that clients run their insurance businesses on.

You will collaborate closely with Solutions, Projects, and clients' technical teams to ensure that we deliver projects to specification, on-time and in-budget.

Outcomes

Root Product Modules are robust, fit for purpose, and maintainable

• Build client insurance products to the team's coding standards, well-tested and error-free.
• Focus on quality technical outputs that hold up in production.
• Guide external developers executing on Root's architectural solutions.
• Use AI-enabled tools and approaches to improve solution design, technical discovery, estimation, documentation, and customer engagement outcomes.

Integrations and middleware are built for speed-to-market and long-term reliability

• Execute systems integrations with client and third-party systems efficiently and reliably.
• Identify and build middleware solutions that strengthen Root's value offering and accelerate client go-lives.
• Apply sound technical judgement when design meets implementation reality - flag issues early, propose alternatives, and keep delivery moving.

Documentation, artifacts, and tooling are clear, current, and future-proof

• Document technical implementations precisely so future developers can pick up the work.
• Contribute to internal tooling that speeds up Root Builders across projects.
• Keep artifacts up to date as solutions evolve through the build.

Clients and internal teams have complete system understanding at launch

• Join client workshops during implementation to provide technical clarification and input where required.
• Collaborate with Projects and Solutions team members so everyone has a shared, accurate picture of what's being built.

Competencies

Technical depth

• Strong competency in JavaScript/TypeScript, Node.js, and Git.
• Strong understanding of APIs and software integration.
• Working knowledge of data modelling and database fundamentals (SQL, schema design).
• Advantageous competency in AWS tools: S3, Lambda, EC2, API Gateway, IAM, DynamoDB.
• Uses AI to improve speed and quality of technical solutioning
• Accelerates discovery, documentation, and estimation activities through AI-assisted workflows
• Applies sound engineering judgment when validating AI-generated recommendations
• Identifies opportunities for automation and operational efficiency

A snapshot of the tools Solution Engineers regularly use:

• JavaScript/TypeScript (encoding insurance business rules), Node.js (npm packages), JSON (configuring UI components), HTML & CSS (document templates), Postman or similar (API testing), Mocha and Chai (unit testing), AWS (S3, DynamoDB, Lambda), Git & GitHub (source control).

Rapid prototyping and testing

• Able to prototype, test, and validate a technical solution quickly.

Attention to detail

• High attention to detail in code, tests, and documentation - the things that keep a production system reliable.

Technical communication

• Able to clearly articulate complex problems and solutions to both technical and non-technical audiences. Comfortable in client workshops when pulled in for technical input.

Collaboration within a defined role

• Works well with the Solutions and Projects teams on project delivery.

Craft mindset

• Takes pride in the quality of the build itself. Invested in improving standards, tooling, and technical practice over time.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical or scientific field (Engineering, Computer Science) or similar.
• Demonstrable coding skills (Bachelor's degree in computer science, boot camp, or equivalent).
• 3+ years working as a developer.
• Nice to have: experience in the insurance industry; experience working with customers to capture and define requirements.

Root Values

Lead by example: "Lean in, take charge, and always set a positive precedent."

Exceed expectations: "Know your customer to delight your customer."

Rally as one team: "Put aside egos and personal agendas to triumph as one."

Own the mission: "Your job is not done until the job is done."

Rise to the challenge: "Meaningful change requires meaningful effort and the courage to make bold moves."

🚀 How we enable success

Our team is made up of smart, passionate, and kind individuals working together to build a world-class business. We take the time to develop personal relationships with each other. Over and above daily team lunches, we do frequent team outings and ad-hoc adventures.

We create and enable an environment for people to do their best work. To support this, we focus on a culture of autonomy, transparency and trust. As a steam, we care a lot about innovation, and believe in an iterative way of working to drive innovation forward. We encourage each other and foster a working culture of sharing early versions of our work and implementing feedback fast.

🤝 Why join us?

We have ambitious goals. Our mission is to transform insurance, globally, and we’re making solid progress in South Africa and the UK. Your contribution will directly and visibly impact Root’s continued success and expansion.

Our team is incredibly friendly and collaborative. If you care about solving challenging problems with smart people you enjoy being around, this is the place for you.

Please note… Open positions at Root are competitive and we often receive high volumes of applicants. If you have not received further updates on your application after three weeks, you’re welcome to request feedback.