CPython Developer in Residence

The Python Steering Council and the Python Software Foundation are looking to hire the next Developer-in-Residence! This position is full-time, remote, and open to applicants outside and inside the US, see “Details” below.

Background

CPython, the reference implementation of Python, is developed and primarily maintained by volunteers. The Developer-in-Residence program builds on this by providing support for the volunteers, taking on projects that require sustained, long-term attention, and filling gaps in the volunteer coverage.

The Developer-in-Residence works to assist CPython maintainers and the Steering Council. Areas of responsibility for this position include: 

• Overseeing the long-term health of the project 
• Supporting the project's volunteers
• Investigating project priorities and their tasks going forward, and working on those priorities 
• Communicating with sponsors and the community
• Securing funding for the Developer-in-Residence roles (in co-operation with PSF staff)
• Managing the Deputy and Supporting Developers-in-Residence roles.

As an externally funded role, the term for this position will initially be one year with the possibility of extension based on renewed availability of funding.

Job Description

This Developer-in-Residence role is largely self-directing, with continuing coordination with PSF staff and the Steering Council as well as the other Developers-in-Residence. The responsibilities and tasks include:

• Help maintain, improve and stabilize the CPython code base, libraries and test suite, as well as the Pull Request and Issues queues.
• Help maintain and improve the project's continuous integration infrastructure and buildbot fleet.
• Co-ordinate and manage the team of Developers-in-Residence.
• Manage larger project efforts that require co-ordination between volunteers (e.g. the GitHub Issues migration).
• Administer and moderate Core Team communication channels (discuss.python.org, Discord, the GitHub org)
• Support the Python Security Response Team and the Release Managers in their respective duties.
• In general, support the Core Team and other volunteers contributing to CPython.
• Author your own bugfixes and features in CPython and related projects.
• Attend Steering Council meetings on a regular cadence (currently every two weeks), and regularly communicate with the PSF staff.
• Advocate for the CPython project and its developers to potential sponsors.
• Represent the CPython project in regional Python conferences and events.
• Support mentorship and outreach, in order to broaden the CPython Core Team.
• Provide transparency by proposing and fulfilling a public record as agreed to by the Steering Council and PSF Staff
• Publish regular updates in the form of blog posts on the PSF's blog throughout the year informing the community on progress.

Required and preferred skills

Required skills and experience:

• Strong project management skills.
• Must be well-organized and detail-oriented.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Experience contributing to the CPython project.
• Experience working with a mix of stakeholders, i.e., volunteers, staff, and sponsors.
• Ability to balance demands and priorities, and to work independently in a fully remote environment.

Preferred experience:

• Experience as a maintainer of open source software projects
• Experience mentoring and supporting new contributors.
• Experience managing or leading a team of developers.

Existing CPython Core team members are strongly preferred. Willingness to travel to PyCon US or other international events is a plus.

Details

Location: Remote. Candidates not residing in the US will be considered under a contractor arrangement, conditional on legal and regulatory eligibility. Regular collaboration with US timezones required.

Compensation: $70K–170K for US employees or a comparable contractor rate for international candidates, based on qualifications, experience and location. US employees are eligible for healthcare and other benefits; contractor engagements do not include benefits.

This position will report to the PSF Executive Director and collaborate with the Steering Council. Some recurring availability within the US Eastern time zone will be necessary for check-ins and reporting.

Apply

Applications will be open until DATE. 

Next steps: Please apply directly through this JazzHR page. We are asking for responses to a few short questions rather than a cover letter for this position; all questions are required. We are also requesting your resume as well as your GitHub username and links to your CPython contributions: see the questions for more details.

Please note: No AI for screening questions. While we support thoughtful use of AI tools in our work, for the purposes of getting to know you, we kindly request that you refrain from using AI in your responses to these screening questions. We’d like to hear directly from you, in your own words. Thank you!

About the hiring process: You will receive an automated email on submission. We will then follow up by email with candidates who we would like to invite to move forward in the process, and we will also notify candidates who we will not be moving forward with. After submitting your application, the next step in the process will be a short video call screening interview, and then full interviews with the hiring manager and additional team members as well as reference checks - getting the right fit for the PSF and for you is very important to us!