European Software Developers
Monday, February 5th, 2007 at 7:44 AM by: babbagelindenHave you thought about working for Linden Lab, but didn’t want to move to the US? Have another look at our open positions - we’re now recruiting in Brighton, UK.
61 Responses to “European Software Developers”
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February 5th, 2007 at 7:49 AM
Ohh this is neat…I am Austrian, but live in the US now…I guess I will have to move…
February 5th, 2007 at 7:57 AM
Gah!!! The UK?? Why not the Netherlands!!! XD
But then again… I MIGHT consider moving to the UK ^^;
February 5th, 2007 at 8:37 AM
The requirements for the positions still state that you need to be authorized to work in the US…
February 5th, 2007 at 8:49 AM
… or at least they did until a Linden read my comment and changed it
February 5th, 2007 at 9:13 AM
gah the UK?
And Brighton?
This shows a complete lack of understanding of the landscape for resourcing good software and system professionals in Europe.
Netherlands or Belgium, near their international airports or international train terminals would have been far more appropriate and would have given a far better chance of getting experienced people who would be willing to relocate or weekly commute.
*shakes head in wonder at the management*
February 5th, 2007 at 9:23 AM
Fantastic Choice! The tech facilities there, brainpool and not to mention the nightlife there must have Sussex Univercity falling over themselves to get to you. May i suggest you contact the Sussex Univercity Students Union to place the add in their rag?
Sci
February 5th, 2007 at 9:25 AM
Why don’t you consider hiring independent US programmers? Now that you’ve realized you cannot meet your programming needs while requiring engineers to move to SF you have potential to fix the underlying structural flaws in the SL code.
The client program has such deep underlying structural flaws that it will require a complete rewrite (with close attention to design technique and a “hands off” approach from non-engineering management staff) to fix what is wrong.
You are currently the market leader because there are no other players. Your client consistently crashes on all three major platforms (Windows, Mac, and Linux), and with each old bug you fix new ones appear. This is symptomatic of structural bugs (the underlying foundation is not well thought out versus simple functional bugs such as putting a decimal point in the wrong place).
Are you going to address the organizational culture (this type of multiplatform structural instability seems to come about when an otherwise intelligent and experienced management team tries to “help” the engineering staff design the software and micromanages design decisions that should be left to engineers), or will you be remembered as the “proof of concept” that opened the market to another company?
Keep up the good work, but DO consider opening your development style to hiring strong, independent developers working outside your corporate culture.
February 5th, 2007 at 9:50 AM
Yeah, Brighton seems like an odd choice - I wouldn’t consider relocating there, I’d need to be near or in a major city.
February 5th, 2007 at 10:08 AM
MY dad was born there… and uh yeah thats’ it ..
Anyhow its a nice place got space unlike uh london etc
February 5th, 2007 at 10:18 AM
And how about us Canadians, eh??
I could recruit quite a few good people here…
February 5th, 2007 at 10:21 AM
Well, I’m not really a fan of London, but I would consider it - unlike Brighton.
February 5th, 2007 at 10:27 AM
London is a very expensive place to live however; you’d have to double the salary for it to be attractive… not quite the fit for early stage companies probably offering a lot of stock options instead of up-front cash.
(but yes I’d also consider London)
February 5th, 2007 at 10:44 AM
I still want to move to SF from the UK though, it has the Mythbusters!
February 5th, 2007 at 11:19 AM
Once again a Linden finds the time to moderate the blogs for irrelevant posts but doesn’t find the time to comment.
I’ll renew my request that comments be turned on for the TOS post.
I’d also appreciate a Linden explaining where we are supposed to ask questions abouot blog posts that have comments turned off?
February 5th, 2007 at 11:20 AM
Brighton’s what, a 30 minute drive to Gatwick, an international airport with lots of the US airlines flying mainly from there. Less high cost of living, cheaper business rates, lots of high quality graduates and a wicked nightlife…
Makes sense to me! Shame I’m not a software developer!
February 5th, 2007 at 11:38 AM
I kind of agree with SunDrop. I think London is definately the place to come to. I work here (though in Corporate Finance rather than software engineering) but have many friends who are Software Engineers. Then again, I completely understand why LL would choose Brighton. It’s near Gatwick, as you say, so the big “honchos” can easily fly over and check up on what what’s happening.
Now here’s they funny thing. In the job postings it ways under Qualifications: “Exceptional problem solving and communication skills”. That would fool anyone into thinking they do actually WANT to communicate. See Musicteacher’s post (#14). LOL
February 5th, 2007 at 12:07 PM
I was waiting for the answer to Musicteacher’s question, too.
coco
February 5th, 2007 at 12:08 PM
Does it Matter?
February 5th, 2007 at 12:36 PM
Nooooo! Why England? *weeps* So close, yet so far away!
Seriously, good luck to everyone applying for a job there and good luck to Linden Lab, having this new office increase the badly needed manpower
February 5th, 2007 at 12:42 PM
Brighton is an excellent choice. It has a thriving little development community, it’s very close to London with excellent train connections, the cost of living is considerably less than London, and the salary demands are lower. Half the programmers in the City are living south (way, way saouth) of the river due to housing costs issues, and if you have to commute, this reverse commute is 1000x better than shlepping into the city.
Well done, LL.
February 5th, 2007 at 1:13 PM
Yeah, but I’m not going to live in London and commute to Brighton, lol - the distance argument works better the other way around
February 5th, 2007 at 1:24 PM
I apologize for posting this here, but I can’t seem to find any entries appropriate to it. The grid status page has been giving the message below off and on for a few days… but there is no further information or details on this blog. Is this something we should worry about? Should we not be adding or modifying inventory while this is happening? What, exactly, is going on please?
Second Life Offline for Database Maintenance or Update
In our continuing effort to improve your Second Life experience, we have taken Second Life temporarily offline for maintenance. This may also effect portions of our website. We are working to re-open our doors as quickly as possible and we appreciate your continued patience. For more details and further information on our system status, please visit our official blog at: blog.secondlife.com.
February 5th, 2007 at 2:14 PM
Brighton is a rather fabulous city actually,with loads going for it.There are thriving internet and software development companies here.Its a great place to live,london is 40 minutes away by train and Gatwick Airport 20.
The nightlife is kicking and you dont get sand in your bits when you sunbathe on the beach!
Welcome to Englands newest City Linden Labs…im crap with computers but if you need a night out call me
February 5th, 2007 at 3:04 PM
Those who think Brighton is not expensive because it’s not London, should be made aware of it’s nickname (one of them) - London-by-the-Sea. It is expensive to live there.
It’s also the gay capital of England. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
February 5th, 2007 at 3:24 PM
Brighton..? oh man.. bad choice… under-developed in everyway.. over-priced too! yup hence its nick-name… - Manchester… now that would of been an awsome choice… - big city, a ton of upgrading going on, a new world super casino coming, a ton of potential - and a huge international airport just to finish it off!
shame….
February 5th, 2007 at 3:31 PM
Speaking of European … and lacking a better place to ask … what is this I hear about an embassy in SL from one of the EU nations?
February 5th, 2007 at 3:39 PM
As a CS Undergrad living just north-east of London, I’ll be more than just interested in looking at employment at said office within the next four years. America’s a bit long-range to move to, regardless of how footloose I am. I really should take a glance at the open-source client, too…
February 5th, 2007 at 4:08 PM
*SIGH* It’s a shame that a leader in the Virtual Worlds realm, still insists on people moving to some office or other. Many people, even those of us in the United States, have no desire to move to California…or any other foreign country. :-p
February 5th, 2007 at 4:16 PM
I’m very familiar with Brighton, being from Sussex myself. It is about 40 mins from London by direct train line which goes right in the heart of the city, and about the same time by road from Gatwick (one of the UK’s major airports).
House prices in London itself are currently ludicrous. Brighton may be expensive but at least you don’t have pay an employee £200,000 per year just to cover their mortgage like you do in London.
February 5th, 2007 at 4:18 PM
PS Well done Linden Lab for realising that there IS a world outside the USA. And I bet Philip & Co can even point to the UK on a map. But TPing there is still unlikely.
February 5th, 2007 at 4:47 PM
Brighton? strange choice but hey thats cool. isnt Linden based in San Fransisco? i dunno? anyway
u guys need any artists? im like, in the north UK but, thats like a stones throw compared to U.S. distances.
i think it funny that people are moaning here that it isnt somewhere else…like that really matters..u probably want people who are passionate to up sticks n move to YOU anyway..
hmm. brighton…hmmm
February 5th, 2007 at 5:07 PM
Sounds good. Will existing applications be reconsidered for new locations, or should we resubmit?
(SUBMIT! SUBMIT! Muahahahaa)
I’d happily take any of the existing locations, SF especially. But that requires a Linden fluttering down with angelic wings from ‘pon high to enunciate the magic words that would lead me into the hallowed kingdom.
February 5th, 2007 at 5:32 PM
Well… it’s great for the english! Have you consider the portuguese market?
February 5th, 2007 at 7:48 PM
What about the US east coast? RTP, NC and/or MA?
What about telecommuters?
February 5th, 2007 at 10:34 PM
Why is linden labs still living in the dark ages, for a virtual online world like SL, why post positions with a location.
I have worked for companies in the past who do the work from home, think on it lindens, I have all the resources and comforts I wish at home, I could code/project lead, manage all from a home terminal.
All these people from all around the world you could hire in there own country in there own town and house.
Personally, I wouldn’t work for lindens, i’ve seen to many bad decisions, bad managerial decisions to ever have confidence in actually still being in game in less than a year let alone working for you guys.
Which is a pitty because someone like my wife who has a 146 iq and me with a tested 172 iq is just the kind of people you need to sort out your problems.
But sadly as sl gets worse each week seemingly, we now only come on SL about 1 hour a day (against about 12 hours a day when we started) when on a sunday its gotten to the stage I can’t even teleport to a friend and we go to yahoo to chat instead its just wrong.
About 16-28 months ago I would have upped and gone to brighton from where we live in the midlands on my knees begging to join :), now its just gone, too many bad decisions, bad changes and badly tested patches.
February 6th, 2007 at 12:54 AM
Will you be allowing people to telecommute 100% of the time ? With an environment like SL I think you’d be missing a trick if you didn’t.
sparti
February 6th, 2007 at 1:06 AM
G’day Babbage
Ooohh I so wish you would open something to do with Business Deveopment or Marketing or Advertising or promotion in Australia.
We are a CASHED up country just loving your product. We are early adopters of technology and we are not affraid of the “no’s”.
*sigh* Pipe dream.
Cheers
Alex Warrior
RL BDM for an Advertising Agency
Brisbane, Australia
February 6th, 2007 at 1:26 AM
So what, do we finally get european friendlier “update” times now?
February 6th, 2007 at 1:45 AM
Open an Office in Berlin, Germany and im with you :o)
February 6th, 2007 at 3:28 AM
Brighton is okay for a UK location, easy to get to, straight down the M23 from Gatwick, as I recall Preston Park area could be a good location in town as it is just off the A23, and of course in terms of US visitors it is a swift train or car ride away.
I have mulled over working part time for Linden, to be honest all the time my main business continues I don’t really need the money they would pay, but it would be interesting to see how a virtual world works from the inside.
However even from the outside I do share some reservations about management decisions, in particular one aspect that does concern me is the place leaks like a sieve as far as confidential information that is price sensitive is concerned. For example some major avatars knew about the recent price increase on private island estates before Linden implemented it, which delivered a big short-term advantage.
I don’t blame the avatars for taking advantage of it as unlike dealing on the stock market, it is not (as far as I am aware) illegal.
But these things do leave a nasty taste in the mouth, and you have to question the decision making process that led to that debacle
Regards
John
February 6th, 2007 at 4:01 AM
Software developers? you need ‘em!
February 6th, 2007 at 4:11 AM
Sorry to add to this but here is one link that might give people from the outside a glimpse into Linden Labs
http://www.inc.com/magazine/20070201/hidi-rosedale_pagen_2.html
So okay a few questions……I would be quite pleased if a Linden answered them -
1) Did the 11 people who got laid off receive an offer of re-employment when Second Life started to take off
2) Do you have some type of security regarding confidential information with regard to emailing everyone what you are up too, ditto the Love Machine
3) Do you have some control to insure the work you elect to do is cost effective (if resolved) for Linden Labs
4) Setting your own direction is fine….but are you rewarded for success or failure, and if so how is this defined.
5) Budgets and travel - Wow. All I can say on that one is if I travel I don’t like economy class on aircraft
6) I agree on the thoughts in the last paragraph (An enormous amount of intellectual energy etc) but…..see question 2.
Finally as a matter of interest Bill Gates said once he always had a place for a good salesman who could understand how to market an intangible…..thats why I know I could possibly perform well in at least 2 jobs mentioned
February 6th, 2007 at 5:14 AM
Why just England, I would think there are more developers in India and at a far cheaper cost… just a thought.
February 6th, 2007 at 5:28 AM
By the way I don’t live in either place.
February 6th, 2007 at 7:10 AM
…learns C++ and C#
But seriously, I’m going to be going to Full Sail for Game Development and Entertainment Business for the next year or so, but when I’m done I’ll be sure to toss you folks a resume
February 6th, 2007 at 9:57 AM
lets face it, no one center is best for everyone.
The Lindens are not asking you to work in Brighton, although as it has been condemned since the Late King died in 52. They are simply holding their recruitment drive there.
If anyone reading this is a serious enough to want to work for the Lindens, is young enough to travel and is wise enough to understand the dollar chasing butt thungry All American philosphy, they will move to the USA anyway.
I have pledged alleagiance to Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republick for which it stands, and I know it is one nation!, a great nation, but not the best place in the world for everyone, and certainly, california is a disaster waiting to happen. I would be happy working for anyone from Home, safe, simple and well conencted.
River
February 6th, 2007 at 11:15 AM
@ Stephen Zenith - Actually, Brighton has city status, and is a pretty cool place with lots of nightlife, and 50 minutes by train from London. But I live in France now, a much more civilised place lol
And of course, they’d locate in England because they don’t know the rest of the world exists, their languages, culture, time zones or seasons….
February 6th, 2007 at 11:25 AM
But of course in other ways the UK is a stupid choice - hideously overpriced, full of self centred greedy people whose only conversation is how much their house is worth on paper, and Europhobic to a man….
February 6th, 2007 at 12:02 PM
Hmm I suspect that a lot of the reason for choosing UK is if you run an English speaking company you would prefer your offshore offices to use English as their native Language. Imagine staff with trying to solve a problem together, but neither group spoke the others language fluently. Most companies have enough communication problems between staff as it is.
Just waiting for the Australian office next for same reasons
Maybe this is just the start of expansion into Europe too, it may just be the head office of Europe.
February 6th, 2007 at 12:23 PM
>__> New York would be wonderful.
But I could see alot of potential in Japan and India as well.
But I’m serious about the New York thing. If you set up a small office in Queens or (easternlongisnlandplx) in a small area of the city, it would probably get some attention.
Or bullets.
February 7th, 2007 at 1:29 AM
Well those of us who live not far from Brighton think it’s a great idea! Freewheeling, lively, morally dubious, just like San Francisco but with a pier instead of a bridge.
Euro Head Office? Nice idea, though I hardly think the advert for one job counts as a signal of some major infrastructural intent. And, I know for a fact that local government offices in the area are looking at SL as a place to hold virtual council meetings. How cool, and weird, is that?
As for Europhobia, that’s obvious rubbish. We’ve been happily invading each other for thousands of years. Such fun!
February 7th, 2007 at 4:56 AM
Why are people possibly complaining about this? If you were that serious about working for LL you’d move anyway. I think some people are just getting rather self-centred, in a “I want LL here, I don’t care how many other people don’t” kind of way. England is probably the next best location after the US. After all, the populations speak the same language (also a reason why Australia would be better than, say, China or Japan) allowing the language barrier to be overcome with little to no effort. Those who want to work would need to know English anyway, so it figures to have it in a country where very few people don’t.
England is still a viable hub for European Linden development, especially due to the large amount of flights headed to the continent from Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester. Employees are far more likely to work for a company that uses their primary language, so having an English-speaking company in, say, Belgium is not such a great idea. Sure, Germany would be a viable place (lots of English speakers, massively dedicated fan-base, good record of employees in this area) but it just would not get as many applications as if LL were here, in England.
One last thing, I am rather suprised that Brighton was the chosen location. After all, there are plenty of cheaper locations with better resources (albeit without the good distances from major airports). Why not try Stoke-on-Trent, Hull or Reading? Plenty of Universities with outstanding courses in this kind of thing too…
February 8th, 2007 at 10:03 AM
Brighton? Oh noes. London would be better! No Manchester! No Brussels! Hang on, what about India! Or Stoke-on-Trent! ROFL. Did that really just happen?
February 10th, 2007 at 1:37 AM
Funny to realize that geographical location for a development team, can be an issue, specially for people developing the bases of a virtual world :>
As if we would not have, since years, all the tools in hands, to do it any time, from anywhere, by quite any who and more important, cheaper for the employers and in a more respectful way for our good old real earh.
I feel sorry in advance for the poor developers, spending two hours a day in traffic jams and sharing the same pot of coffee, which by experience is always too strong for some and too ligt for others
March 8th, 2007 at 1:43 AM
As one of the UK’s foremost internet marketers - just opened our first office in SL - and a resident of Shoreham Beach (surfing centre of the South Coast), I warmly welcome Linden Labs to Brighton. In fact I nearly fell off my chair with excitement when I read it on a Google alert! You lot have no idea - Brighton is fun, funky, cutting edge, human sized and I pop up and down to London all the time! If you fancy IM’ing me in SL, I would be delighted to welcome you to the South Coast (RL) Cheers, Nicola (aka Hermione Watanabe)
March 16th, 2007 at 3:37 AM
Developer no … partner I am already nagging to get his resume together. SOOOOOO … any likely Customer Service Departments? I could handle living in Brighton
March 16th, 2007 at 3:38 AM
Montana, maybe the women aren’t Europhobic in the UK then cos I sure am not
May 9th, 2007 at 12:19 PM
WOOO WOOO …. im in IT …. in Brighton .. and have my degree in real time systems (c++ and java) but I proberly wont even apply *lol*
Brighton is a FANTASTIC city and is renowned for being pretty cool place to live. a lot of entertainments finest now live here because of the ethos and atmoshpere. Yes there are plent of GOOD uk cities and plenty around the world but …….
We got 2 Universities a couple of technical colleges a LARGE youth culture and yes its pretty close to london.
August 13th, 2007 at 5:15 AM
Very helpful for Londoners. http://www.poopka.co.uk
August 13th, 2007 at 5:15 AM
Very helpful for Londoners. http://www.poopka.co.uk Very helpful for Londoners. http://www.poopka.co.uk
February 26th, 2008 at 7:12 AM
Brighton is just an hour from central London and 30 minutes from London Gatwick Airport. Brighton is probably the perfect choice for any hightech company like second life (AMEX UK headquarters are there too). Although, with the tax breaks in Dublin, I’m suprised they did not move there.