Job opening - Web Application Developer at Jellyvision Lab (Chicago, IL)

THE JELLYVISION LAB NEEDS A ROCK STAR APPLICATION DEVELOPER
 
Best known as the creator of the hit YOU DON’T KNOW JACK game series, The Jellyvision Lab has expanded our roster of engaging personalities beyond virtual game show hosts to virtual teachers, insurance agents, salespeople, advisors… you name it. We're a digital marketing agency that has pioneered a new approach to interactivity called Interactive Conversation that allows machines to communicate more like people. Not in that AI robot sort of way, but in a radio/television, written-by-writers, performed-by-actors sort of way.
 
The Jellyvision Lab is a small (60 people or so), creative, focused, and driven company, with a strong vision for bringing interactive communication to the web for Fortune 500 partners.  Check out our website at www.jellyvisionlab.com for more info, and be sure to look at samples of our past work at www.jellyvisionlab.com! /examples.php
 
THAT’S LOVELY.  BUT WHAT’S THE JOB?
 
Right, right.  We are looking for a generalist with strong skills in data-driven application development to join our development team. This engineer will help us improve a suite of in-house tools as well as a set of externally facing web pages. A keen eye for UI design is important, as well as the chops to implement it (and similarly, you should be able to implement a UI design created by peers).  A strong understanding of data modeling, OO design principles and experience with the integration of disparate systems is desired. The existing code base is built upon the specific technologies listed below. While experience with all of them is a plus, a demonstrated commitment to disciplined software development practices and a history of successful efforts using similar technologies (if not the same exact ones) is what we're really after.
&nbs! p;
 
Musts for the position:!

• MySQL (or similar relational database) with ability to understand and construct multi-table joins on a schema with about 75 tables.


• AS3 with an emphasis on OO programming principles.


• Adobe Flex SDK (bonus: the FlexBuilder/FlashBuilder IDE).


• XML as implemented in Flash.


• PHP5, also with an eye toward the OO features of the language.


• XML as implemented in PHP - both the DOM and SimpleXML libraries.


• HTML, CSS, & Javascript 

You should also:

• Write clear, easy to understand code; and write clear, easy to understand documentation as well


• Be able to read through and understand existing code


• Have experience incorporating 3rd party libraries into code


• Have experience with media production - working with media, audio files, graphics, animations, and all the tools re! quired to make them – Illustrator, recording software, etc.

And in terms of characteristics, you should be….

• Innovative – comfortable venturing unguided into unknown territory.  Most of our development is centered on our proprietary authoring environment, which will require some fast ramp up.


• Resourceful – Things go wrong, and current technology has its limitations. But you should be looking forward to anticipate areas of concern or risk for our projects.  When unanticipated issues come up at exactly the wrong time (as they tend to do), you should be world-class at quickly and constructively working with our other programmers and/or independently to find solutions or workarounds.


• Team-Oriented, as you’ll be working closely with our talented group of directors, writers, media producers, and pro! ject managers.


• A strong communicator, bo! th verbal and written


• A rock star organizer, who pays serious attention to detail


• Motivated & Enthusiastic


• Fast & Efficient


• Last but not least, funny.  Or at least in possession of a great sense of humor.  Interesting taste in music and/or deep knowledge of useless pop culture trivia is a non-job-related plus.

Anything else?
 
Yes.  We only hire nice, bright, funny people who are willing to work hard.  Jellyvision is a group effort and you must be capable of working collaboratively with creative, technical, and external client types.  Everyone at Jellyvision shares a commitment to excellence and a desire to work in a comfortable, friendly atmosphere.  And if you’ve got any voice talent experience, that might come in ha! ndy down the road. 
 
Are there any perks? Yes, we love perks.

• Competitive pay and a flexible schedule.


• Fully loaded benefits plan.  401K with matching and fully covered medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance.


• Casual dress. Come in a sweatshirt, jeans, whatever, like everyone else here.


• Creative work environment. We are lucky to work in a place that is full of intelligent, talented and innovative folks. Although most hours the place is deathly quiet (we're a focused bunch), this is punctuated with hilarious outbursts and general merriment, which makes a nice way to spend the day.


• Free food. Every week, we stock our kitchen with free healthy foods - sandwich, cereal and snack type things - that's fair game to all employees while it las! ts.


• Easy transportation. We’r! e really close to the 'L' and the Halsted (#8) bus, right by the new Apple Store and Mega Whole Foods if that’s your kind of thing.


• Did we mention our yoga class?  We bring a pro instructor right to the office.  Fully subsidized by Jellyvision and fully optional, btw. 


• Oh! And you should know that we have a massage chair. And not just any massage chair, my friend.  It’s the HumanTouch HT 5320 WholeBody™ Massage Chair. Feeling a little stiff? Sit down. Relax. Feel better? Good. Okay, back to work.

INTERESTED? Great, we look forward to reading your application - make sure it includes:

• A cover letter that highlights three reasons you think you’d be great for the gig, focusing on how your past work experience has prepared you for this kind of position. Writing is key ! to all that we do, and we weigh cover letters heavily – even for our tech types.


• Your resume.

You will receive an auto-reply confirming that we've received your application, and you will hear from us again after we've reviewed your application and decided whether or not to move you forward in our recruiting process. 

**No phone calls please.**  

Thanks for your interest in Jellyvision!

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