Spotify transformed music listening forever when it launched in 2008. Anyone can discover, manage and share over 82 million tracks, including more than 4 million podcast titles, for free, or upgrade to Spotify Premium to access exclusive features for music including improved sound quality and an on-demand, offline and ad-free music listening experience. Today, Spotify is the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service with 422m users, including 182m subscribers, across 183 markets.
Our mission is to unlock the potential of human creativity — by giving a million creative artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the opportunity to enjoy and be inspired by it.
We could write about the founding of the company in 2006, but we took the time to make a whole podcast about it – check out Spotify: A Product Story. This miniseries about product strategy, offering on a weekly basis, a glimpse into the decisions that have guided Spotify’s product evolution. Hosted by Gustav Söderström, Spotify’s Chief R&D Officer, each episode tells the story of a pivotal product development or business decision through candid conversations with a diverse cast of voices from across the industry.
At Spotify, we like to think of ourselves as a band. Like a band, we’re dependent on each other to create the best audio experience. Like a band, we need to be in sync. And like any successful band, we have a set of rules, a band manifesto, that keeps us focused on where we want to go and guides how we get there.
We believe in maintaining that relentlessly resourceful start-up spirit. Complacency is our enemy – we take smart risks and set the bar high as we continually think, build, ship and tweak. We strive to stay receptive and flexible, adapting and acting on what we observe. We work hard to find the best way to get things done, even if it’s not the most obvious way. And then we do it again and again.
When we win, we celebrate the success together. When we fail, we celebrate the new valuable information that we learned. Failure is an important part of our process. It’s the best indication that we’re trying something new, that we’re reaching for what’s next. And an undesirable outcome doesn’t mean that the wrong decision was made – it means we took an informed risk, as you must when pursuing innovation. If it worked, we would’ve won big. If it didn’t, that’s ok. We move on, keep trying and give each other the freedom to fail again. We don’t fear mistakes but we refuse to repeat them.
This extraordinary rhythm requires extraordinary people. We seek those who have the creativity to discover, the accountability to deliver and the courage to embrace complexity as well as polarity. Being part of the Spotify band means staying passionate, nurturing your curiosity and welcoming (and oftentimes even driving) change.
Spotify is hiring across a wide range of roles and geographies, including remote roles. The positions you’ll see highlighted here on Technical.ly span software development, engineering management, product management and data science.
You can see all of the roles we’re currently hiring for at lifeatspotify.com.
Something special about the Spotify workplace culture is consensus-driven decision-making, which I’ve grown to appreciate most. At first, it felt like it could slow things down and become a barrier to delivery, but ultimately this approach has led to more buy-in and greater trust from those most impacted by the outcome of that decision.
Marqia Williams Senior Engineering Manager & Product Area Tech LeadWhat is Spotify’s workplace culture like in general?
It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from or what music you love, at Spotify, you’ll be part of a brand that’s reimagining the entertainment industry. Our open collaborative environment and innovative, audacious brand gives you the opportunity to grow, have fun and do your best work.
For an inside look at Spotify’s culture, check out our band manifesto.
What are some of the benefits you offer?
There are benefits to being in our band, and we’re not just talking about free Spotify Premium. Our rewards reflect our inclusive values and are extended to every band member, regardless of location or seniority.
● Extensive learning opportunities, through our dedicated team, GreenHouse.
● Flexible share incentives letting you choose how you share in our success.
● Global parental leave, six months off - fully paid - for all new parents.
● All The Feels, our employee assistance program and self-care hub.
● Flexible public holidays, swap days off according to your values and beliefs.
● Spotify On Tour, join your colleagues on trips to industry festivals and events
What is Spotify’s approach to work-life balance?
Some of us work better in the office. Some of us are more productive at home. And many of us find we’re most effective when we have options. Here at Spotify, we don’t just recognize that one-desk-doesn’t-fit-all. We celebrate it with a Work From Anywhere Program that allows you to do just that.
We believe we’re happier and more productive when we have the freedom to choose where we work. It helps us find better ways to communicate and collaborate with one another. It means we can work with the very best people for the job, regardless of what city or country they call home. It helps us to become a more diverse place to work, a place that can flex with our people as their lives and ambitions change. And perhaps best of all, it supports a better work-life balance. A life-work balance.