Product & QA Extern (Technical Track)

Montessori Makers Alignment Map (MMAP) is a large, real-world SaaS platform currently in active beta with schools.

 

The platform has been built to validate workflows quickly and responsibly, using a mix of modern tools and AI-assisted scaffolding. It is functional, complex, and imperfect — which makes it an excellent environment for learning how real products behave before and during launch.

 

MMAP’s stack includes:

• React + TypeScript

• Supabase (PostgreSQL, Auth, RLS, Storage, Edge Functions)

• Node.js

• Lovable (AI-assisted code scaffolding)

• GitHub

• Railway / Render

• Resend

 

The platform already supports:

• Admissions workflows

• Finance & billing systems

• Academic tracking & reporting

• HR & people operations

• Equity & ABAR dashboards

• Adult culture & leadership tools

• Messaging, exports, surveys, and dashboards

 

This externship is not about building a product from scratch.
It is about stabilizing, understanding, and supporting a live system as it moves toward launch.

 

What You’ll Do

This role focuses on product stability, QA, and support, not greenfield development.

You will:

• Test feature flows and edge cases

• Reproduce, document, and help triage bugs

• Validate uploads, downloads, and data flows

• Review UI logic and routing behavior

• Observe and report confusing UX patterns

• Help test Supabase auth and data behavior (no production access)

• Support beta users (educators) in Slack with calm, clear communication

• Escalate issues thoughtfully and help identify patterns

• Contribute to documentation and testing checklists

You may interact with code, but writing large amounts of new code is not the primary focus of this role.

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What This Role Is — and Isn’t

This role is:

• Working inside an existing SaaS product

• Learning how real systems behave with real users

• Debugging, testing, and stabilizing features

• Communicating clearly with non-technical users

• Building judgment and product literacy

This role is not:

• A feature-building or architecture role

• A greenfield development position

• A purely coding-focused internship

 

What You’ll Learn

• How production SaaS systems actually break (and how to fix them)

• Supabase + PostgreSQL behavior in real applications

• Auth, permissions, and data safety concepts

• How AI-generated code behaves in practice

• DevOps exposure (Railway / Render)

• How school operations translate into software systems

• How to support users while protecting product integrity

 

Who You Are

You may be a good fit if you are:

• A CS / CE / Software Engineering student or recent graduate

• A bootcamp grad looking for real product exposure

• Early in your dev journey and curious about QA, debugging, and systems

• Comfortable working with imperfect products

• Clear, patient, and respectful in async communication

• Interested in EdTech or mission-driven products

Montessori experience is not required.

 

Bonus Track: Application Security / Data Safety Externship

For candidates interested in security, we’re also open to a focused externship on:

• Reviewing auth and permission flows

• Testing RLS (Row Level Security) assumptions

• Evaluating PII handling

• Exploring basic AppSec practices

• Supporting safer launch readiness

 

After the Externship

Externs will receive:

• Strong portfolio credit

• GitHub commit history (where applicable)

• LinkedIn recommendation

• Letter of reference

• Experience working on a real, live SaaS platform

• Potential transition to paid contractor work, depending on fit, timing, and needs

 

How to Apply

Email hello@montessorimakersalignmentmap.com with:

• A short introduction

• Resume or portfolio (GitHub welcome)

• Your general availability

• Why this externship appeals to you

• Any experience with React, TypeScript, Supabase, databases, QA, or support (beginner is okay)

 

About MMAP

MMAP exists to bring clarity, alignment, and justice-centered operations to Montessori and independent schools. We build tools that respect the complexity of educational systems — and make them easier to run with care.

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This is an early-stage platform in active beta. Externships are hands-on, high-impact learning roles, designed for growth, contribution, and real-world experience.