We have partnered with a client of ours who is looking for a Software Engineering Leader to join their team. This role has the opportunity to have a direct pathway to becoming CTO.
Our client is a venture backed startup, looking for motivated and like minded entrepreneurs! This person will Lead and scale a team of frontend and backend engineers as the chief architect, leveraging Ruby on Rails, React to build a scalable, AI-driven travel platform.
Our client is seeking a hands-on, backend-focused Leader who will be responsible for driving architectural decisions, optimizing backend performance, and ensuring seamless integration of AI-driven features. This role is ideal for someone with deep experience in Ruby on Rails, backend infrastructure, and distributed systems, who thrives in a fast-paced startup environment. You will report directly to the CEO and collaborate with key business leaders.
About you :
- You have deep expertise in Ruby on Rails and backend development, focusing on scalability and system architecture.
- You’re excited about AI and have experience integrating machine learning models into backend services.
- You enjoy solving complex technical challenges, from optimizing database performance to designing microservices architectures.
- You’re a hands-on leader who loves to code at least 50% of the time while guiding a high-performing engineering team.
- You have experience in building scalable, secure, and high-availability applications, particularly in marketplaces, fintech, or e-commerce.
- You thrive in cross-functional collaboration, working closely with product, marketing, and sales teams to align technical and business goals.
What you get to go do :
Backend Engineering & Technical Leadership (50%)
Lead backend development efforts, focusing on scalability, performance, and security .Architect and maintain a Ruby on Rails codebase, ensuring best practices in API development, database optimization, and background job processing.Oversee DevOps strategy , including CI / CD pipelines, cloud infrastructure (AWS or similar), and monitoring systems.Implement AI-driven backend services , integrating large language models for trip recommendations and automation.Optimize database performance (PostgreSQL or similar) and design efficient data models to support international payments, multi-language support, and messaging.Drive backend innovation, evaluating and integrating new technologies to enhance our stack.Team Leadership & Mentorship (25%)
Lead and mentor a team of 6 engineers , fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and technical excellence.Establish and enforce engineering best practices , including code reviews, testing, and agile development methodologies.Set technical roadmaps , aligning engineering goals with business priorities.Hire and scale the engineering team, attracting top talent in backend development.Business & Strategic Collaboration (25%)
Work closely with Product, UX, and Business leaders to define technical solutions that align with user needs and company strategy.Collaborate with Sales and Marketing to understand customer feedback and implement data-driven improvements.Build and maintain relationships with key partners and investors , ensuring the technology roadmap supports business growth.Key Technical Challenges :
Scalability & Performance : Optimize our client's Ruby on Rails backend to handle growing traffic and transaction volume.AI Integration : Implement and scale AI-driven trip recommendations and automated booking workflows.International Payments : Develop a secure and efficient global payments system.API & Data Integration : Build robust integrations with third-party travel providers and data sources.Messaging & Notifications : Design a scalable messaging system for travelers, trip planners, and vendors.Security & Compliance : Ensure compliance with data privacy regulations and industry security standards.What you need to be successful in this role :
5 years of experience in backend development with expertise in Ruby on Rails .Proven experience in scaling complex platforms with high traffic and transaction volume.Strong knowledge of RESTful API design, PostgreSQL (or similar DBs), background job processing (Sidekiq), and cloud infrastructure .Experience in AI / ML integration, DevOps, and performance optimization .Ability to lead teams and mentor engineers , fostering a high-performance culture.Strong communication skills, able to explain technical concepts to non-engineers.Our client is offering a compensation package including base salary, bonus and equity!
If this sounds like you and is of interest, apply today!
