Senior Backend Engineer

Position Overview

• Location Type: Remote
• Job Type: Full-time
• Salary: Not Specified

Senior Backend Engineers at Raya are recognized leaders with a passion for backend engineering, ideally experienced in a Node.js codebase. The ideal candidate will have 6+ years of experience, demonstrating both results and leadership, and will join the backend team during a period of high growth. Raya prioritizes learning and teamwork, offering opportunities to champion solutions and personal growth. This role involves supporting backend initiatives in messaging, connecting, and location-based map features. Candidates should be diligent, design scalable software architecture, and believe in Raya’s vision of enriching lives through quality, in-person interactions.

Raya offers comprehensive medical and dental coverage, a $50 daily food delivery budget, equity-based employment, a positive culture, learning opportunities, unlimited vacation, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and an annual $1,000 travel stipend to encourage exploration and human connection.

Responsibilities

• Product Ownership: Lead key components of Core Services, including People Recommendations Engines.
• Data Engineering: Utilize in-depth knowledge of databases such as Postgres SQL, MongoDB, and ElasticSearch to enhance application performance and reliability.
• Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams (UX designers, data scientists) to ensure comprehensive and user-focused solutions.
• Continuous Learning: Stay updated with Raya's tech ecosystem to ensure scalable, maintainable, and innovative solutions.
• User-Centric Development: Prioritize and advocate for top-tier user experiences, using feedback and data to refine product features.
• Operational Excellence: Manage the full Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), integrating agile methodologies, CI/CD practices, and Raya's best practices.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Software Engineering, or a related technical field. (Professional experience can substitute for non-engineering educational backgrounds or specific training programs).
• 6+ years of hands-on experience in modern software development, with a proven track record of delivering scalable and maintainable systems.
• Demonstrated expertise in system design, architecture, and mastery in at least one programming language (e.g., Node.js, Javascript, Golang, Typescript).
• Strong collaborative skills, emphasizing open communication, transparency, and cross-team interaction.
• Production experience with Search applications (e.g., OpenSearch, Vector database, Elasticsearch).

What Sets You Apart

• Visionary: Ability to anticipate future technological trends and their impact on the Raya Community.
• Empathetic Leader: Natural ability to connect with colleagues, users, and teams, fostering understanding and innovation.
• Growth-oriented: A continuous learner, open to challenges and seeking opportunities for technical expansion.
• Impact-driven: Ability to identify the 'big picture' and prioritize tasks that maximize impact, aligning with Raya’s goals.