Handshake

Senior Software Engineer, Backend Platform, Ruby on Rails

Remote San Francisco, CA
USD 180k - 220k
API PostgreSQL Go GCP Ruby GraphQL Elasticsearch Redis Microservices
Description

Everyone is welcome at Handshake. We know diverse teams build better products and we are committed to creating an inclusive culture built on a foundation of respect for all individuals. We strongly encourage candidates from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized or underrepresented groups to apply.

Want to learn more about what it's like to work at Handshake? Check out these interviews from our team members!

Build the foundation that powers opportunity for millions

At Handshake, our platform connects students with life-changing career opportunities. Behind our mission stands a robust engineering ecosystem that needs your expertise to evolve and scale.

Your impact

As a Senior Software Engineer, Ruby on Rails on the Backend Platform team, you'll play a key role in simplifying backend complexity at Handshake, empowering product teams to deliver value faster and better. You'll build reusable backend services, improve developer workflows, and create paved paths that help product teams focus on product development while ensuring scalability, reliability, and consistency.

This is a high-impact role where you'll influence backend best practices, shape platform engineering efforts, and drive architectural improvements that enhance the efficiency and productivity of our engineering teams.

Your role

As a Senior Software Engineer, you will:

  • Architect and implement scalable backend services and developer tooling that significantly boost product team velocity and output quality.
  • Shape best practices for Ruby on Rails development at Handshake, establishing standards that ensure high-quality, maintainable, and well-tested code.
  • Create intuitive paved paths that guide product teams toward optimal technical decisions while maintaining consistency in service and API architecture.
  • Lead technical initiatives such as evolving our GraphQL ecosystem, strategically reducing technical debt, and driving backend performance optimization.
  • Improve developer experience by refining local development environments, streamlining CI pipelines, and enhancing self-service tooling.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Frontend Platform, Product Engineering, and Infrastructure to drive alignment and deliver cohesive technical solutions.

Mentor and support other engineers through thoughtful code reviews, pair programming, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

Your experience

We’re looking for someone with:

  • 5+ years of experience with Ruby on Rails at an expert level, including deep understanding of framework internals, performance optimization, and scaling patterns.
  • Strong software engineering fundamentals, including TDD, contract testing, decoupling, and clean code practices that you've applied at scale.
  • Experience designing, building, and maintaining GraphQL APIs.
  • Demonstrated expertise with Elasticsearch implementation, query optimization, and integration with Rails applications.
  • Experience implementing advanced caching strategies (Redis) and designing resilient background job systems (Sidekiq).
  • A customer-first mindset with examples of how you've improved developer experience and productivity through platform engineering.
  • Established history of elevating team standards through code reviews, pair programming, and technical mentorship.

Practical knowledge of CI best practices that measurably enhance developer efficiency and code quality.

Bonus areas of expertise

  • Experience with MonoRepo architecture and implementing effective workflows within large codebases.
  • Deep understanding of PostgreSQL optimization, including query performance tuning and schema design.
  • Implementation experience with Event-Driven and Service-Oriented Architecture at scale.
  • Experience with GoLang microservices.

Working knowledge of GCP infrastructure and implementing security best practices in cloud environments.

Compensation range

$180,000 - $220,000

For cash compensation, we set standard ranges for all U.S.-based roles based on function, level, and geographic location, benchmarked against similar stage growth companies. In order to be compliant with local legislation, as well as to provide greater transparency to candidates, we share salary ranges on all job postings regardless of desired hiring location. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including geographic location as well as candidate experience and expertise, and may vary from the amounts listed above.

About us

Handshake is the career platform for Gen Z. With a community of over 17 million students, alumni, employers, and career educators, Handshake’s network is where career advice and discovery turn into first, second, and third jobs. Nearly 1 million companies use Handshake to build their future workforce—from Fortune 500 to federal agencies, school districts to startups, healthcare systems to small businesses. Handshake is built for where you’re going, not where you’ve been.

When it comes to our workforce strategy, we’ve thought deeply about how work-life should look at Handshake. With our hybrid-work model, employees benefit from collaboration and shared team experiences three days per week in our vibrant offices, and enjoy the flexibility of remote work two days per week (unless noted in the specific job posting). Handshake is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in New York, London, and Berlin.

What we offer

At Handshake, we'll give you the tools to feel healthy, happy and secure.

Benefits below apply to employees in full-time positions.

  • 💰 Equity and ownership in a fast-growing company.
  • 🍼 16 Weeks of paid parental leave for birth giving parents & 10 weeks of paid parental leave for non-birth giving parents.
  • 💝 Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision policies including LGTBQ+ Coverage. We also provide resources for Mental Health Assistance, Employee Assistance Programs and counseling support.
  • 💻 Handshake offers $500/£360 home office stipend for you to spend during your first 3 months to create a productive and comfortable workspace at home.
  • 📚 Generous learning & development opportunities and an annual $2,000/£1,500/€1,850 stipend for you to grow your skills and career.
  • 💰 Financial coaching through Origin to help you through your financial journey.
  • 🛜 Monthly internet stipend and a brand new MacBook to allow you to do your best work.
  • 🚃 Monthly commuter stipend for you to expense your travel to the office (for office-based employees).
  • 🥗 Free lunch provided 3x a week across all offices.
  • 🤝 Referral bonus to reward you when you bring great talent to Handshake.

(US-specific benefits, in addition to the first section)

  • 🏦 401k Match: Handshake offers a dollar-for-dollar match on 1% of deferred salary, up to a maximum of $1,200 per year.
  • 🏝 All full-time US-based Handshakers are eligible for our flexible time off policy to get out and see the world. In addition, we offer 13 standardized holidays, and 2 additional days of flexible holiday time off. Lastly, we have a Winter #ShakeBreak, a one-week period of Collective Time Off.
  • 🍼 Family support: Parental leave coaching and support provided by Parentaly. We partner with Maven Clinic to provide a lifetime coverage up to $15K for expenses related to fertility and family forming!
  • 💰 Lifestyle Savings Account: We offer you an annual stipend of $500 to use for purchases such as fitness classes, gym memberships, work-from-home setup, and more.

(UK-specific benefits, in addition to the first section) 

  • 🏦 Pension Scheme: Handshake will provide you with a workplace pension, where you will make contributions based on 5% of your salary. Handshake will pay the equivalent of 3% towards your pension plan, subject to qualifying earnings limits.
  • 🏝 Up to 25 days of vacation to encourage people to reset, recharge, and refresh, in addition to 8 bank holidays throughout the year.
  • 🤝 Regular offsites each year to bring the team together + opportunity to travel to our HQ in San Francisco.
  • 🛍️ Discounts across various high street retailers, cinemas and other social activities exclusively for Handshake UK employees.

(Germany-specific benefits, in addition to the first section)

  • 🏝 25 days of annual leave + 5 days of a winter #ShakeBreak, a one-week period of Collective Time Off across the company.
  • 🤝 Regular offsites each year to bring the team together + opportunity to travel to our HQ in San Francisco once a year.
  • 🧘 Urban sports club membership offering access to a diverse network of fitness and wellness facilities.
  • 🛍️ Discounts across various high street retailers, cinemas and other social activities exclusively for Handshake Germany employees.

Looking for more? Explore our mission, values and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.

Handshake is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or reasonable accommodation, please let your recruiter know during initial communications.

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