At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead backend architecture and design for a complex, mission-critical platform using Ruby on Rails.
- Company: High-growth tech organisation investing in engineering capabilities and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus opportunities, and a chance to shape the future of technology.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for mentorship and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by solving complex technical challenges and driving system improvements.
- Qualifications: 8-10+ years in software engineering with strong Ruby on Rails experience.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Staff Software Engineer At a Glance
A staff-level backend engineering role at a high-growth technology organisation. You will work on a complex, mission-critical product platform at scale.
About the Company
Our client is a high-growth technology organisation investing heavily in its product platform, supporting complex and mission-critical workflows at scale. They are building serious engineering capability and are looking for a Staff Engineer who can help shape both the systems and the standards that will carry the platform forward.
The Role
This is a high-impact backend-heavy role for a Staff Engineer who leads through influence rather than hierarchy. You will own architecture and system design across Ruby on Rails services, drive scalability and reliability initiatives, and serve as the go-to technical expert for the organisation's most complex domain and system challenges.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as Staff-level technical leader across multiple product teams, driving direction through expertise and influence.
- Own backend architecture and system design across Ruby on Rails services.
- Lead scalability, performance, and reliability initiatives from design through to production.
- Improve system health by addressing legacy complexity, technical debt, and architectural gaps.
- Collaborate with Product to translate complex business workflows into scalable technical solutions.
- Partner with Platform and SRE teams to improve observability, reliability, and operational standards.
- Elevate engineering standards across the organisation through mentoring, design reviews, and knowledge sharing.
What You'll Need
Essential:
- 8-10+ years of professional software engineering experience.
- Strong experience with Ruby on Rails in production environments.
- Deep understanding of backend systems, APIs, and service architecture.
- Strong experience with relational databases, PostgreSQL preferred.
- Proven experience working within complex or legacy product environments.
- Ability to influence technical direction beyond individual contributions.
- Strong ownership mindset across design, delivery, and production support.
- Clear communicator who can drive alignment across engineering, product, and platform teams.
Nice to Have:
- Experience with modern JavaScript frameworks, React preferred.
- Exposure to data-heavy systems or analytics platforms.
- AWS or cloud-native environment experience and familiarity with DevOps, CI/CD, and SRE practices.
Why Apply?
- Genuine Staff-level scope... architecture, standards, and long-term platform direction are yours to shape.
- Complex, mission-critical platform with real technical problems worth solving.
- High-growth organisation investing seriously in engineering capability.
- Lead through expertise and influence across multiple teams... no empire-building required.
- Modern cloud-native stack: Ruby on Rails, PostgreSQL, AWS, React, CI/CD, and observability tooling.
Next Steps
For a confidential conversation, connect with Ryan Quinn on LinkedIn or reach out at .
Staff Engineer Ruby On Rails TLNT1_NI in Belfast employer: IrishJobs
Our client is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where innovation thrives and engineering excellence is celebrated. With a strong focus on employee growth, you will have the opportunity to shape the architecture and standards of a complex, mission-critical platform while collaborating with talented teams across the organisation. The high-growth nature of the company ensures that your contributions will have a meaningful impact, making it a rewarding place to advance your career in technology.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Staff Engineer Ruby On Rails TLNT1_NI in Belfast
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at IrishJobs or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to IrishJobs.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like IrishJobs.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like IrishJobs that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Staff Engineer Ruby On Rails TLNT1_NI in Belfast
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at IrishJobs.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at IrishJobs and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at IrishJobs
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If IrishJobs uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.