Senior Backend Engineer , Plan: Spec-Driven Development
Senior backend engineer building GitLab’s intent-to-code workflows, including APIs, data models, and evaluation systems for agent-generated work. The role requires strong Ruby on Rails and Python experience, backend-focused full-stack capability, API and SQL expertise, and technical leadership in a distributed team.
About the job
Responsibilities
- Lead backend features from early product discussions through technical design, implementation, rollout, and post-launch learning.
- Build flows, APIs, and data models for agent-generated work items, implementation plans, durable specifications, and mergeable code.
- Develop evaluation and benchmarking systems to measure workflow quality, token cost, and success rate.
- Build reliable production systems using Ruby on Rails, Python, PostgreSQL, GraphQL, REST, GitLab Duo Agent Platform, LLM APIs, and an AI gateway.
- Collaborate with product, design, engineers, design partners, and users to shape scope and make trade-offs.
- Coordinate multi-person projects and communicate decisions clearly in an asynchronous, all-remote environment.
- Mentor engineers and contribute to technical direction across the Plan group and related AI initiatives.
- Work in short iterations, share progress through demos, and use results and user feedback to guide future work.
Requirements
- Strong Ruby on Rails experience in a large production codebase.
- Production experience with Python.
- Experience driving substantial projects with several engineers over multiple months, with clear user or business outcomes.
- Experience owning features end to end, including shaping scope, making trade-offs, engaging with users, and learning from post-launch adoption.
- Full-stack background with a current focus on backend engineering.
- Ability to read modern frontend code and design effective APIs.
- Strong API design and SQL fundamentals.
- Experience exploring AI-assisted development.
- Ability to work independently, collaborate across functions and regions, and provide technical leadership and mentoring.
Nice to Have
- Experience with GraphQL.
- PostgreSQL performance experience at scale.
- Experience building or evaluating LLM or agent systems.
Benefits and Compensation
- Benefits supporting health, finances, and well-being.
- Flexible paid time off.
- Team member resource groups.
- Equity compensation and employee stock purchase plan.
- Growth and development fund.
- Parental leave.
Skills
Ruby, Ruby on Rails, Python, Postgres, GraphQL, Rest, SQL, Gitlab Duo Agent Platform, LLM APIs, Ai Gateway, API Design, LLMs
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