Senior Ruby on Rails Developer

May 16, 2025

ENVIRONMENT:

Our client – a fast-moving, high-growth online loan underwriting company – is on the hunt for a Senior Ruby on Rails Developer who’s not just great with code but also knows how to lead the way!

If you’re someone who thrives on building sleek, scalable web apps front to back, loves clean code, and has a thing for mentoring fellow devs while setting high standards – keep reading. They’ve got exciting projects, a passionate team, and a tech stack that’s ready for your magic touch.

Ideally, you’ve got 8+ years of Ruby on Rails wizardry under your belt, including at least 2 years leading the charge. A degree in Computer Science is awesome, but if your experience speaks volumes, that’s what really counts.

If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and make big things happen — this one’s calling your name.

DUTIES:

Full-Stack Development:

  • Design, develop, and maintain high-performance Ruby on Rails applications, handling both backend and frontend components.
  • Build and optimize RESTful APIs, database schemas, and user interfaces to ensure seamless functionality and user experience.
  • Implement responsive, accessible frontend designs using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks like React, [URL Removed] or similar.

Code Quality and Best Practices:

  • Write clean, efficient, and well-documented code following Ruby on Rails conventions and industry best practices.
  • Conduct code reviews to ensure consistency, performance, and adherence to coding standards.
  • Refactor legacy code to improve maintainability, scalability, and performance.

Test-Driven Development (TDD):

  • Develop and maintain comprehensive test suites using tools like RSpec, Minitest, or Capybara to ensure robust code quality.
  • Implement best-practice test cases, including unit, integration, and end-to-end tests, to minimize bugs and regressions.
  • Advocate for and enforce a culture of TDD within the development team.

Leadership and Management:

  • Lead and mentor a team of developers, providing technical guidance and fostering a collaborative, high-performing environment.
  • Manage project timelines, delegate tasks, and ensure on-time delivery of features and releases.
  • Collaborate with product managers, designers, and stakeholders to translate requirements into technical specifications.

System Optimization and Scalability:

  • Optimize application performance through efficient database queries, caching strategies, and server-side improvements.
  • Ensure applications are secure, scalable, and maintainable, adhering to best practices for cloud-based deployments.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues in production environments.

Collaboration and Communication:

  • Work closely with cross-functional teams to align development efforts with business objectives.
  • Communicate technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders, providing updates on progress and risks.
  • Contribute to Agile/Scrum processes, including sprint planning, stand-ups, and retrospectives.

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
    • Experience:
      • 8+ years of professional experience developing Ruby on Rails applications, with at least 2 years in a senior or lead role.
      • Proven full-stack development experience, including frontend frameworks (e.g., React, [URL Removed] or Angular) and backend systems.
      • 2+ years of technical leadership or management experience, including mentoring developers and managing projects.

  • Technical Proficiency:
    • Expert-level knowledge of Ruby on Rails, including MVC architecture, Active Record, and Rails 6/7 features.
    • Strong experience with relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and query optimization.
    • Proficiency in frontend technologies: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, and modern frameworks.
    • Familiarity with testing frameworks (e.g., RSpec, Minitest, Capybara) and best practices for TDD/BDD.
    • Experience with version control (Git), CI/CD pipelines, and cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Heroku, or Azure).

  • Code Quality:
    • Demonstrated ability to write clean, modular, and efficient code with a focus on maintainability.
    • Deep understanding of design patterns, SOLID principles, and RESTful architecture.
    • Familiarity with code testing applications such as Circle CI and Code Climate.
    • Bug identification via Airbrake

  • Soft Skills:
    • Strong leadership and mentoring abilities, with a track record of building cohesive teams.
    • Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
    • Effective communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts to diverse audiences.

  • Preferred Qualifications:
    • BSc Computer Science.
    • Familiarity with DevOps tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes, Ansible) and infrastructure as code.
    • Contributions to open-source Ruby/Rails projects or a strong GitHub portfolio.
    • Agile/Scrum certification (e.g., Certified Scrum Developer) or experience leading Agile teams.

ATTRIBUTES:

  • Technical leadership
  • Clean code advocacy
  • Test-driven development
  • Full-stack expertise
  • Agile project delivery
  • Team mentorship

While we would really like to respond to every application, should you not be contacted for this position within 10 working days please consider your application unsuccessful.

COMMENTS:

When applying for jobs, ensure that you have the minimum job requirements. Only SA Citizens will be considered for this role. If you are not in the mentioned location of any of the jobs, please note your relocation plans in all applications for jobs and correspondence. Apply here [URL Removed] e-mail a Word copy of your CV to [Email Address Removed] and mention the reference number of the job.

Desired Skills:

  • Senior
  • Ruby
  • on

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