Senior Software Engineer

As a Senior Software Engineer at Roofstock, you will be responsible for designing and maintaining high-performance backend services using Ruby on Rails. Key responsibilities include architecting workflow optimizations for financial transactions, implementing RESTful APIs, and enhancing application performance while ensuring compliance with security standards. Additionally, you will provide mentorship to junior engineers and work closely with product and design teams to deliver user-friendly features.

To qualify for the Senior Software Engineer role at Roofstock, you should have at least 7 years of backend development experience, specifically with Ruby on Rails, along with a Bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. A strong background in FinTech, relational databases, and experience with database design and RESTful API integrations are also essential. Familiarity with cloud infrastructure like AWS and CI/CD processes will enhance your application.

Roofstock primarily leverages technologies such as Ruby on Rails for backend development, React for frontend applications, and AWS for cloud infrastructure. Additionally, they work with Terraform for infrastructure as code, as well as various tools for monitoring and CI/CD, ensuring a robust and efficient development environment. A deep understanding of these technologies will be beneficial for candidates looking to join the team.

At Roofstock, the culture is rooted in collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to transforming real estate investing. Senior Software Engineers can expect an environment where their contributions are valued, and teamwork is a priority. With a focus on growth, fun team-building activities, and opportunities for mentorship, you’ll find a place where your skills are nurtured, and your ideas can thrive.

Roofstock is dedicated to the professional development of its Senior Software Engineers by providing opportunities for mentorship, continuous learning, and exposure to emerging technologies. The company encourages participation in industry conferences, access to educational resources, and collaborative projects that broaden skill sets and foster career growth.

When answering this question, be sure to highlight specific projects you've worked on that utilized Ruby on Rails. Include details about the applications you built, challenges you faced, and how you overcame them. Discuss best practices you've applied and any optimizations you implemented to enhance performance.

Discuss the importance of implementing strong authentication and authorization practices, as well as your familiarity with security compliance standards, such as PCI DSS. Share examples of how you've safeguarded sensitive data in past projects and any tools or practices you used to monitor application security.

When addressing this, explain your approach to scaling applications and the techniques you've employed, such as caching strategies, database optimization, and load balancing. Provide examples of how these strategies improved the performance of specific applications you've worked on.

In your response, emphasize your experience with agile methodologies, such as Scrum or Kanban. Discuss how you prioritize tasks in sprints, your role during stand-up meetings, and how you collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure timely delivery of projects.

Be prepared to share a specific example of a complex problem you faced, focusing on your thought process and the steps you took to resolve it. Highlight the outcome and any learnings that resulted from the experience, demonstrating your problem-solving abilities.

Talk about the RESTful APIs you've designed and implemented, emphasizing the documentation process and the importance of efficiency and security. Provide examples of how these APIs were integrated into existing systems and the impact they had on overall performance.

Discuss your methods for staying up-to-date, such as following industry blogs, participating in online courses, or joining professional networks. Share specific technologies you're excited about and how you've incorporated new tools or practices into your work.

When discussing mentorship, highlight your approach to providing guidance and support, such as reviewing code, leading workshops, or offering one-on-one sessions. Share examples of how you’ve helped junior engineers grow in their roles and develop their skills.

Identify key aspects such as microservices, database sharding, caching, and load balancers. Discuss how you've implemented these components in previous projects and the benefits they provided in terms of performance and maintainability.

Describe your systematic approach to debugging, outlining the steps you take to identify and fix issues. Use examples from your past experience to illustrate how you've effectively resolved bugs and improved application reliability.