Senior Backend Engineer (Golang) - job 1 of 2

As a Senior Backend Engineer at Ruby Labs, your primary responsibilities will include developing and maintaining scalable backend services using Golang, architecting microservices-based applications, collaborating with DevOps on deployment and management of applications in Kubernetes, and optimizing database performance using Postgres and Redis. Additionally, you will enhance our billing system to ensure accurate transaction processing, conduct code reviews to maintain high coding standards, and work closely with a cross-functional team to deliver high-quality software solutions.

To qualify for the Senior Backend Engineer role at Ruby Labs, candidates must have a minimum of 4 years of professional development experience, with at least 2 years focused on Golang. The ideal candidate should possess strong expertise in Golang, microservices architecture, and database management, particularly Postgres. Hands-on experience with Kubernetes and Helm is crucial, along with excellent communication skills and a collaborative mindset. Previous experience with billing systems and GCP services would be considered a plus.

To excel as a Senior Backend Engineer at Ruby Labs, you should possess a strong command of Golang, including its concurrency model and frameworks. Additionally, experience in designing and implementing microservices architectures is essential, as you'll be responsible for creating scalable and high-performing backend applications. Familiarity with Kubernetes for container orchestration and Postgres for database management are also crucial skills that will help you succeed in this role.

Yes, Ruby Labs offers a flexible remote work environment for the Senior Backend Engineer position. This allows you to work from anywhere, promoting a healthy work-life balance. We believe that flexibility leads to greater productivity and job satisfaction, making your contributions to our team even more impactful.

The interview process for the Senior Backend Engineer role at Ruby Labs typically begins with a thorough application review, which takes about 3 to 5 days. If you're a potential fit, you will go through a recruiter screening, followed by a logical thinking assessment and a technical interview. Finally, there will be a concluding interview to discuss your fit within the team and company culture. Overall, the process is designed to ensure we find the best match for both you and Ruby Labs.

When answering this question, highlight Golang's concurrency model, which allows for efficient multitasking. Discuss using goroutines and channels to handle asynchronous tasks and mention its simplicity and performance benefits compared to other languages. Show how these features have helped you in previous projects at Ruby Labs or similar settings.

In your response, discuss the benefits of microservices, such as scalability and maintainability. Share specific projects where you designed or contributed to microservices at Ruby Labs or previous companies, detailing how they interacted and shared data. Mention any tools or frameworks you used to implement microservices effectively.

Discuss your approach to database design, including normalization and indexing techniques. Highlight how you’ve optimized queries for performance and scalability, especially with Postgres. It's also effective to mention your experience with caching mechanisms like Redis to improve application speed.

Explain your systematic approach to code reviews, focusing on best practices such as syntax checking, adherence to coding standards, and assessing the overall design and structure. Mention the importance of collaboration and constructive feedback to maintain high code quality for the team at Ruby Labs.

Choose a relevant experience that demonstrates your problem-solving skills. Outline the challenge, your analysis approach, the solutions you considered, and the final outcome. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your critical thinking and technical expertise, especially in relation to your work at Ruby Labs.

Discuss specific strategies such as using load balancers, designing stateless services, and implementing caching. Mention any metrics you track to evaluate performance, and how you've utilized Kubernetes for managing and scaling Golang applications effectively in previous roles at Ruby Labs.

Talk about the tools and practices that facilitate effective remote communication, such as regular stand-ups, using Slack or Microsoft Teams, and ensuring clear documentation. Elaborate on how these methods help maintain strong relationships and collaboration within your cross-functional team at Ruby Labs.

Explain your familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, discussing any specific tools you’ve used (like Jenkins, GitLab CI, or CircleCI) to automate testing and deployment for Golang applications. Share examples from your experience that illustrate how you’ve improved efficiency and reduced deployment times.

Discuss the resources you use, such as blogs, podcasts, online courses, and attending tech meetups or conferences. Mention how you apply the knowledge gained to your work, particularly in roles similar to what you had with Ruby Labs, to continually enhance your technical skill set and stay ahead.

Describe your commitment to TDD, focusing on how you write tests before code to guide your development process. Explain your testing workflow, including the types of tests you prioritize, and the importance of comprehensive test coverage for ensuring the reliability of your backend services at Ruby Labs.