Senior Backend Engineer (Ruby on Rails)

About The Company:

At Scribd (pronounced “scribbed”), our mission is to spark human curiosity. Join our team as we create a world of stories and knowledge, democratize the exchange of ideas and information, and empower collective expertise through our three products: Everand, Scribd, and Slideshare.

We support a culture where our employees can be real and be bold; where we debate and commit as we embrace plot twists; and where every employee is empowered to take action as we prioritize the customer.

When it comes to workplace structure, we believe in balancing individual flexibility and community connections. It’s through our flexible work benefit, Scribd Flex, that employees – in partnership with their manager – can choose the daily work-style that best suits their individual needs. A key tenet of Scribd Flex is our prioritization of intentional in-person moments to build collaboration, culture, and connection. For this reason, occasional in-person attendance is required for all Scribd employees, regardless of their location.

So what are we looking for in new team members? Well, we hire for “GRIT”. The textbook definition of GRIT is demonstrating the intersection of passion and perseverance towards long term goals. At Scribd, we are inspired by the potential that this can unlock, and ask each of our employees to pursue a GRIT-ty approach to their work. In a tactical sense, GRIT is also a handy acronym that outlines the standards we hold ourselves and each other to. Here’s what that means for you: we’re looking for someone who showcases the ability to set and achieve G oals, achieve R esults within their job responsibilities, contribute I nnovative ideas and solutions, and positively influence the broader T eam through collaboration and attitude.

About the team and role

The Growth team is at the heart of driving user engagement and business impact across the customer journey. Focused on technical excellence and innovation, we work on critical domains including SEO, MarTech, Signup Optimization, Subscription, and Retention. Our work involves designing and optimizing complex backend systems with an emphasis on performance, scalability, and maintainability. Our team values collaboration, continuous improvement, and technical excellence.

About the role

We are seeking a talented Senior Software Engineer to join our Growth team. In this role, you will build, scale, and maintain backend systems using Ruby on Rails. As a Senior Engineer, you will have a significant impact on our technical infrastructure, ensuring our systems are robust, performant, and maintainable. You’ll work closely with cross-functional partners to deliver high-quality solutions, contribute to the team’s strategic direction, and help shape a culture of excellence

What we are looking for

• A passionate engineer who takes pride in writing clean, maintainable code

• Someone who enjoys tackling complex backend challenges while maintaining high quality standards

• A team player who is enthusiastic about building and improving development processes

• An individual who values continuous learning and stays current with technology trends

• Someone who can balance technical excellence with practical solutions

Requirements (Must have)

• 6+ years of professional software development experience

• Strong proficiency in Ruby on Rails framework and its ecosystem

• Working knowledge of JavaScript

• Strong understanding of database systems (both SQL and NoSQL) and ability to make informed decisions about database architecture

• Experience writing comprehensive test suites (unit, integration, and end-to-end)

• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail

• Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively in a team environment

Technical Skills

• Primary: Ruby on Rails

• Databases: SQL, NoSQL

• Testing: RSpec, Minitest, or similar testing frameworks

• Version Control: Git or similar version control workflows

• API Development: RESTful APIs

Nice to have

• Experience with MarTech

• Experience with various Rails templating engines (Phlex, Fortitude, etc.)

• Familiarity with Javascript and Node, including frameworks such as React and NextJS

• Familiarity with AWS services, particularly S3

• Experience with CI/CD tools like Jenkins

• Knowledge of workflow management tools like Airflow

At Scribd, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package and is determined within a range. Our pay ranges are based on the local cost of labor benchmarks for each specific role, level, and geographic location. San Francisco is our highest geographic market in the United States. In the state of California, the reasonably expected salary range is between $143,000 [minimum salary in our lowest geographic market within California] to $231,000 [maximum salary in our highest geographic market within California].

In the United States, outside of California, the reasonably expected salary range is between $117,500 [minimum salary in our lowest US geographic market outside of California] to $219,500 [maximum salary in our highest US geographic market outside of California].

In Canada, the reasonably expected salary range is between $147,500 CAD[minimum salary in our lowest geographic market] to $190,000 CAD[maximum salary in our highest geographic market].

We carefully consider a wide range of factors when determining compensation, including but not limited to experience; job-related skill sets; relevant education or training; and other business and organizational needs. The salary range listed is for the level at which this job has been scoped. In the event that you are considered for a different level, a higher or lower pay range would apply. This position is also eligible for a competitive equity ownership, and a comprehensive and generous benefits package.

Working at Scribd, inc.

Are you currently based in a location where Scribd is able to employ you?
Employees must have their primary residence in or near one of the following cities. This includes surrounding metro areas or locations within a typical commuting distance:

United States :

Atlanta | Austin | Boston | Dallas | Denver | Chicago | Houston | Jacksonville | Los Angeles | Miami | New York City | Phoenix | Portland | Sacramento | Salt Lake City | San Diego | San Francisco | Seattle | Washington D.C.

Canada :

Ottawa | Toronto | Vancouver

Mexico :

Mexico City

Benefits, Perks, and Wellbeing at Scribd

*Benefits/perks listed may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Scribd and the geographical location where you work.

• Healthcare Insurance Coverage (Medical/Dental/Vision): 100% paid for employees

• 12 weeks paid parental leave

• Short-term/long-term disability plans

• 401k/RSP matching

• Onboarding stipend for home office peripherals + accessories

• Learning & Development allowance

• Learning & Development programs

• Quarterly stipend for Wellness, WiFi, etc.

• Mental Health support & resources

• Free subscription to the Scribd Inc. suite of products

• Referral Bonuses

• Book Benefit

• Sabbaticals

• Company-wide events

• Team engagement budgets

• Vacation & Personal Days

• Paid Holidays (+ winter break)

• Flexible Sick Time

• Volunteer Day

• Company-wide Employee Resource Groups and programs that foster an inclusive and diverse workplace.

• Access to AI Tools: We provide free access to best-in-class AI tools, empowering you to boost productivity, streamline workflows, and accelerate bold innovation.

Want to learn more about life at Scribd?

We want our interview process to be accessible to everyone. You can inform us of any reasonable adjustments we can make to better accommodate your needs by emailing [email protected] about the need for adjustments at any point in the interview process.

Scribd is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply, and believe that a diversity of perspectives and experiences create a foundation for the best ideas. Come join us in building something meaningful.