Senior Software Engineer, Back-End Focus

Remote: yes Posted: 2025-10-16

QUICK SUMMARY

Build scalable Ruby and Typescript applications that power Kin’s insurance platform. Solve complex problems, mentor engineers, and ship high-impact features in a fast-moving environment.

At this time, we are unable to sponsor employment visas for this role.

- Design, build, and maintain scalable backend services in Ruby, with occasional contributions in Python and Typescript

- Develop and enhance front-end functionality using modern JavaScript frameworks and Typescript

- Lead and contribute to architectural and design discussions that improve long-term system maintainability

- Ship large, complex features from concept through deployment with high quality and strong testing practices

- Participate actively in Scrum ceremonies including daily standups, sprint planning, and retrospectives

- Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, QA, PMO, and other engineering teams to align technical solutions with business goals

- Mentor junior engineers through pair programming, code reviews, and technical guidance

- Advocate for thoughtful technical investments and clearly articulate trade-offs to stakeholders

- Contribute to improving development workflows, tooling, and engineering best practices

SUCCESS IN THIS ROLE

In your first 6–12 months at Kin, success is less about checking boxes and more about the impact you create. You’ll use your skills and judgment to take ownership of meaningful work, improve how we operate, and help move Kin’s mission forward. Along the way, you’ll deliver outcomes that make a real difference for both Kinfolk and the homeowners we serve.

By the end of your first year, you should feel confident in your role, trusted as an owner, and proud of the progress you’ve helped make.

- You’ve successfully shipped multiple complex features that deliver measurable value to customers or internal stakeholders

- System reliability, performance, or maintainability has improved due to your architectural contributions

- Junior engineers demonstrate growth and increased confidence due to your mentorship and guidance

- Technical trade-offs are better understood across teams because of your clear communication and advocacy

- Demonstrated track record of shipping large, complex software projects in production environments

- Fluency in Ruby and experience working with Python or Typescript

- Experience with PostgreSQL or other relational databases

- Experience contributing to architectural design and technical decision-making

- Ability to articulate the value and trade-offs of technical investments

- Experience mentoring engineers through code reviews, pairing, or informal leadership

- Familiarity with modern JavaScript frameworks such as React, Vue, or Angular

- Experience operating within Agile/Scrum development environments

Working Style & Environment

- Comfortable in a fast-paced startup environment with evolving priorities

- Ability to operate independently with limited technical guidance

- Strong communication skills and cross-functional collaboration experience

- Located in Central or Eastern US time zones (CDT or EDT) strongly preferred

- Competitive salary and company equity through Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), granted as part of our standard compensation package and based on role and level

- 401(k) with company match up to 4% of eligible earnings

- Multiple medical plan options, plus dental and vision coverage

- Company-funded HSA contributions (based on medical plan selection)

- Company-paid life insurance and short-term disability

Health & Wellbeing

- A variety of supplemental benefit options, including long-term disability, critical illness, accident, legal, and pet insurance

- Access to mental health support and confidential counseling resources

- Flexible PTO for exempt employees (most employees take 15–20 days per year), plus 8 company-observed holidays

- Paid parental leave, including up to 14 weeks at 100% pay for birthing parents and 8 weeks at 100% pay for non-birthing parents

Growth & Development

- Career mobility and internal growth opportunities across the organization

- Professional development budgets for certifications, conferences, and learning available, subject to management approval

HOW WE WORK

We don’t just hire for skills. We hire for alignment. Kinfolk bring diverse perspectives, but we’re united by a shared set of values that shape how we work and how we show up for each other and our customers.

Run through walls, together - Every one of us is responsible for creating the culture we want to work in. High performance. Low drama. Always respectful. We assume the best in each other and challenge ideas, not intentions. We show up, work hard, and play to each other's strengths — because that’s how great teams win.

Raise the bar. Drop the ego - Attitudes are contagious. Every one of us is responsible for creating the culture we want to work in. High performance. Low drama. Always respectful. Like professional sports teams, we win by working in sync. We show up, work hard, and play to each other’s strengths.

Act like an owner - We are owners, fully accountable for achieving Kin’s mission. That requires positive, proactive, big-picture thinking well beyond our job descriptions. Ask questions, Take ownership. Do the right thing, even when it‘s hard. Because when Kin thrives, so do you. And so do our customers.