Lead NextJS Full Stack Engineer

ABOUT US Ruby Labs is a leading tech company that creates and operates innovative consumer products. We offer a diverse range of opportunities across the health, education, and entertainment industries. Our innovative teams are driving the future of consumer-led products, and we're always looking for passionate individuals to join us. Learn more about our story at: https://rubylabs.com/about-us/ ABOUT THE ROLE We’re building and scaling a profitable D2C LegalTech / Utilities platform used by hundreds of thousands of customers globally, processing large volumes of traffic and revenue every month. The product is well beyond MVP: it’s battle-tested in production, monetizing at scale, and now entering a phase of rapid growth and expansion. We’ve recently launched a second product in the same ecosystem and are doubling down on building a world-class engineering organization to support continued scale. We’re looking for a Lead Next.js Full-Stack Engineer who can combine hands-on technical excellence with strong ownership and leadership. You’ll be responsible not just for shipping code, but for shaping architecture, improving reliability, raising engineering standards, and guiding a small but growing team in a high-paced environment. This role is not about maintaining a legacy system. It’s about scaling real products used by real users — fast. If you’re looking for a comfortable 9–5 role, this won’t be the right fit. But if you’re excited by ownership, accountability, and building high-quality systems under real-world pressure, read on. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - Take ownership of core product components from concept to deployment. - Collaborate with the Product team to design scalable and maintainable architectures. - Participate in (and lead) code reviews and ensure best practices across the team. - Mentor junior and mid-level developers, providing guidance and fostering growth. - Contribute to hiring and onboarding new team members. - Maintain high code quality and application performance in a fast-paced, high-traffic environment. - Set up and improve CI/CD pipelines and development workflows. - Monitor, debug, and improve the stability and scalability of the system. - Help shape the engineering culture as the team grows. QUALIFICATIONS Core Technical Skills - At least 4 years of experience with Next.js for full-stack application development. - At least 2 years of experience with Next.js App Router - Strong expertise in JavaScript/TypeScript and modern ReactJS. - Experience leading a small team in a continuous deployment environment - Experience with CI/CD pipelines, Docker, and cloud infrastructure (preferably AWS, Cloudflare). - Solid understanding of PostgreSQL and Redis, including performance tuning and schema design. - Experience with A/B testing frameworks and using analytics to drive product decisions. - Familiarity with CMS (preferably Payload) Leadership & Collaboration - Demonstrated ability to mentor other engineers and elevate team performance. - Clear communication style — able to explain complex topics clearly and concisely. - A proactive mindset — you spot issues before they become problems and take ownership. - Comfortable making technical decisions and defending them with logic and data. - Experience leading teams or projects. NICE TO HAVE - Experience in D2C SaaS or LegalTech/Utility products. - Exposure to performance marketing, customer funnel optimization, or rapid MVP cycles. - Contributions to open-source or technical blogs. - Experience working in a fast-paced, high-growth startup environment LOCATION Ruby Labs operates within the CET (Central European Time) zone. Applicants from any country are welcome to apply for the position as long as they are located within approximately ± 4 hours of CET. This ensures optimal collaboration and communication during working hours. BENEFITS Discover the perks of being part of our vibrant team! We offer: - Remote Work Environment: Embrace the freedom to work from anywhere, anytime, promoting a healthy work-life balance. - Unlimited PTO: Enjoy unlimited paid time off to recharge and prioritize your well-being, without counting days. - Paid National Holidays: Celebrate and relax on national holidays with paid time off to unwind and recharge. - Company-provided MacBook: Experience seamless productivity with top-notch Apple MacBooks provided to all employees who need them. - Flexible Independent Contractor Agreement: Unlock the benefits of flexibility, autonomy, and entrepreneurial opportunities. Benefit from tax advantages, networking opportunities, reduced employment obligations, and the freedom to work from anywhere. Read more about it here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tzxGX4Uu7Ts_HCLFXESKLnKaaBfVCPf1f9AYZPrkjJM/preview?tab=t.0 Be part of our fast-growing team and seize this excellent opportunity for personal and professional growth! INTERVIEW PROCESS After submitting your application, we conduct a thorough review which typically takes 3 to 5 days, but may occasionally take longer due to the volume of applications received. If we see a potential fit, we proceed with the following steps: - Recruiter Screening (40 minutes) - Technical Interview (60 minutes) - Final Interview (60 minutes) LIFE AT RUBY LABS At Ruby Labs, we move fast, aim high, and expect the same from our team. We’re not here to play small—we’re here to build, grow, and win. That means we look for people who are ambitious, driven, and ready to give their best every single day. This is a place for individuals who thrive under pressure, embrace challenges, and see opportunity in every obstacle. If you’re hungry to achieve, motivated by impact, and want to grow at the speed of your own ambition, Ruby Labs offers the platform to make it happen. Here, effort is matched with reward. We recognize those who go all in and deliver results, and we create space for people who want more—more responsibility, more growth, and more success. #LI-Remote