Backend Engineer (Ruby, SQL) Full Time NEW

GitLab is a leading provider of the intelligent orchestration platform for DevSecOps, empowering organizations to streamline their software development lifecycle. With a global user base exceeding 50 million registered users and more than half of the Fortune 100 trusting GitLab, the company is dedicated to enhancing developer productivity, operational efficiency, security, and compliance. GitLab’s platform enables teams to accelerate digital transformation through integrated tools and automation, fostering a high-performance culture rooted in innovation, collaboration, and continuous knowledge exchange. The company values diversity, inclusion, and responsible AI integration, promoting a workplace where careers grow, ideas flourish, and every voice is valued.

About The Role

As a Staff Backend Engineer specializing in Ruby on Rails and AI within the Verify stage at GitLab, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and scaling the core infrastructure that powers GitLab CI. Your expertise will directly influence how AI is integrated into CI/CD workflows, impacting performance, reliability, and usability for users managing workflows ranging from small teams to large enterprises. This role involves defining standards for AI-assisted features, building observability and instrumentation to ensure trustworthy AI, and collaborating across teams to drive innovation. You will lead efforts to develop AI-powered functionalities, such as the AI Pipeline Builder and automated fix flows, while ensuring secure, scalable, and maintainable backend systems. Your work will help position GitLab as a leader in agentic CI, leveraging AI to optimize developer workflows and operational outcomes.

Qualifications

• Advanced proficiency with Ruby and Ruby on Rails, with extensive experience in building and maintaining reliable backend services.
• Strong expertise in PostgreSQL, including data modeling, query optimization, and scaling large datasets.
• Hands-on experience developing high-traffic, production-grade systems, particularly in CI, workflow orchestration, or infrastructure-heavy domains.
• Practical knowledge of designing and deploying AI-powered backend features, with an understanding of large language model limitations and responsible AI practices.
• Data-driven mindset with the ability to define hypotheses, establish baseline metrics, instrument changes, and measure success effectively.
• Familiarity with observability tools and patterns such as metrics, logging, and tracing to diagnose issues and improve system reliability.
• Strong backend architecture skills, emphasizing secure design, well-tested code, and strategies for zero-downtime deployments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of producing technical proposals, documentation, and collaborating remotely across functions.

Responsibilities

• Shape and enhance the GitLab CI backend infrastructure to improve performance, reliability, and user experience at scale.
• Design and implement AI-powered features for Agentic CI, including AI agents, flows, and integrations with GitLab’s Duo Agent Platform.
• Define success metrics for AI initiatives, establish measurable outcomes, and develop signals to facilitate continuous learning and iteration.
• Build instrumentation and observability layers such as dashboards, feature behavior metrics, and safeguards to ensure AI-assisted CI is trustworthy and transparent.
• Drive performance improvements across CI systems by hypothesizing, experimenting, and validating results with data.
• Develop secure, maintainable Ruby on Rails code, improving existing features and reducing technical debt.
• Lead cross-functional collaborations with Product, UX, and Infrastructure teams to influence architecture and execution strategies.
• Establish and share standards, patterns, and best practices for responsible AI integration and evidence-based engineering within the team.
• Stay informed of industry trends and competitive landscape to ensure GitLab CI remains best-in-class in an evolving agentic environment.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and comprehensive health benefits.
• Flexible remote work arrangements across multiple regions including APAC, Canada, Ireland, Netherlands, UK, and US.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development within a forward-thinking, innovative company.
• Collaborative and inclusive work environment that values diversity and individual contributions.
• Access to cutting-edge technology and participation in shaping the future of AI-powered DevSecOps tools.
• Paid time off and wellness programs designed to support work-life balance.

Equal Opportunity

GitLab is proud to be an equal‑opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. Our policies and practices are designed to promote diversity and inclusion, ensuring fair treatment and equal opportunities regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We are committed to creating a work environment where everyone feels valued and respected. If you require accommodations during the application process, please let us know. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply and join us in building transformative technology.