Staff Software Engineer, Enterprise Frameworks

About the role

We are seeking an experienced engineer who excels at creating scalable and extensible platform frameworks. In this role, you will design systems that serve as a foundation for other engineering teams, guiding them through complex technical challenges. If you thrive in environments where you can tackle ambiguous architectural issues and contribute to the core of an enterprise platform, we want to hear from you.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Design and enhance foundational platform capabilities that product engineering teams utilize daily, including frameworks like Search, Audit Trail, and Custom Fields.
• Lead discussions on architecture for shared infrastructure, focusing on data models, APIs, event-driven workflows, and operational patterns.
• Tackle complex technical challenges with innovative problem-solving, balancing immediate delivery needs with long-term platform objectives.
• Create and validate durable platform abstractions, ensuring they meet standards for correctness, performance, scalability, security, and developer experience.
• Integrate AI tools throughout the software development lifecycle to improve research, prototyping, implementation, and testing while ensuring outputs are secure and maintainable.
• Participate in on-call rotations and provide production support for the team's services.
• Engage in all phases of software development, from requirements gathering and design to implementation and delivery.
• Contribute to the evolution of Ridgeline's cloud-based platform with a focus on operability, scalability, security, and cost-effective infrastructure.
• Mentor and inspire engineers across teams regarding architecture, design decisions, reliability, and maintainability.
• Collaborate proactively with Platform, Product, and other engineering teams to foster partnerships and drive innovation.

Requirements

• A minimum of 8 years of experience in software engineering, specifically in architecting and delivering shared platforms or frameworks used by multiple engineering teams.
• Strong judgment in software architecture, with the ability to break down complex problems, evaluate design options, and make practical trade-offs.
• Proven experience in designing extensible data models, APIs, and platform abstractions that adapt to evolving business needs without compromising quality.
• Familiarity with distributed systems patterns, including event-driven workflows, asynchronous processing, and observability.
• Experience with data-intensive systems such as search indexing and event pipelines.
• Proficiency in backend engineering using object-oriented languages like Java, Kotlin, or Python, along with relational databases such as PostgreSQL.
• Experience managing production services, including monitoring, incident response, and performance optimization.
• Ability to work with large codebases and in agile environments, utilizing tools like JIRA.
• Strong understanding of data structures, algorithms, and secure software development practices.
• Capacity to focus on immediate deliverables while maintaining a broader perspective.
• Excellent mentoring skills and the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical partners.

Nice to have

• Experience with AI-assisted development tools such as Claude, Cursor, or Copilot.
• Hands-on experience with messaging and caching technologies like Kafka or Redis.
• Familiarity with container orchestration tools such as Kubernetes and Helm.
• Knowledge of distributed processing frameworks like Spark.
• Understanding of AWS infrastructure, particularly RDS and Lambda services.
• Basic knowledge of JavaScript, React, HTML, and CSS.
• Familiarity with multi-region cloud application architectures.
• Experience with testing frameworks like Jest, Pytest, or Cypress.
• Background in developing enterprise software applications.
• Knowledge of compliance and audit requirements in regulated industries, such as SOC 2.

Compensation and Benefits

The expected starting salary for this position is between $182,500 and $228,000. In specific locations, including the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City Metro Area, the salary range is between $200,500 and $251,000. Final compensation will depend on various factors, including your experience and expertise.

In addition to a competitive salary, Ridgeline offers participation in our Company Stock Plan, subject to the Stock Option Agreement. We provide a comprehensive benefits package, including unlimited vacation, educational and wellness reimbursements, and zero-cost employee insurance plans. For more details on our benefits, please visit our Careers page.

You must be authorized to work in the United States without requiring employer sponsorship.

About the company

Long narrow elevated forms define our work, with steep sides falling from a narrow crest. Height above surroundings ranges minimally to great spans. Origins vary, formed by deposit, erosion, or tectonics, using bedrock, sediment, lava, or ice. Ridges stand alone or link within larger systems. Smaller elements often branch from these features. Understanding these variables guides our approach. Site conditions, structure, and material shape each project. Clients gain precise mapping and clear analysis. Current needs drive solutions that respect natural layout and scale, supporting decisions with clear, factual terrain interpretation.