Team Lead Developer (Next.js / Node.js)

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 are looking for a Team Lead Developer who will be fully responsible for the technical implementation and product delivery of our platform. This is a hands-on engineering role - you will write code every day, lead and push the development team, and take complete ownership of technical decisions and outcomes.

This role is not for someone who manages from a distance. You are expected to be the strongest technical person in the team, deeply involved in architecture and implementation, and able to think in business outcomes - not just code.

If you are a solution-driven person, this role is for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Hands-On Development.
Actively build complex features and modules using Next.js and Node.js. You are not a manager who stopped coding - you are a developer who also leads.

• Technical Ownership.
Design system architecture, define the technology stack, and make key technical decisions. You are fully accountable for the quality, scalability, and reliability of the product.

• Team Leadership.
Lead, mentor, and push the development team. Run 1-on-1s, conduct code reviews, set high execution standards, and drive continuous improvement in delivery quality and speed.

• Business Impact.
Understand product and business goals and translate them into technical solutions that deliver real value. Propose improvements proactively - do not wait to be asked.

• Process & Delivery.
Implement and optimize Agile workflows - sprint planning, task estimation, delivery tracking. Ensure the team ships on time without accumulating technical debt.

• Quality & Security.
Enforce best practices in coding, testing, caching, and performance monitoring. Design and implement security measures at application, infrastructure, and data levels - including OWASP Top 10, CSP, CORS, and API hardening.

• AI Integration.
Research and integrate AI-driven solutions to improve the product and streamline development workflows. Practical experience with AI services (OpenAI API, LangChain, or equivalent) is expected.

• Analytics & A/B Testing.
Collaborate with the product team to integrate analytics systems and run A/B tests. Own the technical side of experimentation infrastructure.

Required Technical Skills

• Next.js - minimum 2 years of active commercial experience with v14.x/v15.x. Must have led at least two projects where Next.js was the primary frontend framework.

• Node.js - minimum 3 years of hands-on experience with NestJS, Fastify, or Hono. Clear understanding of architectural trade-offs required.

• Databases - strong proficiency with PostgreSQL and/or Supabase including query optimization and schema design.

• ORM - deep practical knowledge of Prisma or Drizzle ORM - complex queries, migrations, performance.

• Caching - strong understanding of caching strategies (in-memory, distributed, CDN) and practical application using Redis or equivalent.

• Docker - full proficiency with Docker and docker-compose for containerized application management and deployment.

• AI - practical experience integrating AI services on client and server side. Solid understanding of fundamental AI workflows.

• Workers & Queues - practical experience with background workers and message queues (BullMQ, RabbitMQ, or equivalent).

• Security - proven experience building secure systems - OWASP Top 10, CSP, CORS, API security, hosting hardening.

• Analytics & A/B Testing - experience with analytics tools (PostHog, Mixpanel, GA4) and A/B testing infrastructure.

Leadership & Personal Qualities

• Minimum 2 years in a Team Lead, Tech Lead, or equivalent role with direct responsibility for a development team.

• Autonomous - defines what needs to be done without being told, executes without hand-holding.

• Business-minded - understands product goals and connects technical decisions to business outcomes.

• Pushes the team - sets high standards, drives accountability, doesn't accept mediocrity.

• Proposes solutions, not problems - brings options, not blockers.

• Clear communicator - able to explain technical decisions to non-technical stakeholders concisely.

• Proactive and highly accountable - owns the product's technical success end-to-end.

• Fluent Russian language proficiency, with the ability to communicate clearly and professionally.

Nice to have

• Experience with CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI).

• Experience with monorepo tools (Turborepo, Nx).

• Experience writing unit and integration tests (Jest, Playwright).

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.

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