7+ years of relevant experience in advanced software development, including 2+ years of engineering leadership. Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field. Solid backend development background (e.g., Ruby, Python), with enough technical depth to support engineers and understand challenges. Strong understanding of databases (PostgreSQL preferred), caching systems (Redis, Memcached), and background processing (e.g., Sidekiq). Familiarity with software engineering fundamentals, best practices, and problem-solving, with the ability to guide mid-level and senior engineers. Familiarity with testing strategies and CI/CD pipelines, focusing on maintainability and code quality. Understanding of scalability, reliability, observability, and security principles. Awareness of incident response practices. Proven ability to lead teams in execution — guiding engineers, resolving blockers, and ensuring delivery commitments are met. Strong communication, organizational, and stakeholder management skills, with a focus on collaboration across Product, Design, and Engineering. Confident, detail-oriented, and highly motivated to contribute to the organization's growth as part of a high-performing team.