Senior Software Engineer

Role Description

NextLink Labs is seeking a versatile Senior Software Engineer to join our Custom Software Development consulting team. Our client portfolio spans a wide range of languages and frameworks, including Ruby on Rails, React, Node.js, Rust, Python, Java, and Go. The ideal candidate brings deep, production-proven expertise in at least one modern language or framework, a generalist's instincts, and the flexibility to move across stacks and problem domains as engagements demand.

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable web applications, APIs, and backend services for client engagements.
• Work across a variety of languages and frameworks (e.g., Ruby on Rails, React, Node.js, Rust, Python, Java, Go) depending on client needs and your strengths.
• Architect service-oriented, microservices, or event-driven solutions appropriate to each engagement.
• Make pragmatic architecture decisions to identify and remediate technical debt in legacy applications.
• Communicate directly with clients, leading demos, gathering feedback, and shaping solutions to their pain points.
• Work in an agile team environment with regular stand-ups.
• Engage in code reviews with teammates and uphold strong testing and debugging practices.
• Contribute to internal best practices, documentation, and code templates.
• Engage in thought leadership through blog posts, webinars, and other marketing materials.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience building production web applications or backend services.
• Deep proficiency in at least one modern language/framework (e.g., Ruby on Rails, React/Node.js, Rust, Python/Django, Java, Go, C#/.NET) with a track record of production ownership.
• Experience designing and implementing APIs (REST, GraphQL, or gRPC) and integrating with third-party services.
• Proficiency with relational databases (PostgreSQL or similar) and sound database design/optimization practices.
• Strong testing and debugging discipline (e.g., RSpec/Minitest, Jest/RTL, or language-appropriate equivalents).
• Ability to work independently, take ownership, and scope features or full projects from client requirements.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills, able to build buy-in, facilitate compromise, and manage client expectations.
• Proficient with Git and modern version control workflows.
• Understanding of accessibility, security, and scalable application design principles.
• Comfort moving between languages, frameworks, and problem domains as engagements demand.

Requirements

• Experience with a second major language/framework beyond your primary stack.
• Familiarity with distributed systems patterns (microservices, event sourcing, CQRS, actor-based concurrency).
• DevOps tooling experience (AWS, Azure, Terraform, Docker, Kubernetes).
• Experience with observability/monitoring tooling (OpenTelemetry, Datadog, Grafana, Sentry).
• Experience with event streaming (Kafka) or message-driven architectures.
• Prior consulting or client-facing engineering experience.
• Experience modernizing or migrating legacy applications.

Benefits

• Compensation commensurate with experience and stack specialization (typical range $120,000–$160,000 annually).
• We're a technical consulting firm that values clarity, ownership, and outcomes.
• Competitive salary with bonus structure.
• Remote-first culture, flexible work schedule, and autonomy to do your best work.
• Healthcare (Medical, Dental, and Vision) and 401k.
• Paid parental leave.
• Responsibility and autonomy at a growing company.
• The opportunity to build something big and exciting.