Ruby on Rails Software Engineer (Programmer/Analyst)

Ruby on Rails Software Engineer - Programmer/Analyst
Contract to Hire (will consider Direct Hire for right candidate)
Charlottesville, VA (Ultimately, can be remote but candidate needs to be able to come to Charlottesville one a week every other week) - LOCAL candidate strongly preferred.

Our client, a health-tech firm is seeking a Programmer/Analyst to join our collaborative software development team. In this role, you'll design, develop, and support business applications that help our clients solve real-world challenges. You'll work closely with project managers, fellow developers, and customers throughout the software development lifecycle, contributing to new features, maintaining existing applications, and helping shape future technical solutions.
We're looking for someone who enjoys solving complex problems, collaborating with others, and continuously learning. Whether your primary experience is with Ruby on Rails or another modern development framework, we value strong programming fundamentals and a willingness to learn. We are interested in individuals who want to be a part of a dynamic team and who want to establish a long-term career with a stable company.

Responsibilities:
Design, develop, and maintain Ruby on Rails applications following MVC architecture patterns
Write clean, efficient, and well-tested Ruby code adhering to Rails conventions and best practices
Develop and maintain RESTful APIs for web applications
Create responsive web applications with server-side rendering and modern front-end integration
Debug and troubleshoot application issues, performance bottlenecks, and scalability challenges
Maintain and upgrade existing Rails applications to newer versions
Participate in agile development processes including sprint planning, stand-ups, and retrospectives
Conduct and participate in peer code reviews to maintain code quality standards
Work closely with frontend developers, designers, and product managers on feature development
Document code, APIs, and development processes for team knowledge sharing
Contribute to technical architecture discussions and technology selection decisions
Support Help Desk personnel with specific application knowledge

Requirements:
Three or more years of professional software development experience, preferably with Ruby on Rails
or
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science (or related field) with demonstrated software development experience through internships, projects, or equivalent work.
Strong proficiency in Ruby programming language and Rails framework fundamentals is preferred; applicable proficiency in Python or another language/framework will be considered
Experience with relational databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc...) and Active Record ORM is preferred
Solid understanding of MVC architecture, RESTful API design, and web development principles is required
Proficiency with Git version control, branching strategies, and collaborative development workflows is required
Experience with testing frameworks (RSpec, Minitest) and test-driven development practices is preferred
Knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and front-end integration with Rails applications is preferred
Experience with Redis, Sidekiq, or other background job processing systems is a plus
Knowledge of modern front-end frameworks (React, Vue.js) and API-first development is a plus
Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills
Excellent written and verbal communication
Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Willingness to learn new technologies

Benefits:
Competitive salary
Health Insurance paired with a Health Savings Account (HSA)
401(k), with 4% matching
Paid Time Off
Life insurance and Long Term Disability Insurance

#DICE