Junior Software Engineer in Algorithms & Optimization

RideCo On-Demand Transit; Southwestern Ontario; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A rapidly growing transportation technology company in Ontario is seeking a Software Engineer/Data Scientist to contribute to their optimization algorithms. The role includes responsibilities in a dynamic team environment that involves both software engineering and data science tasks. Ideal candidates will have a solid foundation in algorithms, programming skills in languages like Python and Rust, and a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Competitive salary and benefits are included.

Benefits

Flex-time work schedules

Catered lunches

Social events

Commuter program

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of Algorithms and Data Structures.
• Ability to explain complex concepts from research publications.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to distributed platform architecture design.
• Build systems to automate manual bottlenecks.
• Enhance real-time traffic forecasting systems.
• Analyze ridership data to predict ride demand.

Skills

Algorithms and Data Structures

Critical thinking

Python

JavaScript / TypeScript

Rust

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related discipline

Tools

Django

Flask

AWS

Terraform

PostgreSQL

Job description

This is an opportunity in the exciting and fast-growing transportation technology industry. Public transit is being transformed from a system of static, scheduled fixed-routes to a dynamic on-demand network, and you will be one of the pioneers shaping this transformation.

As the newest member of our Algorithms & Optimization team, you will contribute to the complex suite of algorithms that power RideCo’s core ridesharing platform. The ideal candidate must possess a sound grasp of Algorithms and Data Structures, strong critical thinking and reasoning skills, and the ability to produce readable, maintainable, and working software programs from abstract concepts and ideas. You will thrive in a small-team environment with fast-paced agile iterations, where every developer contributes code that delivers a meaningful impact to our customers and the company.

Day‑to‑Day Responsibilities

At RideCo, you will be switching hats between Software Engineer and Data Scientist depending on the problem at hand.

As a Software Engineer, you will

• Contribute to a distributed platform architecture design for smart partitioning of the problem space, caching mechanisms, and microservices.
• Build systems to intelligently automate manual bottlenecks in service rollouts.
• Expand the system’s capabilities to new features and use‑cases while maintaining a high level of performance.
• Work with the team to convert prototypes for novel optimization algorithms into a production‑ready and deployable product.
• Build tools to gain greater visibility into the performance of our optimization engine.

As a Data Scientist, you will

• Enhance the accuracy of the ETAs in RideCo’s real‑time traffic forecasting system.
• Analyze ridership data to develop models to predict ride‑demand, which will be used to reposition RideCo’s fleet of vehicles.
• Fine‑tune the hyperparameters in RideCo’s Optimization algorithms to extract greater value from the system.

Your Playground / What You’ll Learn

• Languages: Python, Rust, JavaScript / TypeScript (Angular)
• Web Stack: Django, Flask, Gunicorn, Nginx
• Mobile: Ionic, hybrid apps for Android and iOS
• Logistics Engine: algorithms for real‑time vehicle routing, Optimization
• Mapping/Routing: OpenStreetMap, Open Source Routing Machine, Traffic forecasting algorithms
• Infrastructure: AWS, Terraform, Redis, PostgreSQL, Celery, RabbitMQ
• Health/Monitoring: AWS CloudWatch, Prometheus, Grafana, Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana
• Development Processes: Agile, CI/CD, Jenkins, zero‑downtime software updates

Qualifications and Experience

Required

• A deep and intuitive understanding of Algorithms and Data Structures.
• Ability to process, assimilate, and explain complex and abstract concepts from research publications.

Preferred

• Combinatorics and Discrete Optimization
• Online Algorithms
• Data Science / Machine Learning
• Open Street Maps or Open Source Routing Machine
• Distributed computing / Web Scale architectures.

Education

• A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical discipline.

Compensation and Benefits

• Base Salary: $80 - $100K + performance‑based bonus or stock options.
• Work‑Life Balance & Additional Perks: Flex‑time work schedules, vacation time, bi‑weekly catered lunches, social events, casual dress code.
• Benefits Plan: Medical, dental, prescription, life/health spending accounts and more.
• Work Environment: Located in KW’s most desirable workspace in the heart of Uptown Waterloo.
• Commuter Program: Complimentary rides to and from work in Waterloo Region.

Who We Are

http://www.rideco.com

RideCo powers on‑demand transit. Public transit agencies and fleet operators use RideCo's cloud‑based software platform to provide on‑demand shared rides in dynamically routed buses and vans. RideCo is growing rapidly, and it is the most adopted on‑demand paratransit and microtransit software among the 10 largest cities in the United States. Our marquee clients include Philadelphia’s SEPTA, San Antonio Metro, and Houston Metro.

RideCo’s software powers a diverse range of use cases, including paratransit, residential/suburban travel; first‑mile‑last‑mile connections for transit hubs; and corporate employee transportation. The success of these services is supported by the industry's best customer service, including a 95% plus customer retention rate. We are investing to scale up and capture the growing demand for on‑demand shared rides solutions.

RideCo is proud to be an equal‑opportunity employer. We hire the best talent and strive to build a meritocratic culture. In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. If you require special accommodation to complete any portion of the application or interview process, please mention this in your application.

Why is this role open? Existing Vacancy

RideCo is committed to a fair and transparent recruitment process. We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) or automated decision‑making tools to screen, evaluate, or select candidates. All applications are reviewed and assessed by our hiring team.