At Gusto, we're on a mission to grow the small business economy. We handle the hard stuff- payroll, health insurance, 401(k)s, and HR- so over 500,000 small business owners nationwide can focus on their craft. Artificial Intelligence is a fundamental part of how work gets done at Gusto, and all team members actively engage with AI tools to drive efficiency and innovation.
As a Senior Full Stack Engineer on the HRX (HR Experience) Engineering team, you will independently own features end-to-end across frontend, backend, and data layers—from initial technical scoping and architecture through implementation, automated testing, deployment, and production monitoring. Operating in an agile, cross-functional pod alongside Product Managers and Product Designers, you will write maintainable code using modern frameworks (Ruby on Rails, React, TypeScript, SQL), provide technical guidance to less-tenured engineers, and ensure high platform reliability for hundreds of thousands of employers and employees.
Key Responsibilities
- End-to-End Feature Ownership: Scrape, architect, build, test, ship, and monitor full-stack features for Gusto’s HR Experience (HRX) product surface with minimal supervision.
- Full-Stack Development: Write clean, well-tested, maintainable code across modern backend frameworks (Ruby on Rails, Node.js, Python/Django) and frontend platforms (React, TypeScript).
- Database & API Design: Design relational database schemas, write efficient SQL queries, manage migrations, and build performant RESTful or GraphQL APIs.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Product Managers, UX Designers, and engineering peers to translate business requirements into technical solutions and project roadmaps.
- Operational Excellence & On-Call: Participate in the team’s on-call rotation, lead incident response for owned systems, monitor production health metrics, and continuously improve feature reliability.
- Mentorship & Engineering Standards: Conduct code reviews, participate in sprint planning/retrospectives, establish testing standards, and mentor less-tenured engineers.
Requirements
Software Engineering Depth & Domain Craft
- 8+ years of professional software engineering experience with demonstrated full-stack ownership.
- End-to-End Ownership Track Record: Proven ability to design, build, and ship features spanning frontend, backend, and data layer with minimal oversight.
- Backend & Frontend Proficiency:
- Strong fluency in at least one modern backend framework (e.g., Ruby on Rails, Node.js, Python/Django).
- Strong fluency in at least one modern frontend framework (e.g., React, TypeScript).
- Relational Databases: Solid grounding in relational database systems (PostgreSQL, MySQL) - including schema design, migrations, index optimization, and query tuning.
- Engineering Fundamentals: Firm grasp of software design patterns, data structures, algorithms, automated testing (unit, integration, end-to-end), and CI/CD pipelines.
- Communication: Excellent written and verbal technical communication skills, including authoring clear technical design documents.
Work Logistics
- Ability to work a hybrid schedule out of Gusto's New York City, NY office (2-3 days per week in-office).
Preferred Qualifications
- Prior experience within HR tech, payroll, fintech, or benefits administration software domains.
- Experience designing and maintaining scalable RESTful or GraphQL APIs.
- Exposure to web accessibility (a11y) standards and WCAG compliance.
Total Rewards & Benefits
- Compensation & Equity: NYC base salary of $197,000 - $247,000 USD + Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) grants so every employee shares in company growth.
- Comprehensive Healthcare: Premium medical, dental, and vision insurance options for employees and eligible dependents.
- Financial Security & Time Off: 401(k) retirement plan, flexible time off policy, and paid parental leave.
- In-Office Perks: Vibrant hybrid office experience in NYC with catered lunches, team events, and continuous learning stipends.