Software Architect, Back-End

TED Conferences, LLC; New York (NY); On-site; USD 175,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

TED Conferences LLC is seeking a Software Architect, Back-End, to own the back-end systems powering TED’s media and identity platforms. You will build and maintain large-scale Ruby on Rails services backed by MySQL, ensuring reliable delivery to millions of users.

You will collaborate with product managers and engineers, drive CI/CD, code reviews, and design reusable libraries while exploring AI-enabled workflows to accelerate development.

Qualifications

• 10+ years Ruby on Rails experience, including gem development or rails engines.
• 10+ years MySQL experience.
• 12+ years overall professional software development experience.
• Experience with DevOps including containerization (Docker/AWS).
• Experience delivering GraphQL APIs.
• Demonstrated success designing complex ecosystems of web services.
• Experience using AI to accelerate coding productivity without sacrificing quality.
• Experience with scalability, uptime and quality of service.
• Experience with data security and privacy.
• Strong focus on code-quality, documentation, testing, performance.

Responsibilities

• Own the back-end architecture powering TED’s media and identity systems.
• Deliver scalable Ruby on Rails back-ends with MySQL databases.
• Collaborate with product managers and engineers to align delivery.
• Lead code reviews, mentoring, and engineering best practices.
• Design reusable tools and libraries for back-end engineers.
• Ensure CI/CD, observability, testing, and documentation.
• Guide conference products back-end direction and evolution.
• Explore new technologies and share learnings with the team.
• Support AI-enabled workflows to accelerate development.
• Contribute to other duties and special projects as needed.

Skills

Ruby on Rails

MySQL

GraphQL

APIs

Docker

AWS

Git

Unix/Linux

AI in coding

Security

Tools

Docker

AWS

Git

Unix/Linux

Job description

• Screening Question Set: US Candidate Screening Questions Cover Letter Required
• Compensation: USD 175,000 - USD 200,000 - yearly

Company Description

ABOUT TED

TED is on a mission to discover and spread ideas that spark imagination, embrace possibility and catalyze impact. Our organization is devoted to curiosity, reason, wonder and the pursuit of knowledge — without an agenda. We welcome people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world and connection with others, and we invite everyone to engage with ideas and activate them in your community.

Job Description

POSITION OVERVIEW

TED delivers conferences and media that brings communities together around Ideas Worth Spreading and delivers those ideas to millions of people around the world. As Software Architect, Back-End, you will own the back-end systems and architecture that power TED’s media, identity, and associated systems. You will build and maintain large-scale systems in Ruby on Rails backed by MySQL. You will assure the reliable delivery of service to millions of people. This is an opportunity for your work to elevate the world’s most urgent ideas on a platform with global reach and a massive audience.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Ensure the successful delivery of TED’s digital platform experience through rigorous engineering best-practices including coding to team-accepted standards, test-driven development practices, CI/CD enablement, observability and alerting implementation, and thorough documentation.

Deliver a technology back-end that meets demanding SLAs 24/7/365

Collaborate with product managers, engineers and stakeholders to ensure clear and consistent expectations for delivery

Engage fully in program management practices and ceremonies including team including scrum-style meetings, standups, wider department meetings, use of ticketing and tracking systems and other processes that may be prescribed

Promote pairing and conduct code reviews with engineers in order to provide support, feedback and encouragement.

Foster growth and support other back-end engineers through constructive, collaborative code reviews

Analyze user requirements and design solutions for new features

Design tools and libraries that will be used by other back-end engineers and company-wide

Manage and monitor back-end testing, performance, and code quality

Influence and guide the direction of our conference products back-end

Experiment with new technologies and share discoveries with the team

Enthusiasm for and usage of AI-enabled workflows to accelerate the team’s work

Willingness to contribute however possible to ensure overall effectiveness of the position

Other duties and special projects as may be assigned from time to time

Qualifications

10+ years Ruby on Rails experience, including gem development or rails engines

10+ years MySQL experience

12+ years overall professional experience in software development

Experienced with DevOps technologies including containerization solutions with a preference for Docker/AWS

Experience authoring and delivering APIs via GraphQL strongly preferred

Demonstrated success in designing complex ecosystems of web services

Demonstrated experience using AI technology to accelerate coding productivity without sacrificing quality

Experience with issues of scalability, uptime and quality of service

Experience with data security and privacy

Experienced in additional relational and document-based database technologies

Strong focus on code-quality, documentation, test-driven development, performance, scalability, monitoring, and readability

Able to debug and test problems through complex, interconnected web services.

Curious and knowledgeable about new web technologies and frameworks.

Able to refactor legacy projects in addition to greenfield development

Ownership of work with the ability to drive projects from inception through to completion, balancing doing it right and doing it fast

Values cross-functional collaboration and a diverse workplace

Familiarity with git, version control, and Unix/Linux command line best practices

Additional Information

WORKPLACE CONDITIONS / PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND VISUAL DEMANDS

Physical: Repetitive movement of wrists, hands, and/or fingers

Mental/Visual: Concentrated mental and/or visual attention; work involves performing tasks to very close accuracy and quality specifications

Machines, Tools, Equipment, Electronic Devices, Computer Software: Ability to use common office equipment such as telephone, computer and copier

Computer programs to include MS Office, Mac programs, Google Docs, functional related databases

Travel: Upon request

TED Conferences LLC is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.