DescriptionHi, I am Robert, Director of Software Engineering at Musora. We're an online music education company with the mission to create a world where everyone can play the songs they love!
As our Lead Back End Engineer, you'll inspire and mentor a talented back-end engineering team, cultivating a culture of technical excellence and innovation. Ready to make an impact? Let's build the future together!
Key Duties & Responsibilities1. API Design

• Architect and maintain RESTful and GraphQL APIs that power front-end applications (Vue.js and React Native).
• Establish best practices for API design, versioning, and security.
• Create APIs to ensure smooth integration between systems and third-party services.

2. Database Design & Optimization

• Design and optimize database schemas for MySQL, ensuring data integrity, scalability, and performance.
• Collaborate with engineers to ensure schema changes are backward-compatible and well-documented.
• Introduce and maintain strategies for efficient indexing, query optimization, and migration processes.
• Plan and execute strategies for handling high transaction volumes and data growth.

3. Team Leadership and Collaboration

• Manage and mentor the back-end engineering team through code reviews, coaching, and career development.
• Foster a collaborative engineering culture focused on quality, speed, and learning.
• Work cross-functionally with product managers, designers, and front-end engineers to translate product requirements into technical solutions.

4. Operational Excellence

• Own the reliability and performance of the back-end infrastructure.
• Optimize CI/CD pipelines and deployment workflows using Docker and Laravel Vapor.
• Oversee monitoring, logging, and alerting systems to ensure consistent uptime and system health.
• Drive best practices for code quality, deployment safety, and system observability.

5. Driving Innovation

• Explore and implement new technologies and frameworks to improve system performance and maintainability.
• Advocate for continuous learning and improvement within the engineering team.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• 7+ years in back-end development, with 3+ years in a leadership or mentorship role.
• Experience designing scalable architectures for SaaS or similar platforms.

Technical Skills

• Expert knowledge of PHP (Laravel) or similar languages/frameworks.
• Expert-level experience in designing, building, and maintaining APIs.
• Strong experience with MySQL, including schema design, query optimization, and indexing.
• Familiarity with containerization tools (Docker) and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP).

Soft Skills

• Strong leadership, mentorship, and communication skills.
• A collaborative mindset and ability to bridge gaps between technical and non-technical teams.
• Passion for delivering high-quality, scalable solutions in a delivery-focused environment.

BONUS POINTS IF YOU HAVE:

• Experience integrating back-end systems with mobile applications.
• Familiarity with caching strategies and edge computing infrastructure for performance optimization.

Perks to working here (your benefits)

• Extended Benefits. Health, Prescriptions, Dental, Mental Health Support and Vision Benefits for full-time/permanent positions - we care about our employees and we want to make sure YOU have the benefits you need to stay healthy and well.
• Paid time off - we understand and value the importance of rest and recovery and that includes time away from work!
• Career Growth. You're joining a growing team and company with ambitious goals.
• Learning & Development. We encourage our team to develop their unique strengths, offering Gallup-Clifton Strengths coaching and workshops, along with tailored education opportunities.
• Onsite Amenities and Events. Onsite parking, on-site gym, and events! Be a part of a fun-loving team!
• Onsite SNACKS, beer/kombucha fridge, coffee/tea and more! We want to make sure you stay fuelled throughout the day!
• Casual dress. We want you to feel comfortable when you work. No need to wear a business suit [unless you want to].
• Hybrid Options. Depending on your role, you'll have the flexibility to work in a hybrid setup, combining remote work with in-office collaboration.