Lead Software Engineer

RealSelf • New York, NY

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

RealSelf is seeking a Lead Software Engineer for its New York City-based engineering team. The role will lead a small engineering squad, initially focused on new booking and finance products. This is a hands-on engineering leadership position involving backend service development, architecture ownership, technical direction, and engineer mentorship. The engineer will collaborate with product, design, operations, and finance stakeholders to shape how consumers finance and book care and to contribute to RealSelf’s next-generation technology platform.

The role includes designing and building infrastructure for booking and scheduling, financing integrations, and financial collection and reporting. It also involves developing backend services for a high-traffic consumer marketplace, ensuring security and compliance around financial and personal data, and supporting reporting and business decision-making through APIs, data contracts, and feeds.

Requirements

• At least 7 years of backend or infrastructure engineering experience, including at least 1 year leading a team.
• Proven experience designing high-throughput, low-latency distributed systems in Python, Node.js, TypeScript, or similar technologies.
• Familiarity with financial data security and compliance frameworks, including PCI DSS, and privacy frameworks including GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA.
• Experience with cloud infrastructure (AWS preferred), infrastructure-as-code tools such as CloudFormation or Terraform, containerization with Docker or Kubernetes, and CI/CD best practices.
• Demonstrated technical leadership, including setting direction, unblocking engineers, and raising quality through reviews and mentorship.
• Proficiency in using AI tools to accelerate code delivery and improve quality.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, including experience working cross-functionally with product, operations, and finance teams.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with experimentation and growth engineering, including A/B testing, funnel optimization, and conversion instrumentation.
• Previous experience in consumer marketplaces, Martech, or healthcare technology.
• Hands-on experience with consumer financing providers such as Cherry, PatientFi, or CareCredit.
• Experience building booking, scheduling, or marketplace systems at scale.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead the architecture for booking and finance product infrastructure, including booking and scheduling flows, financing application integrations, and financial collection and reporting pipelines.
• Build and scale backend services using Node.js, TypeScript, and SQL for a high-traffic consumer marketplace.
• Ensure security and compliance for systems handling money or personal data, including PCI DSS scope reduction, GDPR and CCPA privacy, and audit-ready logging.
• Collaborate with engineering, product, and finance teams to design APIs, data contracts, and reporting feeds for revenue operations and business decisions.
• Mentor and guide engineers through code reviews, architectural reviews, and technical direction.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, 100% paid by RealSelf at the employee level.
• Paid time off, including no work on the employee's birthday and Summer Fridays.
• Generous leave options for life events such as becoming a parent.
• 401(k) plan with company match.
• Cosmetic treatment reimbursement program.
• Twelve company-wide holidays, in addition to no work on the employee's birthday.
• Flexible hybrid schedule for New York City employees, with in-office collaboration and remote work time.
• Opportunity for a performance-based bonus.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior