Staff Backend Engineer (Ruby on Rails/AI), Verify
GitLab · United States
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $150,000 / year
- United States
Job highlights
- Shape and scale GitLab CI backend infrastructure.
- Design and implement AI-powered CI/CD features.
- Define and measure AI success in CI workflows.
- Build observability for trustworthy AI-assisted CI.
- Lead cross-functional technical initiatives.
About the role
Staff Backend Engineer AI at GitLab
GitLab is the intelligent orchestration platform for DevSecOps, trusted by millions globally to ship better, more secure software faster. We embrace AI as a core productivity multiplier, integrating it into daily workflows to drive efficiency, innovation, and impact. At GitLab, careers accelerate, innovation flourishes, and every voice is valued. We offer a high-performance culture driven by values and continuous knowledge exchange.
About the Role
As a Staff Backend Engineer (AI) in the Verify stage at GitLab, you will shape and scale the core infrastructure behind GitLab CI. You'll integrate AI into CI/CD workflows, impacting performance, reliability, and usability for millions of CI jobs. AI is a top priority, and you will define how we design, build, and iterate on AI-assisted and agentic CI experiences. You will set standards for our AI agent portfolio, measure success, instrument behavior, and account for LLM limitations. You'll also integrate GitLab's Duo Agent Platform into CI workflows at scale, ensuring a fast, reliable, secure, and observable foundation.
Key Responsibilities
- Partner with Engineering, Product, and UX leadership to refine priorities and identify innovation opportunities.
- Define success metrics for our AI agent portfolio and track progress against them.
- Analyze the competitive landscape to maintain GitLab CI's best-in-class status.
- Develop AI Pipeline Builder to auto-create pipelines and onboard new users.
- Automate the
Skills & topics
- Staff Backend Engineer
- AI
- Ruby on Rails
- GitLab CI
- DevOps
- CI/CD
- Backend Development
- Infrastructure
- Observability
- PostgreSQL
- LLM
- Agentic CI
- Software Engineering
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight Ruby on Rails, PostgreSQL, AI backend features, and CI/CD experience.
- Showcase data-driven approach: Emphasize hypothesis formulation, metric instrumentation, and outcome measurement.
- Prepare for technical interviews: Review backend architecture, secure design, and observability patterns.
- Demonstrate AI understanding: Articulate your experience with LLM limitations and responsible AI integration.
- Emphasize collaboration: Highlight remote, asynchronous, and cross-functional communication skills.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the primary focus for the Staff Backend Engineer AI role at GitLab?
- The primary focus is to shape and scale GitLab CI backend infrastructure, integrating AI into CI/CD workflows to enhance performance, reliability, and usability for millions of users.
- What AI-related responsibilities are involved in this Staff Backend Engineer position?
- You will define how to design, build, and iterate on AI-assisted and agentic CI experiences, set standards for AI agents, measure success, instrument behavior, and integrate GitLab's Duo Agent Platform.
- What programming languages and technologies are essential for this Staff Backend Engineer role?
- Advanced proficiency in Ruby and Ruby on Rails, along with strong PostgreSQL skills, is essential. Experience with AI-powered backend features and CI/CD infrastructure is also key.
- How does GitLab approach AI integration in its products and workflows?
- GitLab views AI as a core productivity multiplier, expecting all team members to incorporate AI into their daily workflows to drive efficiency, innovation, and impact.
- What kind of experience is beneficial for a Staff Backend Engineer applying to GitLab?
- Experience building and maintaining reliable backend services in large codebases, handling high-traffic production systems, and a data-driven approach to engineering are highly beneficial.
- How does GitLab support its remote, full-time employees?
- GitLab offers comprehensive support including flexible paid time off, team member resource groups, equity compensation, growth and development funds, and parental leave.
- What is the Verify stage at GitLab focused on?
- The Verify stage is dedicated to collaboration and iteration, helping users run fast, reliable, and scalable Continuous Integration (CI) pipelines for projects of all sizes.
- Should I still apply if I don't meet every qualification for the Staff Backend Engineer AI role?
- Yes, GitLab encourages interested candidates to apply even if they don't meet every single qualification, as many successful candidates have varying levels of experience.