Staff Engineer, Core Platform (Hybrid)
Homebase · Toronto, ON
- On site
- Full-time
- $170,000 / year
- Toronto, ON
Job highlights
- Define Homebase's Core Platform architecture.
- Lead design of scalable SOA and EDA systems.
- Mentor engineers in architecture and best practices.
- Improve system reliability and developer velocity.
- Solve complex platform challenges impacting product.
About the role
About Homebase
At Homebase, you’ll join a team that’s bold, fast-moving, and obsessed with helping small businesses thrive. We build with empathy, act with urgency, and take big swings that drive real-world impact. Here, every Homie shows up to raise the bar, support one another, and celebrate wins as a team.
We’re not just building an app—we’re building unstoppable teams. So what do you say, are you in?
Your Impact Starts Here
We’re looking for a Staff Engineer (E5) to help define the architectural future of Homebase’s Core Platform. This role will work across our Identity & Notifications (IN) and Billing & Businesses (BB) teams—two foundational domains that power how customers access, communicate, and transact across Homebase.
As a senior technical leader, you’ll serve as both a hands-on contributor and a mentor. Reporting directly to the Senior Manager, Core Platform, you’ll partner with engineering managers and ICs to design scalable services aligned to our service-oriented (SOA) and event-driven (EDA) architectural vision. You’ll guide engineers through adoption, coach them on best practices, and identify opportunities to improve reliability, performance, and developer velocity across our systems.
This is a pivotal role for an experienced platform engineer who thrives on enabling teams, evolving architectures, and solving hard system problems that drive product impact at scale.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the technical bridge across the Identity & Notifications and Billing & Businesses teams, ensuring architectural coherence and reliability.
- Lead design and implementation of new patterns aligned to SOA and EDA.
- Mentor engineers across both teams, up-leveling their design, debugging, and systems thinking skills.
- Partner with EMs and PMs to clarify technical requirements, scope projects, and sequence foundational work.
- Identify system bottlenecks, propose architectural improvements, and drive pragmatic solutions.
- Guide the technical direction of high-impact initiatives, especially those introducing SOA/EDA patterns into our legacy Rails systems.
- Model AI-first development: leverage AI tools for code quality, design exploration, and delivery velocity.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure scalability, observability, and compliance.
The Foundation for Success
- 8+ years of software engineering experience, with significant time spent designing and scaling distributed systems.
- Strong background in Ruby and deep experience in SOA and event-driven architectures.
- Proven experience introducing and evolving architectural patterns within a legacy Rails application.
- Track record of identifying complex technical problems and leading teams to well-reasoned, durable solutions.
- Passion for mentoring engineers and guiding teams through architectural change.
- Strong communication and influence skills across technical and non-technical audiences.
- Familiarity with accounts, authentication, authorization, or billing systems is a plus.
- Commitment to AI fluency: uses AI to improve efficiency, reliability, and developer experience.
The Homie Way (Company Principles)
- Be Customer Obsessed – Solve problems with empathy and creativity.
- Move Fast, Learn Fast – Experiment, take action, and grow every day.
- Own Your Impact – Think big, focus on what matters, and make decisions you stand behind.
- Master Your Craft – Excellence fuels impact—show up, step up, and make your mark.
- Win Together – Put goals over roles, lead with trust, and connect to our mission and each other.
What We Offer
- Ownership & Savings: Stock options + TFSA/RRSP with 4% company match
- Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents
- Time Flexibility: Flex time off + company holidays + designated focus periods
- AI Access, For Real: We invest in builders and believe that curiosity shouldn't have a paywall. That means you’ll have access to paid AI tools with minimal restrictions, so you can build, experiment, and level up your craft.
- Family Support: Maternity/Parental Leave EI top-up support offered (after 6 months of service)
- Work Your Way: Work From Anywhere Month + meeting-free weeks yearly
- Protection Plans: Life insurance + short/long-term disability coverage
- Workspace Perks: Meals provided, team offsites, and Customer Days
Our Hybrid Rhythm
We believe collaboration drives impact. That’s why Tuesday and Wednesday are our required in-office days—a time to move faster as a team, build deeper connections, make better decisions, and build together.
Interview Process
- Meet the Talent Acquisition team, Mavel W.
- Meet the Hiring Manager, Andy M.
- Participate in Technical Interviews
- Meet the VP of Engineering, Andrea C.
- Background Check + Offer Stage
Welcome to the team, Homie 🎉
Belonging at Homebase
We're committed to fostering a welcoming space where every Homie can be their full self. Experience comes in many forms—so if you're excited about this role, even if you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications, we encourage you to apply!
Homebase will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.
About Homebase (Company Overview)
Homebase is the everything app for hourly teams—built to simplify the day-to-day and superpower local businesses. With tools for scheduling, time clocks, payroll, communication, HR, and more, we help teams stay connected and in control. Today, over 150,000 small (but mighty) businesses rely on us to make work radically easier. Together, we’ve tracked over a billion hours for 2M+ workers—and we’re just getting started.
At Homebase, we celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all candidates and do not discriminate based on any legally protected status. If you need accommodations during the hiring process, please let us know—we’re committed to ensuring fair and equitable access for all.
Key skills/competency
- Staff Engineer
- Core Platform
- Software Engineering
- Distributed Systems
- Ruby
- Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)
- Event-Driven Architecture (EDA)
- Legacy Rails Application
- Mentoring
- Technical Leadership
Skills & topics
- Staff Engineer
- Core Platform
- Software Engineering
- Distributed Systems
- Ruby
- Service-Oriented Architecture
- Event-Driven Architecture
- Rails
- Technical Leadership
- Mentoring
- Platform Engineering
- System Design
- Scalability
- Developer Velocity
- AI Tools
- Hybrid Work
- Tech Lead
- Architecture
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight 8+ years in distributed systems, Ruby, SOA, and EDA.
- Showcase impact: Provide examples of leading architectural changes and problem-solving.
- Emphasize mentorship: Detail your experience guiding engineering teams.
- Prepare for technical interviews: Be ready to discuss system design and scaling.
- Understand the 'Homie Way': Align your responses with Homebase's core values.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the role of a Staff Engineer at Homebase regarding their Core Platform?
- As a Staff Engineer, Core Platform at Homebase, you will be instrumental in defining the architectural future of the company's core systems, working across critical teams like Identity & Notifications and Billing & Businesses. You'll act as a senior technical leader, hands-on contributor, and mentor, driving the adoption of SOA and EDA patterns and improving system reliability and developer velocity.
- What architectural patterns are key for the Staff Engineer role at Homebase?
- The Staff Engineer role at Homebase heavily emphasizes Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) and Event-Driven Architecture (EDA). A strong background in these areas, including experience introducing and evolving them within legacy Rails applications, is crucial for success in this position.
- How does Homebase encourage AI adoption for its engineers?
- Homebase is committed to AI fluency and provides engineers with access to paid AI tools with minimal restrictions. This allows engineers to leverage AI for improving code quality, exploring design options, enhancing delivery velocity, and boosting overall efficiency and reliability.
- What is the expected work arrangement for the Staff Engineer, Core Platform role at Homebase?
- This is a hybrid role at Homebase. While offering flexibility, the company mandates specific in-office days (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) to foster collaboration, deeper connections, and faster team progress. This hybrid rhythm is designed to maximize impact through in-person synergy.
- What kind of experience is Homebase looking for in a Staff Engineer candidate?
- Homebase seeks candidates with 8+ years of software engineering experience, particularly in designing and scaling distributed systems. A strong foundation in Ruby, deep knowledge of SOA and EDA, proven ability to evolve architectures in legacy Rails apps, and a passion for mentoring are highly valued.
- How can I best prepare for the technical interviews for the Staff Engineer position at Homebase?
- To prepare for technical interviews at Homebase for the Staff Engineer role, focus on demonstrating your expertise in distributed systems design, SOA, and EDA. Be ready to discuss how you've led architectural changes, solved complex system problems, and mentored other engineers. Practicing system design problems and being able to articulate your thought process will be beneficial.
- What are the core values or principles that guide employees at Homebase?
- Homebase employees are guided by the 'Homie Way' principles: 'Be Customer Obsessed,' 'Move Fast, Learn Fast,' 'Own Your Impact,' 'Master Your Craft,' and 'Win Together.' These values shape how Homies work, make decisions, and support one another.