Staff Software Engineer, Core Products

Gusto

Staff Software Engineer building Gusto’s payroll, benefits, and HR products for small businesses. Scaling Ruby/Rails and JavaScript/React applications while delivering customer-focused features with AI-enabled development.

Posted 8/15/2026full-timeNew York City • California, New York • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $197,000 - $247,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates extensive experience in software development, particularly in building scalable Ruby/Rails and JavaScript/React applications. Proven ability to mentor engineers, influence product direction, and manage complex projects with measurable customer impact.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Ruby/Rails Application DevelopmentJavaScript/React Application DevelopmentAI Tools and FrameworksMentorship and Team LeadershipProduct Lifecycle Management

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Software DevelopmentScalable SolutionsBackend API DevelopmentFrontend Code WritingLarge-Scale RefactoringPerformance OptimizationReliability EngineeringProduct Improvement PrototypingComplex Problem SolvingCustomer Impact Measurement

Soft Skills

CuriosityExperimentationCollaborationOwnershipCommunication

Tools & Technologies

Gusto Core ProductsAI SystemsProduct Management ToolsData Analysis ToolsDesign Tools

Industry Keywords

PayrollBenefitsHRRetirementCustomer Pain Points

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

JavaScriptReactRubyRuby on Rails

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Design, build, and test Gusto core products including Payroll, Benefits, HR, Retirement, Gusto Money, Gusto Solo, and Gusto Pro
Mentor engineers solving complex technical problems at large scale
Scale Ruby/Rails and JavaScript/React applications
Collaborate with Product Management, Data, Design, and Platform Engineering teams to understand customer pain points and develop solutions
Prototype, iterate, and launch product improvements daily
Operate across the full product lifecycle from specification and design through launch and long-term iteration
Write frontend code and design and build reliable backend APIs
Influence product direction and own post-launch product outcomes

Requirements

What you’ll need

Typically 10+ years of software development experience
Experience building scalable solutions that eliminate customer pain
Experience leveraging AI tools or systems to accelerate development, improve testing, and deliver product capabilities
Curiosity and experimentation with emerging AI frameworks
Ability to evaluate and scale AI use safely across teams
Experience owning multi-quarter projects solving complex engineering problems with measurable customer impact at scale
Experience with large-scale refactors, performance issues, and reliability issues
Strong ownership of all aspects of a product area
Ability to mentor engineers to maximize performance and impact
Two-day travel to a Gusto office for onboarding is required
Secure, reliable, and consistent internet connection when working from an approved non-office location

Benefits

Comp & perks

Competitive base pay
Health insurance
401(k)
Equity (RSUs)
Secure, reliable, and consistent internet connection required when approved to work outside a Gusto office
Reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans