August 23, 2023 · 7 min read

Ruby on Rails engineer job description

For years, Ruby on Rails has become a go-to framework in software development. Its scalability, security, and cost-effectiveness mean it’s one of the most used solutions for businesses looking to create and maintain applications.

However, because many developers have Ruby on Rails skills, it can be a challenge to bring a suitable developer on board. That said, once you have the right Ruby on Rails engineer job description, sifting through the candidates gets easier.

But what should you include in your job description?

If you’re not sure, help is at hand. At Gun.io, we’ve helped hundreds of companies hire talented developers, so we’ve compiled a Ruby on Rails developer job description template to help you attract highly-qualified developers.

Writing a concise job description is essential when hiring a developer. The specifics you list will help candidates assess whether they’re the right fit for your company. Your Ruby on Rails engineer job description should also include a list of responsibilities, required skills, and perks for working at your company.

Again, don’t worry if this sounds overwhelming. We’ve helped companies of all shapes and sizes – from Fortune 500s to startups – hire talented programmers. As a result, we’ve put together a Ruby on Rails developer job description template, which you can find below.

Ruby on Rails developer job description template

This job description will do three things:

It will introduce candidates to your company’s culture and values
It will help candidates understand what the role will entail
It will get candidates excited about the possibility of working for your company!

You’re welcome to copy and edit this template as you see fit.

Okay, so let’s start with a detail that’s easy to overlook: The job title.

Job title

Think of your job title like a newspaper headline. It’s the first thing candidates see before reading your Ruby on Rails engineer job description, so it must capture their attention. After all, you want to attract candidates and get them to click through.

So how do you do this?

You want to keep the title short, but there’s a line. Make it too short, and you won’t capture a candidate’s attention. For example, a broad title like “Ruby on Rails Developer” won’t stand out on a job board.

Instead, you should thread in qualifiers. Qualifiers can be things like seniority level and the type of Ruby on Rails developer you’re looking for.

Other technical qualifiers can also help, like required languages or frameworks. So can non-technical qualifiers, such as whether the role is full-time, part-time, or freelance. The role’s location (remote or office-based) is also worth mentioning.

An example of a good job title is “Junior Ruby on Rails Developer – Web Applications – Back-End (Remote)”. It details the seniority level, type of work, and location.

Now that you’ve got your job title, it’s time to start crafting your Ruby on Rails developer job description.

About the company

You want to make a strong first impression with your job description. One way to do this is by talking about your company in a way that gets candidates excited about what you do. Paint your company in its best light and highlight what makes it a great workplace.

This section can highlight key information about your company’s culture, size, mission, goals, and perks. These include benefits, office hours, or remote working possibilities. Anything that makes your company stand out.

Unlike most companies, we also try to inject humor into our job descriptions when recruiting at Gun.io. We’ll let you judge whether that’s working for us! (See below.)

Here’s one we made earlier:

About Gun.io

Gun.io is a technology company that connects great companies and proven software engineers who are the world’s best-hired guns. Our mission is to create joy through connection, collaboration, and achievement for the world’s professional class.

We believe that the current system for hiring and being hired as a software engineer isn’t working. For hirers, the process is long and time-intensive, typically requiring a developer from their team to pause their other work and manage technical vetting. On the other side, job seekers must wade through recruiter spam, repetitive interviews, code tests, and cryptic job descriptions just to answer the question: is this a job I want and would be good at?

Gun.io’s vetting and matching are designed and run by a team of developers passionate about fixing technical hiring. Each job posted to the Gun.io platform is vetted by a senior developer, and each new job seeker who joins the platform has a 1-1 conversation with a member of the team so we can personally pitch them to clients they’d love.

We believe in excellence, taking risks, and speaking the truth, and we take a talent-first approach to everything we do. Our fully-remote team is highly collaborative and indulgently nerdy. You’ll love working with Gun.io if:

You’re passionate about making talent and opportunity more accessible for all, especially those outside of the Silicon Valley bubble.
You have exceptional follow-through and organizational skills, and value teammates with the same.
You love chasing big ideas, pitching them to stakeholders, and taking the initiative to implement and test them.
You consider yourself to be a linchpin, not a cog.
You’re very nerdy about something. Star Wars, a particular subreddit, Web3, backyard chickens, famous guitar history, anything.
Career growth and financial success are core motivations for you.
You thrive in remote office environments.
You’re looking for a team culture that is curious, respectful, supportive, and at least once a day, hilarious.

About this role

You’re hiring a Ruby on Rails developer (or three), and these devs know what this type of role entails. They’ve done it before. But what does this type of role mean to you?

You want to get to the point on your Ruby on Rails engineer job description. State what you’re looking for and what tasks a successful applicant will do when they join your company. One or two sentences should do the trick.

Here’s a sample:

To help drive our mission, our Programming team is looking for a Junior Ruby on Rails back-end developer. This developer will combine design and programming skills to upgrade existing Ruby on Rails solutions and build new ones from scratch.

Ruby on Rails developer responsibilities

This section is arguably the most important part of the Ruby on Rails engineer job description.

You want to be clear about the responsibilities associated with the role, so list them all. Be concise and clarify what you expect from a candidate if they join your company.

Here’s how it might look:

Write clean, maintainable, and efficient Ruby on Rails code
Design robust, scalable, and secure features for web applications
Follow industry best practices, including test-driven development, continuous integration, SCRUM, refactoring, and adherence to code standards
Identify and resolve bottlenecks and bugs, ensuring high-quality code organization and automation
Troubleshoot and maintain existing web applications
Collaborate with UI/Graphic Designers to understand product requirements
Test Ruby on Rails code for bugs and implement necessary fixes
Stay up to date on the latest developments in Ruby on Rails programming

Ruby on Rails developer requirements

Alright, it’s time for the nitty-gritty details. What will your Ruby on Rails developer do on the job?

This section lists all the professional qualifications a candidate needs to apply for this role. It also includes mandatory technical skills.

Try not to go over the top here. For example, only include skills or years of experience if it’s a dealbreaker. Also, be realistic. Most candidates don’t have 20+ years of experience, so asking for this will significantly reduce your talent pool.

Here’s a sample:

A minimum of 2 years of practical experience as a Ruby on Rails Developer
Proficiency in front-end technologies, including JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and JQuery
Proven track record in developing highly interactive web apps
Familiarity with database technologies such as MySQL, Oracle, and MongoDB
Familiarity with NoSQL databases
Extensive experience with common libraries like RSpec and Resque
Familiarity with server-side templating languages (e.g., Liquid, Slim)
Proficient use of code versioning tools (e.g., Git, Mercurial, SVN)
Knowledge of testing tools like Cucumber
Understanding of the agile methodology
Knowledge of common programming languages, such as Python
{{List the education level or certification you require}}

Benefits of this role for Ruby on Rails developers

It’s time to seal the deal!

In this section of your Ruby on Rails developer job description, you can list the additional benefits/perks a candidate will receive by joining your company.

Here’s a sample:

{{Career & growth opportunities}}
{{Attractive salary and 401k matching}}
{{Medical Insurance}}
{{Remote working opportunities}}
{{Incentives and perks, such as the office’s location and flexible vacation allowance}}