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Lead Software Engineer (Ruby/Elixir/React)

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Lead Software Engineer (Ruby / Elixir / React)

We’re looking for smart, creative, driven people to build great software with us. If you’re the best at what you do, we’d love to talk.

The dscout research platform is used by forward thinking companies like Google, Fitbit, and Airbnb to improve existing user experiences and help them invent new ones.

Built in Ruby/Rails + PostgreSQL, our API driven platform presents a dynamic front-end experience in React.js for researchers to build, conduct and analyze research, paired with an iOS and Android app for scouts to participate in research missions. We’re currently in the process of building our v4 API utilizing GraphQL in Elixir.

If building products with these technologies is exciting to you, send us a note. Our Recruiter - Colette Freeman ([email protected]) will get back to you quickly.

Background + Function // in this role you’ll design, code, and help grow our platform. As a technical product leader, you’ll contribute both on the front-end and back-end, helping keep the backlog groomed + focused on the next right thing.

Experienced // at least 4-5 years of product development experience, creating & launching new technologies and products. Cloud-based, SaaS focused, and modern APIs + front-ends a plus.

- Heroku and AWS, deployments and DevOps, TDD and CI
- embraces agile (sprints, planning + estimation sessions, user stories, retros), can define and drive priorities for engineering sprints and product releases
- understanding when to optimize + refactor are second nature

Impactful // can see both the big picture as well as each task through to completion, consistently, with a high attention to detail.

- strong communication skills; ability to speak to, as well as influence, engineers, designers, project managers, sales, support, and clients
- combines the intensity and willingness to get things done with self-awareness + sense of others
- hands-on and self-directed, entrepreneurial experience in a fast-paced environment, small business or startup a plus

The perks // Competitive, equitable salary, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, transit benefits, stocked kitchen, unlimited PTO, and work with smart, motivated and supportive team members in a fun environment

About dscout // dscout is a mobile-centric, moments-obsessed research company. Tech-forward organizations rely on our tools and expertise to discover, understand, and track the essential moment-to-moment experiences that matter to their audiences. Our clients are the world’s biggest consumer software, hardware, packaged goods, retail, media, entertainment and advocacy leaders.

dscout culture is fueled by smart, creative, design-centered people and abundant snacks. Coffee snobs will be pleased and potentially teased. We aim to keep energy up and conversations flowing. We bolster our team with the balance of Friday happy hour and exceptional healthcare benefits.

Our story // dscout began as an experiment by Gravitytank, a Chicago-based innovation firm. Gravitytank has long been a pioneer in using new methods to conduct in-context research, and began experimenting with phones and apps as an alternate way to capture experiences. Gravitytank spun dscout out as a standalone service in 2011.

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Ayumi Perez

Research Advisor, CXR

STRENGTH IN DEI

A culture that cultivates evolution and empathy

At dscout, Ayumi Perez acts as an advocate in several capacities. As a research advisor, Perez advocates for clients by gathering feedback on improving the platform. They also keep accessibility and inclusion at the forefront while collaborating with designers and engineers. Internally, Perez’s commitment to advancing DEI is at the heart of their work as chair of dscout’s inclusion committee. “Diversity, equity, and inclusion are important to me because, as an empathetic, BIPOC and queer dscouter, DEI is an integral part of who I am, what I learn from and what I work on daily,” she said, while acknowledging that DEI work is never truly done.

Being able to be a part of the inclusion committee has created a space for me to advocate for the prioritization of actionable change, not just talk about it.

Spurthi Reddy

Research Advisor, CXR

EMPLOYEE-DRIVEN CONVERSATIONS

Continuous learning comes with the territory

Driving learning initiatives and raising awareness is common practice for dscout’s team members. In fact, it’s something that resonates, considering the company facilitates research conducted across a variety of industries. This year, its learning communities have a slate of initiatives and opportunities focused on continuous education and spanning a range of topics like AI, research best practices, creative thinking, and mind, body and well-being. Spurthi Reddy is involved in facilitating the far-ranging conversations that impact those — both internally and externally — across industries, and finding community in the process.

We all lean on each other for support when we need to and it’s a collaborative process. We also strive to build our own team relationships by having team-bonding events.

Debbie Park

Product Designer, Product

LEARNING COMMUNITIES

Listen and learn to foster growth

‘Act curiously’ is one of dscout’s team values. In the company’s learning communities, diversity of thought is something to celebrate, and different perspectives are sought out. This year, the company is ushering in a new form of community via employee resource groups. “I am especially excited about this as it offers an opportunity for folks with common identities or interests in a workplace to come together in a safe space,” said Debbie Park. As team members keep up with what’s impacting their fellow dscouters and clients, these ERGs will ensure they can bring their authentic selves to work.

The learnings of many communities have made a direct impact at dscout; from introducing internal policies to improving product features.

What are dscout Perks + Benefits

Culture

Volunteer in local community

Our “dscout gives back” program is an opportunity to volunteer in our community. Previously, we’ve worked with organizations like the Chicago Parks Foundation, Cara Collective, and the GCFD.

Partners with nonprofits

dscout will match up to $200/year on contributions you make to registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.

Open door policy

OKR operational model

Team based strategic planning

Pair programming

Open office floor plan

Employee-led culture committees

In-person revenue kickoff

Employee awards

Flexible work schedule

dscout offers flexibility to accommodate for different schedules and responsibilities, including flexibility for parental care, appointments, etc.

Remote work program

dscout is a remote-first company with a work from almost anywhere policy. Team members have the flexibility to decide your best way of working no matter where you live, across (most of) the country.

Diversity

Documented equal pay policy

Dedicated diversity and inclusion staff

Mandated unconscious bias training

Diversity manifesto

Mean gender pay gap below 10%

Hiring practices that promote diversity

Health Insurance & Wellness Benefits

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

dscout’s FSA helps employees cover out of pocket medical expenses with pretax contributions up to $2,850 annually.

Disability insurance

dscout’s benefits program offers short-term disability options up to 13 weeks providing partial salary, and long-term disability options up to 24 months.

Dental insurance

dscout’s prides itself in offering employees the best insurance at the lowest cost. Our medical, dental, and vision programs cover a significant majority of premium costs.

Vision insurance

dscout’s prides itself in offering employees the best insurance at the lowest cost. Our medical, dental, and vision programs cover a significant majority of premium costs.

Health insurance

dscout’s prides itself in offering employees the best insurance at the lowest cost via BCBS. Our medical, dental, and vision programs cover a significant majority of premium costs.

Life insurance

Pet insurance

dscout offers pet insurance via Figo, through which employees receive a 5% discount and reimbursement for pets unexpected medical costs.

Wellness programs

Mental health benefits

dscout it is proud to offer support through our Employee Assistance Program through BCBS, and through the “Headspace for Work” app, which offers crisis help and mindfulness tools.

Transgender health care benefits

Financial & Retirement

401(K)

dscout provides 401(k) pre-tax and post tax (Roth) retirement savings plans, offering a broad selection of investment options.

401(K) matching

dscout’s retirement plan matches 100% of your contributions up to 4%.

Company equity

All dscout employees are eligible to become equity holders, as a part of your total compensation package.

Performance bonus

dscout offers company-based performance bonuses to employees every year, as a part of your total compensation packages.

Charitable contribution matching

As a dscout employee, you are entitled to up to a $200 match each year on contributions you make to registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.

Child Care & Parental Leave Benefits

Generous parental leave

dscout offers up to 12 weeks of fully paid paid parental leave for new parents, regardless of the path to parenthood. This includes FSA dependent-care with pretax contributions up to $5,000 annually.

Family medical leave

All paid time off under dscout’s Parental Leave policy, short-term disability, and state benefits will run concurrently with the FMLA, as applicable.

Adoption Assistance

dscout offers up to 12 weeks of fully paid paid parental leave for new parents, regardless of the path to parenthood.

Restricted work hours

While we have employees working across multiple different states and timezones, our headquarters are based in Chicago. This means our core working hours are loosely based on central time.

Company sponsored family events

The dscout team works to offer company sponsored events for families, including a recent play date for all parents, with a guest appearance from a family magician.

Vacation & Time Off Benefits

Unlimited vacation policy

Generous PTO

We believe in promoting work/life balance and do not want to restrict your time off. We have implemented a flexible PTO policy and encourage dscouters take off at least 4 weeks during the year

Paid volunteer time

Our “dscout gives back” program is an opportunity to volunteer in our community. Previously, we’ve worked with organizations like the Chicago Parks Foundation, Cara Collective, and the GCFD.

Paid holidays

Paid sick days

Our flexible PTO policy includes sick days, so our teammates are able to take this time off when needed.

Office Perks

Commuter benefits

dscout offers pre-tax commuter benefits for all employees for transit and parking.

Company-sponsored outings

dscout provides quarterly team outings as well as annual company-wide holiday parties and in-person meetup events.

Free snacks and drinks

dscout has a fully stocked kitchen for those wanting to use the office space. This includes a variety of snack options, coffee and tea, and of course unlimited LaCroix.

Some meals provided

Company-sponsored happy hours

Onsite office parking

Recreational clubs

dscout has sponsored a variety of sports leagues year-round, including kickball, softball, broomball, etc.

Home-office stipend for remote employees

dscout offers an annual stipend of $200 for home office supplies, to make your remote office environments as comfortable as possible.

Meditation space

Mother's room

Onsite gym

Professional Development Benefits

Job training & conferences

Lunch and learns

Promote from within

Continuing education stipend

dscout offers up to $2,000 (based on your role) per calendar year to use for work-related professional development purposes.

Continuing education available during work hours

Our teams have created a series of learning committees that focus on topics like sustainability, work well being, working parent perspectives, etc. as an opportunity to further curiosity.

Online course subscriptions available

Customized development tracks

View full list of perks + benefits

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