Senior Full Stack Engineer

Blinkist connects people with powerful ideas from leading authors and experts to broaden perspectives, gain knowledge, and spark understanding in all areas of their life, both personal and professional.

Used by over 32 million people worldwide, Blinkist distills the key ideas from the most relevant, impactful books and podcasts. These can be read or listened to in 15-minute summaries, that we call Blinks. ✨

About The Role

🌱 Grow. Collaborate. Innovate. Make a Difference.

At Blinkist, we're passionate about creating products that inspire millions to learn and grow. Our Web Team is expanding, and we're looking for a thoughtful Senior Full Stack Developer with strong backend expertise to help us evolve our Ruby on Rails stack while supporting our transition to TypeScript.

If you enjoy working with TypeScript and React, love collaborative problem-solving, and want to make meaningful technical decisions that create positive impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Check out the hiring process for this position here: https://jobs.blinkist.com/sk3 

Who We Are

Our Web Team creates the foundation for the Blinkist platform, ensuring millions of users have an exceptional learning experience. You'll be joining a supportive, collaborative engineering team that includes:

• Two Senior Engineers – Experienced mentors who share knowledge and guide technical direction
• One Mid-Level Engineer – Growing their skills with enthusiasm and seeking guidance
• One Junior Engineer – Eager to learn and contribute to our shared success

We're seeking a Senior Full Stack Engineer who values collaboration, enjoys mentoring others, and can thoughtfully guide our TypeScript backend development while making architectural decisions that support our long-term vision.

Who You Are

• You have TypeScript backend experience. You enjoy building reliable, well-structured APIs and services that support user needs.
• You're skilled with React development. You create intuitive, accessible frontends that work harmoniously with modern backend systems.
• You appreciate the art of refactoring. You can thoughtfully improve legacy code, enhance performance, and create sustainable solutions that benefit the whole team.
• You learn systems quickly and thoroughly. You take time to understand existing architecture and identify opportunities for meaningful improvement that help everyone succeed.
• You balance technical and business perspectives. You consider user impact, team needs, and company goals when making technical decisions.
• You enjoy collaborative ownership. You identify challenges, work with others to solve them, and contribute to continuous improvement.
• You're a natural mentor. You support mid-level and junior developers, sharing knowledge and helping them grow their skills.
• You value thoughtful execution. You balance efficiency with sustainability, making smart decisions that serve both immediate needs and long-term goals.

What You'll Do

• Guide backend modernization efforts, thoughtfully transitioning from Ruby on Rails to TypeScript while ensuring system reliability and team success
• Improve and maintain existing systems, identifying areas for enhancement and implementing sustainable solutions, particularly in our Rails stack
• Support the evolution of our Rails stack, ensuring smooth business operations while gradually transitioning backend functionality to TypeScript
• Develop user-focused frontend applications using React and TypeScript, creating accessible and intuitive user experiences
• Contribute to technical and architectural decisions that balance scalability, maintainability, and user needs
• Mentor and support team members, fostering growth and knowledge sharing across experience levels
• Collaborate across teams, translating complex requirements into elegant, practical solutions that serve our users

What You Need To Have

• 5+ years of experience in full-stack web development with a backend focus
• TypeScript backend experience – you've built reliable, production-ready APIs and services
• React experience – you can design and build scalable, user-friendly frontend applications
• Experience with technical improvement projects and thoughtful refactoring of existing systems
• Background in designing scalable applications – you understand when to refactor, when to scale, and when to ship
• Business awareness – you consider the broader impact of technical decisions and how they serve user and company needs
• Collaborative approach – you enjoy working with others to solve problems and move projects forward
• Strong communication skills – you explain technical concepts clearly and enjoy helping others learn
• Proficiency in English

Why Blinkist

• Lead meaningful technical improvements and contribute to backend modernization that impacts millions of users
• Have the opportunity to guide our transition to a TypeScript-based backend architecture
• Work with modern frontend technologies using React and TypeScript to create exceptional user experiences
• Mentor and grow alongside a team that values learning and collaboration
• Enjoy autonomy and trust in a supportive environment that values your expertise

At Blinkist, our unique culture of empowerment, mutual respect, and transparency has always been our defining characteristic. We support each other and carve out opportunities for every individual to develop and grow. We strongly believe that diversity powers innovation, thus we celebrate and support our differences, providing equal opportunities for employment and career growth. We embrace a flexible, remote-friendly way of working that supports different needs and lifestyles. 

These are some of our most valued benefits:

• 30 PTO days + Wellbeing days + Learning days 
• Flexible approach to work, including from abroad
• Monthly transport allowance
• One-time work from home office set up budget
• Employee Stock Option Plan
• Professional development fund
• Family planning & parental leave, plus support for parents returning to work
• Wellness initiatives and an Employee Assistance Program

If you choose to join our team in Berlin, you'll have access to our modern office space in Neukölln and enjoy healthy plant-based meals prepared fresh every day by our very own chef. 🥑

Apply Now

If we’ve captured your interest and you want to take part in changing the world through the power of ideas, apply now and tell us what excited you about this opportunity. 

We look forward to hearing from you! ☀️

🔎 Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other marginalised folks tend to only apply when they check every box. If you think you have what it takes, even if you don't meet every single point on the job description, please still get in touch. We’d love to review your application and see if you could be a great fit.

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