Lead Back End Engineer

Hi, I am Robert, Director of Software Engineering at Musora. We're an online music education company with the mission to create a world where everyone can play the songs they love!

As our Lead Back End Engineer, you’ll inspire and mentor a talented back-end engineering team, cultivating a culture of technical excellence and innovation. Ready to make an impact? Let’s build the future together!

Key Duties & Responsibilities

1. API Design

• Architect and maintain RESTful and GraphQL APIs that power front-end applications (Vue.js and React Native).
• Establish best practices for API design, versioning, and security.
• Create APIs to ensure smooth integration between systems and third-party services.

2. Database Design & Optimization

• Design and optimize database schemas for MySQL, ensuring data integrity, scalability, and performance.
• Collaborate with engineers to ensure schema changes are backward-compatible and well-documented.
• Introduce and maintain strategies for efficient indexing, query optimization, and migration processes.
• Plan and execute strategies for handling high transaction volumes and data growth.

3. Team Leadership and Collaboration

• Manage and mentor the back-end engineering team through code reviews, coaching, and career development.
• Foster a collaborative engineering culture focused on quality, speed, and learning.
• Work cross-functionally with product managers, designers, and front-end engineers to translate product requirements into technical solutions.

4. Operational Excellence

• Own the reliability and performance of the back-end infrastructure.
• Optimize CI / CD pipelines and deployment workflows using Docker and Laravel Vapor.
• Oversee monitoring, logging, and alerting systems to ensure consistent uptime and system health.
• Drive best practices for code quality, deployment safety, and system observability.

5. Driving Innovation

• Explore and implement new technologies and frameworks to improve system performance and maintainability.
• Advocate for continuous learning and improvement within the engineering team.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• 7+ years in back-end development, with 3+ years in a leadership or mentorship role.
• Experience designing scalable architectures for SaaS or similar platforms.

Technical Skills

• Expert knowledge of PHP (Laravel) or similar languages / frameworks.
• Expert-level experience in designing, building, and maintaining APIs.
• Strong experience with MySQL, including schema design, query optimization, and indexing.
• Familiarity with containerization tools (Docker) and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP).

Soft Skills

• Strong leadership, mentorship, and communication skills.
• A collaborative mindset and ability to bridge gaps between technical and non-technical teams.
• Passion for delivering high-quality, scalable solutions in a delivery-focused environment.

BONUS POINTS IF YOU HAVE :

• Experience integrating back-end systems with mobile applications.
• Familiarity with caching strategies and edge computing infrastructure for performance optimization.

Perks to working here (your benefits)

• Extended Benefits: Health, Prescriptions, Dental, Mental Health Support and Vision Benefits for full-time / permanent positions - we care about our employees and we want to make sure YOU have the benefits you need to stay healthy and well.
• Paid time off: we understand and value the importance of rest and recovery and that includes time away from work!
• Career Growth: You’re joining a growing team and company with ambitious goals.
• Learning & Development: We encourage our team to develop their unique strengths, offering Gallup-Clifton Strengths coaching and workshops, along with tailored education opportunities.
• Onsite Amenities and Events: Onsite parking, on-site gym, and events! Be a part of a fun-loving team!
• Onsite SNACKS: beer / kombucha fridge, coffee / tea and more! We want to make sure you stay fuelled throughout the day!
• Casual dress: We want you to feel comfortable when you work. No need to wear a business suit [unless you want to].
• Hybrid Options: Depending on your role, you’ll have the flexibility to work in a hybrid setup, combining remote work with in-office collaboration.

Who we are (Musora Media):

Musora is a team of builders and creators, passionate about making music education accessible and engaging for everyone through technology. We move quickly, adapt constantly, and focus on pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in music learning. If you’re someone who thrives in fast-paced environments, loves to take ownership, and is always looking for ways to grow, you’ll fit right in. We hire based on talent, qualifications, and the value you bring to the table. Discrimination or harassment of any kind has no place here. We foster a transparent, inclusive, and diverse culture where everyone feels welcome and empowered to do their best work.

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodation throughout our hiring process. Please let us know if you have any accommodation needs. To be considered for permanent positions, you must be eligible to work in Canada. We cannot sponsor visas for all permanent positions, but our People & Culture team can assist with work visa renewals.

All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of background checks and / or employment verification results.