Backend Engineer
The posting does not state a salary. This range is our estimate from the role, the location and the stack — treat it as a guide, not an offer.
- Level
- Senior
- Apply from
- Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico
Advertised before — reposted once in September 2026 This listing closed and was put back up. It usually means the search has been running a while.
About the role
- Design and build high-performance APIs using Ruby on Rails
- Write optimized database queries for performance
- Implement asynchronous background processing with Sidekiq
- Lead system design decisions and architecture proposals
- Collaborate with a US-based engineering team
Skills the posting asks for
- Ruby on Rails
- PostgreSQL
- Sidekiq
- AWS
- Docker
Summarised from the employer’s posting, which is reproduced in full below.
The employer’s full posting
Icalia Labs is hiring a Backend Engineer with deep expertise in building scalable, production-grade APIs and a strong foundation in modern backend engineering.
We're looking for engineers who go beyond implementation, professionals who understand how systems behave under load, how databases perform at scale, and how to design APIs that last.
What you'll be working with
- Ruby & Ruby on Rails (API development)
- PostgreSQL (query optimization, indexing, performance tuning)
- Sidekiq (background job processing in production environments)
- RSpec — building and maintaining test suites from scratch
- AWS (cloud infrastructure and services)
- Docker (containerized environments)
What you'll do
- Design and build high-performance APIs using Ruby on Rails
- Write optimized database queries and deeply understand how data flows and scales
- Implement and maintain asynchronous background processing systems with Sidekiq
- Design integrations with third-party services and APIs — including error handling, retry logic, and data sync patterns
- Ensure code quality through robust RSpec testing strategies
- Lead system design decisions: propose architecture, identify risks proactively, and communicate trade-offs clearly
- Collaborate directly with a US-based engineering team on architecture and performance improvements
What we're looking for
- 8+ years of software engineering experience or equivalent practical background
- Strong expertise in Ruby and Rails APIs in production environments
- Clear understanding of how databases work and how to write efficient queries
- Hands-on experience with Sidekiq in production, not just configuration, but design and troubleshooting
- Solid knowledge of AWS and Docker
- Strong grasp of API best practices, backend architecture, and system design
- Able to think proactively: you identify what can go wrong before it does
- Professional-level English, you'll collaborate directly with a US-based engineering team
Engagement details
- Start date: Mid September 2026
- Contract type: Contractor
- Contract Duration: 1-year fixed-term contract, with a strong possibility of extension.
- Region: LATAM
At Icalia Labs, we build scalable digital products with a strong emphasis on clean architecture, performance, and long-term maintainability.
If you’re interested in solving real engineering challenges and shipping meaningful systems at scale, let’s connect!
Pre-Employment Verification & Compliance Notice
All candidates who advance through Icalia Labs’ selection process will be subject to a standardized pre-employment verification process, conducted consistently and in accordance with applicable laws and company policies. This process includes verification of government-issued identification and employment history, as applicable. Candidates will also be required to provide professional references for verification. Any material discrepancy or misrepresentation between the information provided and the information verified may result in withdrawal from the selection process, subject to applicable law.