Remote API Tech Lead — Ruby, Lead & Build APIs

Job#: 3032600

Job Description:

API Tech Lead

Location: 100% REMOTE (US)

Employment Type: Contract

Role Overview

The ideal candidate is a Ruby engineer and technical leader who can balance hands-on development with team leadership. The person in this role is responsible for leading a technical team through the design, development, and maintenance of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that enable communication between different software systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of APIs, including specifications, endpoints, data models, and protocols such as REST and Graph
  
  QL.
• Provide technical leadership to a team of 3–4 developers, guiding design decisions and engineering best practices.
• Remain hands-on in the codebase, contributing production-grade code for core services.
• Conduct code reviews to ensure code quality, maintainability, and security.
• Partner with an Engineering Crew Lead and API Architect to review solution design and deliver robust, scalable solutions.
• Ensure seamless integration of APIs with internal systems, external applications, and third-party services.
• Promote the effective use of AI-enabled tools in the API development lifecycle to improve productivity and code quality.
• Create and maintain clear, comprehensive API documentation for consumers, including usage guidance and best practices.
• Implement and uphold security best practices, including authentication, authorization, and encryption.
• Interface with external engineering teams to ensure alignment on technical standards and governance requirements.
• Monitor and optimize API performance, reliability, and scalability.
• Manage API versioning and support backward compatibility as services evolve.
• Provide ongoing support, troubleshoot production issues, and implement enhancements based on stakeholder feedback.
• Participate in Tier 1 and Tier 2 on-call operations.

Required Qualifications

Experience: 6+ years of Ruby on Rails experience.

Technical Skills:

• Experience with relational databases such as Postgre
  
  SQL or MySQL.
• Experience with the RSpec testing framework.
• Experience designing, building, and maintaining APIs.

Other: Must be a US Citizen or eligible for a Public Trust clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with Docker, Kubernetes, and Helm.
• Familiarity with application security principles and secure development practices.
• Familiarity with Git version control.
• Familiarity with OAuth.
• Experience with async job processing (e.g., Sidekiq).
• Experience with Spring Boot / Java.

Compensation and Benefits

For this opportunity, you will also be eligible for benefits and perks such as: medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection. We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a 401K program which allows you to contribute typically within 30 days of starting, with a company match after 12 months of tenure.

Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a Support Linc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts. In terms of professional development, Apex hosts an on-demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA.

Apex has a dedicated customer service team for our Consultants that can address questions around benefits and other resources, as well as a certified Career Coach.

Apex Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Apex will consider qualified applicants with…