Software Engineer III - Backend/Full Stack

About Rent The Runway

Rent The Runway (RTR) is revolutionizing dressing by creating the world’s first Closet in the Cloud. Established in 2009, RTR has reshaped the $2.4 trillion fashion market by providing women with a more joyful, sustainable, and cost-effective means to look and feel great every day. It serves as the ultimate platform for circular fashion, offering customizable subscriptions, one-time rentals, and ownership of designer apparel and accessories from a wide range of brands. RTR operates with proprietary technology and a unique reverse logistics system. The company has been recognized multiple times in CNBC’s “Disruptor 50” and Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies lists.

Galway Office

Since April 2019, RTR’s European Technology Hub has been based in Galway, Ireland, located in the historic Claddagh neighborhood. The Galway team addresses core technology challenges and contributes to key services vital for RTR’s continued success and expansion. This office, the first outside the US, enhances RTR's capacity in Software Engineering, Product Development, Machine Learning Engineering, and Data Science, providing a variety of career growth opportunities.

Role Overview

The Software Engineer III role focuses on backend/full stack development, emphasizing code quality, user experience, and data-informed testing. Within the Consumer Retention team, the engineer will enhance early customer interactions to boost acquisition and optimize conversion across all platforms by creating scalable funnels, smooth onboarding experiences, and extensive A/B testing tools. The team operates within an agile framework, delivering high-caliber software to solve complex problems and fuel business growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Engage in all phases of agile software development including design, implementation, and deployment.
• Construct clean, testable, and scalable systems utilizing technologies such as Java, Kotlin, Dropwizard, SpringBoot, Redis, MongoDB, RabbitMQ, Splunk, and MySQL.
• Develop intuitive, thoroughly tested APIs for data handling and retrieval.
• Optimize application performance and scalability continuously.
• Lead technical projects effectively within a dynamic startup-like environment.
• Remove outdated functionalities and services to maintain system relevance.
• Identify and implement architectural enhancements to support rapid increases in traffic and order volume while improving developer efficiency.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to align software solutions with business needs.
• Help prioritize tasks, plan future roadmaps, and mentor team members.

Candidate Profile

• Holds a BA/BS in Computer Science or related field, or possesses at least 4 years of equivalent experience.
• Proven practical experience with backend technologies including Java, Kotlin, SpringBoot, RabbitMQ, MySQL, and MongoDB.
• Familiarity with frontend frameworks such as ReactJS and Next.js.
• Strong advocate for testing, test-driven development, and delivering resilient systems.
• Well-versed in best practices, design patterns, and evaluating system architecture trade-offs.
• Able to quickly understand existing codebases and toolsets to contribute effectively.
• Experience in analyzing and optimizing distributed systems for better performance.
• Skilled at diagnosing technical challenges and articulating solutions clearly.
• Comfortable making informed decisions in ambiguous environments without compromising quality.
• Collaborative mindset, working well with cross-functional teams including product managers, designers, and engineers from different technology areas.
• Experience using AI-assisted development tools (e.g., Cursor, Gemini CLI, Claude) to speed up development and refine workflows.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off including annual leave, bereavement, and family sick leave for holistic employee well-being.
• Universal paid parental leave for both parents with flexible return-to-work options.
• Paid sabbatical after 5 years of continuous employment to recharge and pursue personal interests.
• Competitive stakeholder pension plan ensuring financial security for the future.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and dependent care coverage from the first day of employment.
• Regular company-wide social events fostering team spirit and fun.
• Hybrid working arrangement requiring attendance 2-3 days weekly at the Galway office, with up to 2 days remote work.

Equal Opportunity

Rent The Runway is committed to an inclusive and equitable workplace, prohibiting discrimination on legally protected grounds such as gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion, or membership in the Traveller community. By applying, candidates agree to their privacy policies regarding candidate data.