Staff Software Engineer

Job description

QUICK SUMMARY Lead technical direction for Kin’s Ruby on Rails platform, architect scalable systems, and mentor engineers while building products that power a modern insurtech. WHO WE ARE Kin makes life simpler, more affordable, and better for homeowners — especially in the places where climate risks, rising costs, and outdated systems make it harder. We start with smarter homeowners insurance and expand to everything homeowners need to thrive. Using data, technology, and thoughtful human support, we’re building products that are clear, fair, and help homeowners feel confident — so homeowners aren’t left behind when they need help most. Founded in 2016, Kin is a remote-first employer with Kinfolk across more than 35 states. We serve customers in 13 states (and counting). Our disciplined growth, strong customer satisfaction, and focus on long-term sustainability fosters outstanding growth, attracts marquee investors, and earns recognition and accolades, including: - Built In Chicago's Best Places to Work, Midsize Companies (2021-2026) - Forbes' America's Best Startup Employers (2026) - Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies - Forbes’ Fintech 50 (2023-2026) - Great Places to Work Certified (May 2024-May 2027) Most importantly, we’re building Kin to be a place where people do meaningful work with real impact — for our customers, our communities, and each other. We're excited to tell you more about how you can contribute to our rapid growth, strong unit economics, profitability, and excellent customer ratings. To learn more about how we work and what we’re building, visit kin.com http://kin.com and see how we work https://www.linkedin.com/company/kin-insurance/life/kin/. THE OPPORTUNITY We’re looking for a Staff Software Engineer to help us scale the architecture, systems, and engineering practices that power Kin’s rapid growth. As a recognized subject matter expert across multiple technologies, you’ll play a high-impact role shaping full-stack architecture and influencing technical strategy across teams. You won’t just write code — you’ll define standards, guide architectural decisions, and ensure our systems are scalable, reliable, and aligned with business priorities. This role exists because Kin is growing quickly. As we expand products, states, and customer experiences, we need senior technical leadership that can anticipate scaling challenges, reduce technical risk, and mentor engineers to execute at a high level. Your work will directly impact our ability to deliver fast, resilient applications for both customers and internal teams. YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES - Lead and define full-stack architecture within scrum team, setting a clear technical vision aligned with business goals - Write clean, maintainable, and efficient Ruby and TypeScript code while modeling engineering excellence - Own architectural planning, design, and documentation for distributed, full-stack systems - Identify, evaluate, and mitigate technical risks before they impact delivery or scalability - Mentor engineers at all levels through pair programming, design reviews, and technical coaching - Partner with Product and Design to translate business needs into scalable technical solutions - Drive continuous improvement through refactoring, test automation, experimentation, and modern engineering practices - Influence Kin’s broader architectural strategy by collaborating with engineering leadership and cross-functional stakeholders - Deliver fast, reliable, and scalable applications that support both customer-facing and internal platforms - Help scale our systems and teams to support Kin’s next phase of growth SUCCESS IN THIS ROLE In your first 6–12 months at Kin, success is less about checking boxes and more about the impact you create. You’ll use your skills and judgment to take ownership of meaningful work, improve how we operate, and help move Kin’s mission forward. Along the way, you’ll deliver outcomes that make a real difference for both Kinfolk and the homeowners we serve. By the end of your first year, you should feel confident in your role, trusted as an owner, and proud of the progress you’ve helped make. - Multiple scrum teams are aligned to a cohesive architectural vision that improves scalability and reduces technical debt - Key systems are measurably more reliable, performant, and easier to evolve - Engineering teams move faster with clearer standards, better documentation, and stronger technical mentorship - Stakeholders understand the value of technical investments and make informed decisions about trade-offs and priorities WHAT YOU’LL BRING Technical & Domain Expertise - 8+ years of professional software engineering experience - Expert proficiency in full-stack development, using Ruby on Rails and Typescript (experience with Angular preferred) - Proficiency with SQL and relational databases (PostgreSQL preferred), with exposure to NoSQL systems - Experience designing and implementing scalable, distributed, and event-driven systems - Demonstrated experience in architectural planning, system design, and technical documentation - Proven ability to identify and mitigate technical risks in complex systems Leadership & Execution - Experience leading and guiding multiple engineering teams through execution - Ability to operate with little-to-no technical guidance - Experience mentoring engineers across different levels of seniority - Ability to clearly articulate the value of technical investments to non-technical stakeholders - Excellent communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex concepts You thrive in a high-growth startup environment — fast-paced, ownership-driven, and mission-focused — and you’re motivated to continue learning while elevating those around you. HOW WE HIRE We believe a great hiring experience should be clear, respectful, and human. Applications for this role are accepted on an on-going basis. While our recruiting team uses AI tools for efficiency, resumes are still screened by Kin’s in-house recruiters, and candidate evaluations and hiring decisions are made by recruiters and hiring teams. Rest assured, real people make real decisions. The hiring process and timeline for each role will vary, depending on the position. However, here are some things you can expect from us: - Prompt updates and feedback following interviews - Interviews with recruiters, hiring managers, and members of teams - Skills assessment relevant to the position, if applicable - Genuine, thoughtful human interaction at every step HOW WE SUPPORT YOU We offer a comprehensive, competitive benefits program, allowing you to choose the benefits that are best for you and your family, starting on the first day of the month following your start date. Core Benefits - Competitive salary and company equity through Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), granted as part of our standard compensation package and based on role and level - 401(k) with company match up to 4% of eligible earnings - Multiple medical plan options, plus dental and vision coverage - Company-funded HSA contributions (based on medical plan selection) - Company-paid life insurance and short-term disability Health & Wellbeing - A variety of supplemental benefit options, including long-term disability, critical illness, accident, legal, and pet insurance - Access to mental health support and confidential counseling resources - Flexible PTO for exempt employees (most employees take 15–20 days per year), plus 8 company-observed holidays - Paid parental leave, including up to 14 weeks at 100% pay for birthing parents and 8 weeks at 100% pay for non-birthing parents Growth & Development - Career mobility and internal growth opportunities across the organization - Professional development budgets for certifications, conferences, and learning available, subject to management approval HOW WE WORK We don’t just hire for skills. We hire for alignment. Kinfolk bring diverse perspectives, but we’re united by a shared set of values that shape how we work and how we show up for each other and our customers. Run through walls, together - Every one of us is responsible for creating the culture we want to work in. High performance. Low drama. Always respectful. We assume the best in each other and challenge ideas, not intentions. We show up, work hard, and play to each other's strengths — because that’s how great teams win. Raise the bar. Drop the ego - Attitudes are contagious. Every one of us is responsible for creating the culture we want to work in. High performance. Low drama. Always respectful. Like professional sports teams, we win by working in sync. We show up, work hard, and play to each other’s strengths. Act like an owner - We are owners, fully accountable for achieving Kin’s mission. That requires positive, proactive, big-picture thinking well beyond our job descriptions. Ask questions, Take ownership. Do the right thing, even when it‘s hard. Because when Kin thrives, so do you. And so do our customers. Operate lean. Deliver more - We build efficiency into everything we do. Each dollar we save gets reinvested to deliver more to our customers: better pricing, more products, and new innovations. We work smarter by relentlessly prioritizing and using technology, including AI, to multiply our impact. Lean is about focus, not deprivation. Lean isn't a limitation — it's our competitive advantage. Keep asking ‘What if?’ - We value curiosity. To make insurance better for our customers, we experiment. We embrace insights. And we base decisions on data rather than assumptions. We see setbacks as opportunities for growth and are always learning and improving. Both individually and as a company. WHERE WE WORK We are a remote-first company with offices in Chicago, IL and St. Petersburg, FL where teams can come together for collaboration. For Sales Agents and Customer Service Agents: These roles sit in any of the following 30 states: AL, AZ, CO, FL, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MT, NC, NE, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, and WI. For all other positions, these roles can sit in any of the following 40 states: AL, AR, AZ, CA (exempt only), CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, and WI. Please only apply if you are able to live and work full-time in one of the states listed above. For remote technical positions located in Canada, we are only able to hire individuals who reside in Ontario. Applicants must be able to live and work full-time in Ontario to be considered. State locations and specifics are subject to change as our hiring requirements shift. EEOC STATEMENT Kin is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We don't just accept difference – we honor it, nurture it, and celebrate it. We don’t discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. Kin welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. If you require accommodation, please contact us by sending an email to careers@kin.com