Staff Software Engineer

Welcome to Brightline! We are seeking a Staff Software Engineer to bridge deep technical execution with cross-functional leadership, driving alignment across teams, influencing how we approach hard problems, and helping our engineering organization level up as we scale our platform and clinical infrastructure. We are primarily a Ruby on Rails shop and we are bought into keeping our tech stack simple so that we focus on shipping fast and having fun.

Instead of betting on exciting new technologies, we favor straightforward solutions and defining standards so that the codebase and ecosystem are a joy to work with. We use Turbo, Tailwind, and ViewComponent to make beautiful UIs. Stimulus brings them to life and if we feel the need for it, we might sprinkle some React on top.

We use Typescript where we think it benefits us, and default to Javascript otherwise. Our mobile apps leverage Hotwire Native to take advantage of existing web infrastructure.

Responsibilities
Lead collaborate across engineering, product, design, and clinical/operations teams to ensure technical decisions serve business and clinical goals

Write code across the entire stack (currently Ruby + Rails on the backend and Turbo/Tailwind on the frontend) with a focus on the systems and abstractions that other engineers build on

Contribute meaningfully to engineering culture: process improvements, documentation, standards, and team health

Mentor and grow senior engineers through pairing, code review, architecture discussions, and direct feedback — raising the bar without gatekeeping

Own complex, multi-team technical initiatives end-to-end: from problem discovery and scoping through delivery and iteration, keeping stakeholders aligned along the way

Translate technical context clearly for non-technical stakeholders — surface risks early, communicate tradeoffs, and advocate for the right solution even when it requires changing direction

Bridge the gap between strategic technical direction and day-to-day execution, ensuring the team has the clarity and context to move fast and build well

Requirements
You're excited about improving behavioral health for children, teens, and their families

You have significant experience developing software professionally, primarily Ruby + Rails, with a track record of delivering complex project end-to-end

You’re a connector, build trust quickly across teams, communicate with clarity and empathy, and know how to move groups towards alignment without relying on authority

You own problems, not just tickets — you dig into the domain, question assumptions, and find the right solution even when it's not the obvious one

You are thoughtful and empathetic in how you carry yourself, from decision making and execution, to communication and collaboration

You raise the bar for the team through your work, your feedback, and your willingness to make things better without being asked

You have developed your own workflow for building software with AI coding tools — you have opinions about when agents help, when they hurt, and how to get the best out of them

You care about solving problems and aren't tied to particular solutions or technologies

Bonus Points
Healthcare — especially clinical workflows, scheduling systems, EHR integrations, insurance billing, or multi-clinic operations

Complex data modeling and migration challenges (unifying systems, managing domain complexity)

API development and integrating with third-party systems

Working in Shape Up or similar appetite-based development methodologies

Benefits
Medical, Dental, Vision, Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Account, and 401k

12 Company Holidays, Holiday Shutdown, Flexible Time Off, Parental Leave

Health and Wellness Stipend, Home Office Reimbursement and Professional Development Reimbursement

Stock Options

Compensation
At Brightline we have built a total rewards philosophy that includes fair, equitable, competitive, geo-based compensation that is performance and potential based. Our strategy is based on robust market research, including external advisory specializing in national compensation, and thoughtful input from every level of our organization. It is a combination of a cash salary, equity, benefits, wellbeing, and opportunity. In compliance with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, the annual base salary range for applicants is $175,000 - $205,000

Our Commitment to Building a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Workforce
At Brightline, we believe that Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging are essential to the foundation upon which our mission is built. We are committed to:
building a future where all families can access inclusive, high-quality care

creating an environment that encourages our employees to show up authentically, reach their highest potential, and have an equal opportunity to thrive

systematically evaluating and improving our inherent beliefs, observed behaviors, structures, and systems

ensuring that every employee, candidate, client, and family we serve is valued and respected

About Brightline
Brightline is a therapy and psychiatry practice that delivers expert pediatric, teen, and parental mental health care to families and kids up to age 18. Brightline’s virtual and in-person outpatient services include diagnostic evaluation, therapy, psychiatry services (e.g. medication management), and psychological testing (to assess learning differences, school readiness, executive functioning difficulties , and autism). In addition to Brightline’s generalized support, we offer focused programs including those that support anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorders, ADHD, and disruptive behaviors.

Founded in 2019, Brightline has delivered care to tens of thousands of families with industry-leading results. We’ve been nationally recognized for clinical excellence and innovation for several years — recent awards include the Fast Company 50 Most Innovative Companies (2022) and Behavioral Health Business Companies to Watch Award (2024). Brightline is based in Palo Alto and is backed by investors including Boston Children’s Hospital, Northwell Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Google Ventures, KKR, and Oak HC/FT.