Software Engineer

Software Engineer Join to apply for the Software Engineer role at Merit America Merit America is a national nonprofit that creates pathways to family‑sustaining careers for Americans stuck in low‑wage work. We analyze job postings to identify high‑paying tech careers and partner with industry instructors to deliver part‑time programs that combine online learning and coaching. We support learners in their job search, connecting them with local and national employers to secure higher‑earning roles, achieving an average wage gain of $24k within three months of graduation.

Since 2018, we have generated a projected $1 billion in near‑term wage gains. Role Overview We’re looking for a Software Engineer to strengthen and extend the systems that support our learners and staff. You’ll report directly to the Head of Data & Technology and join a small, pragmatic team focused on keeping our core application reliable, integrating new tools, and improving the experience for the people who depend on it every day.

Stack: Ruby on Rails, Postgres, Heroku; integrations to Salesforce, Canvas, and other partner systems. Source control: GitHub; data pipelines: BigQuery, dbt. Responsibilities Maintain and improve My Merit America , our Ruby on Rails application used by learners, coaches, and staff.

Implement product and internal tooling updates to reduce manual work and improve user experience. Troubleshoot and resolve issues across the stack, improving reliability and performance. Design and implement technical solutions, from small optimizations to occasional architectural changes, that improve stability, scalability, and developer experience.

Develop and maintain integrations with systems such as Salesforce, Canvas, and other partner platforms, focusing on building, monitoring, and improving data and authentication flows. Coordinate with data engineering to ensure that data from these systems is captured and structured accurately to power downstream analytics. Work with REST APIs to connect Merit America’s systems with external platforms.

Participate in planning and design discussions for upcoming systems and integrations. Contribute to technical decision‑making, including opportunities to pilot AI‑powered features that create clear value. Collaborate with team members through code reviews, pairing sessions, and technical discussions.

Skills and Competencies We value the unique skills, experiences, and perspectives that each applicant brings, and we encourage you to apply if you believe your background demonstrates the required skills and competencies. Must Haves for all roles at Merit America Committed to Merit America’s mission to pave pathways to family‑sustaining careers, break the poverty cycle, and create upward mobility for low‑wage workers. Demonstrated history of embodying our values, which inform our work and drive our organization’s culture.

Shared sense of responsibility and ownership for our collective work in making a positive impact on the community we support, true to our value of Win & Lose Together. Committed to continuous learning and growth in advancing inclusive excellence and closing gaps across lines of difference. Passionate about fostering a workplace culture that embraces and values individual differences, aligned with our core value of inclusivity.

Must Haves for this role 2–5 years of software engineering experience building and maintaining production web applications. Experience with Ruby on Rails or another modern web framework, with ability to learn Ruby quickly. Familiarity with Postgres and background job frameworks (e.g., GoodJob, Sidekiq).

Comfort working with REST APIs and data integrations. Strong debugging, testing, and documentation habits. Experience successfully pushing new iterative features and small bug fixes to production systems.

Ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues across the stack to improve reliability and performance. Ability to work independently in a small team with limited process. Judgment to balance stability with progress, improving systems without unnecessary reinvention.

Ability to quickly learn from others and consistently step up when required. Active participation in code reviews, pairing sessions, and project collaboration. Nice to Haves for this role Experience with Heroku deployment and management.

Familiarity with Salesforce or Canvas integrations. Experience working with data pipelines (BigQuery, dbt). Previous experience in nonprofit or mission‑driven organizations.

Experience with AI/ML feature development or integration. Other Logistics Position is full‑time: 4‑day work week (Fridays are operating days if there is a holiday closure during the week). Location: Remote (must reside within the 50 states or District of Columbia).

Salary: $156,000. Priority application deadline: January 5, 2026. Benefits 4‑day work week.

Medical, Dental and Vision insurance (100% employee‑only coverage). Flexible Spending Account and Health Savings Account. Dependent care Flexible Spending Account.

Health Reimbursement Account fully funded by Merit. Education & personal development reimbursement. Catalog of courses for professional learning and development.

Short and long‑term disability. Unlimited vacation (after a 90‑day introductory period). Paid parental leave and adoption benefits (after 1 year of employment). 11 federally recognized holidays. 2‑week holiday office closure in December/January. 401(k) retirement plan with automatic Merit contribution.

Wellness benefits/resources. Discount perks at work program. Phone/technology stipend.

Home office setup stipend. Affinity groups and community building via virtual, in‑person, and/or regional meetups. Eligibility may vary based on employment status; outlined during the hiring process.

Remote Work & Sponsorship Candidates must reside within the 50 states or District of Columbia and have full authorization to work in the U.S. Merit America does not offer employment visa sponsorship. Equal Opportunity Statement We are an equal opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, or any characteristic protected by law.

We encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply. Fair Chance Ordinance Applicants who have arrest or conviction records and are in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County will be considered in accordance with the state’s fair chance ordinance law. E‑Verify Statement This employer participates in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm authorization to work in the U.S.

Employers may use E‑Verify only after job acceptance and completion of the I‑9 form. #J-18808-Ljbffr