Description
As a Senior Backend Engineer (Ruby on Rails) on the Plan: Knowledge group, you'll help shape how teams plan, document, and share knowledge in GitLab. You'll build and improve the backend systems behind Wiki, Pages, Markdown, and text editors, while also helping design AI-powered capabilities such as the planner agent and Model Context Protocol (MCP) integrations that connect GitLab's GraphQL APIs with external tools.
In this role, you'll work closely with frontend engineers, Product, UX, and Security to create reliable, scalable systems that support both technical and non-technical users across GitLab's planning experience. As part of GitLab's AI-first culture, you'll also use the Duo Agent Platform in your daily workflow to improve productivity and support faster iteration.
Some examples of our projects:
- Building AI agents such as the planner agent to support planning and knowledge management workflows
- Architecting MCP integrations that expose GitLab GraphQL APIs to external AI tools and platforms
As a senior engineer, you'll lead backend architecture for Wiki, Pages, Markdown, and text editor capabilities used across GitLab. You'll design and build AI agents that support planning and knowledge management workflows. You'll also architect MCP integrations that connect GitLab GraphQL APIs with external AI platforms and tools.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading backend architecture for Wiki, Pages, Markdown, and text editor capabilities used across GitLab
- Designing and building AI agents that support planning and knowledge management workflows
- Architecting MCP integrations that connect GitLab GraphQL APIs with external AI platforms and tools
- Driving improvements in reliability and performance across application code, PostgreSQL queries, Redis usage, and background jobs
- Developing and evolving GraphQL APIs that are clear for frontend engineers and support scalable product experiences
- Collaborating with frontend engineers, Product, UX, and Security to break down complex work into shippable iterations
- Mentoring engineers through code review, technical discussions, and shared backend best practices
- Supporting incident response and production debugging, then turning learnings into lasting system improvements
Requirements include:
- Strong experience building and maintaining backend applications with Ruby on Rails, including core components such as ActiveRecord and Redis
- Experience designing and supporting GraphQL APIs with attention to usability, maintainability, and performance
- Knowledge of PostgreSQL query design, optimization, and scaling in high-traffic production systems
- Experience building or integrating AI agents, intelligent workflows, or related platform capabilities
- Familiarity with Model Context Protocol (MCP) or similar patterns for connecting APIs to external tools and platforms
- Ability to investigate production issues, debug complex systems, and improve reliability over time
- Experience leading technical decisions, mentoring engineers, and contributing to engineering standards across a team
- Clear communication and cross-functional collaboration skills, with openness to candidates who bring transferable experience from adjacent backend or platform work
The Plan: Knowledge group owns core knowledge management experiences in GitLab, including Wiki, Pages, Markdown, and Text Editors, and is expanding those foundations with AI-powered capabilities such as the planner agent and MCP-based integrations. The team includes 6 engineers and works with a Product Manager, Engineering Manager, Product Designer, and Technical Writer.