Lead Software Engineer - Publishing

Kit is revolutionizing the way creators connect with their audiences through an email-first operating system designed for serious professionals. Our mission is to empower creators to earn $1 billion with our innovative marketing platform. As a 100% independent and fully remote company, we take pride in developing a product that our users love, and we invite passionate individuals who share our mission and values to join our team.

We are searching for a Lead Software Engineer to enhance Kit’s core publishing platform and creator growth features. You will be a vital part of the Builders team, responsible for developing the suite of publishing tools that creators utilize to design emails, landing pages, and newsletters. This role involves shaping creators' initial experiences in the app, guiding them from onboarding to activation and ultimately conversion. You will also help maintain and evolve Kit's core application experience and design system.

This hands-on position suits a product-oriented full-stack engineer dedicated to creating outstanding user experiences. You will design and develop complex features across the technology stack and collaborate closely with Product and Design teams to deliver effective solutions that enrich the creators' experience with our publishing platform.

You will report to the Engineering Manager leading the Builders team, a collaborative and cross-functional product team at Kit. Working alongside a Product Manager, Product Designer, and fellow Software Engineers, you’ll also have support and mentorship from a broader engineering group in Kit, as well as a dedicated onboarding buddy to help you acclimate to our systems and codebase.

Skills

Expertise in developing sophisticated web applications with superb user experiences using React, JavaScript, and modern CSS frameworks like Tailwind.

Proficient in Ruby on Rails (preferred), or experience with other backend frameworks with a desire to learn and master Rails. A strong contributor across the stack, from the browser to the database.

Adept at planning, estimating, and executing complex, ambiguous projects independently while keeping all stakeholders informed.

Skilled in writing high-quality, well-tested, performant, and accessible code with minimal guidance.

Strong communication skills with the ability to create clarity among Engineers, Product Managers, and Designers.

Experiences

Successfully partnering with Product and Design to offer delightful experiences, while prioritizing user outcomes and business impacts in your technical solutions.

Managing a legacy codebase and evolving it safely through migrations and system refactoring.

Diagnosing root causes of problems and proposing solutions with clear trade-offs and impact on the business.

Mentoring and educating other engineers, both formally and informally.

Traits

A proactive and autonomous worker, able to collaborate effectively with teammates.

Adaptable in a fast-paced and uncertain environment, with a strong sense of ownership over problems.

Interest in AI and enthusiasm for experimenting with new developments to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in our work.

Open to receiving feedback for continuous improvement and able to provide thoughtful peer reviews.

Embraces a growth mindset and demonstrates a quick ability to acquire new skills.

Additional Qualifications

Your application will stand out if you have :

Experience building rich text editors using frameworks like SlateJS or ProseMirror.

Knowledge of crafting email-safe HTML and CSS.

Experience delivering user-facing AI functionalities.

Background in building design systems and component libraries.

Proficiency with frontend bundling and development tools.

Experience in the creator economy or within publishing platforms.

Our company operates remotely with team members worldwide. We primarily align with East Coast time, so if you are based in the West Coast of the United States, Europe, or Asia, you may need to accommodate some early mornings or late evenings. While we strive for reasonable hours, a bit of time zone flexibility is part of the job. Core collaboration hours for the team are from 10 : 45 AM to 2 PM Eastern Time, with flexible work options outside of these hours.

Kit has standardized salaries for positions regardless of location. For this role, we are hiring at a level 3, with a salary of $153,000. Level designation depends on experience and our interview process.

Our perks and benefits include :

Profit Sharing

Kit equity

401k with a 5% match

Medical premiums covered up to $1,950 per month, with fully paid dental and vision premiums through Aetna.

$4,000 equipment allowance for the first two years, followed by a $3,000 budget every two years thereafter.

Individual Learning & Development budget of $3,500 per year.

Gender-affirming benefits.

Childcare benefits up to $3,000 annually.

Twenty (20) days of paid time off each year.

Paid vacation bonus of $1,000 after taking five consecutive days completely unplugged from work.

Ten (10) paid holidays each year.

Two weeks of paid sick leave annually, including mental health and well-being days.

Twelve (12) weeks of paid parental leave and flexible scheduling during your child's first year.

Up to six weeks of paid bereavement leave, medical leave, and disaster leave after six months, with two weeks of each leave available in the first six months.

Winter Break Closure : Kit closes for a week at the end of December for a collective holiday break. Essential support services remain available, with teams coordinating to ensure coverage during this period.

Four-week paid sabbatical after five years with the team.

Exciting in-person or virtual team retreats twice yearly.

We typically receive many applications and aim to follow up with applicants within two weeks, regardless of the outcome. Expect the following steps in our hiring process :

• Phone screen with our recruiter.
• Hiring manager screen.
• Take-home assignment.
• Technical interview.
• Technical execution and collaboration interview.

We will keep you informed throughout every step. To apply, complete our application along with a cover letter and responses to the questions on the next page. Each application is reviewed individually; your cover letter and answers provide essential context for your experience.

Kit is an equal opportunity employer, valuing diversity in all its forms. We encourage applicants who identify as female, non-binary, or people of color to apply, even if they feel they do not meet all qualifications. If you meet more than 50% of our criteria, we invite you to submit your application.

We acknowledge our communication may have imperfections, so consider our job postings a starting point for discussion rather than as a definitive qualification requirement.

Kit does not discriminate based on race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other factor prohibited by law in employment opportunities and benefits.