Lead Software Engineer

About RealSelf

For two decades, RealSelf has been the trusted authority in the aesthetics space. Now, we're evolving into a dynamic digital ecosystem that puts consumers at the center of their aesthetic journey. As the only destination combining verified patient experiences, board-certified doctor insights, and cutting-edge technology, RealSelf empowers millions to make confident, informed decisions.

Role Overview

Our NYC-based engineering team is seeking a Lead Software Engineer to lead a small but mighty engineering squad, with an initial focus on RealSelf's new booking and finance products.

You will work across the stack, designing and building the backend services that power booking flows, payments, and financial tooling, while setting the technical direction for a team you will help build and grow.

This is a hands-on engineering leadership role where you will write code, own architecture, and mentor engineers while collaborating with product, design, operations, and finance stakeholders. You'll directly shape how consumers finance and book care, while contributing to the foundation of our next-generation technology platform.

Key Responsibilities: Design and lead the architecture for RealSelf's booking and finance products infrastructure, including booking and scheduling flows, financing application integrations, and financial collection and reporting pipelines.

Build and scale backend services using Node.js, TypeScript, and SQL that power a high-traffic consumer marketplace used by millions of people researching and booking care.

Ensure security and compliance across everything that touches money or personal data, including PCI DSS scope reduction, data privacy (GDPR, CCPA), and audit-ready logging.

Collaborate across engineering, product, and finance to design APIs, data contracts, and reporting feeds used for revenue operations and business decision-making.

Mentor and guide engineers through code review, architectural reviews, and technical direction.

Requirements: 7+ years of backend or infrastructure engineering experience, with at least 1+ year in leading a team

Proven experience designing high-throughput, low-latency distributed systems in Python, Node.js, TypeScript, or similar.

Familiarity with security and compliance frameworks for financial data (PCI DSS) and privacy (GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA).

Experience with cloud infrastructure (AWS preferred), infrastructure-as-code tools (CloudFormation, Terraform, or similar), containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and CI/CD best practices.

Demonstrated ability to lead technically — setting direction, unblocking engineers, and raising the bar through reviews and mentorship.

Proficiency in leveraging AI tools to accelerate code delivery and improve quality.

Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with experience working cross-functionally with product, operations, and finance teams.

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

Experience with experimentation and growth engineering (A/B testing, funnel optimization, conversion instrumentation).

Previous work in consumer marketplaces, Martech or healthcare tech.

Bonus Qualities: Hands-on experience with consumer financing providers (Cherry, PatientFi, CareCredit).

Experience building booking, scheduling, or marketplace systems at scale.

Why RealSelf?

RealSelf exists to help people make confident, informed decisions about procedures that can change how they see themselves, and how the world sees them.

Our reviews are raw and honest. Our Q&A connects people directly with verified experts. We care deeply about trust, safety, and transparency in an industry where those things matter.

On the heels of a major rebrand, RealSelf is entering a new era of rebuilding and reinvention. This role is an opportunity to help shape the future of a culturally relevant, deeply useful product — and leave a lasting mark on a platform that genuinely matters.