Backend Developer Intern
Ruby on Rails Backend Developer Intern — REC
Company: REC (My Recommendation)
Position: Backend Developer Intern — Ruby on Rails
Type: Unpaid Internship
Schedule: Part-Time / Flexible, approximately 10–20 hours per week
Location: Remote
About REC
REC is a growing consumer app designed to help people discover and recommend great people — including fitness instructors, personal trainers, wellness professionals, and other service professionals.
Think of REC as Yelp, but for people instead of places.
REC is already a working iOS application with an established codebase and development team. We’re looking for a Backend Developer Intern who wants hands-on experience contributing to a real-world production application.
Our Technology Stack
REC currently uses:
- Ruby on Rails (RoR / Ruby) — Backend
- Flutter / Dart — Mobile application frontend
- React.js / JavaScript — Admin and control panel
- Git / GitHub — Version control and development workflow
- Firebase and cloud services
- RESTful APIs and third-party integrations
What You’ll Work On
As a Backend Developer Intern, your primary focus will be REC’s Ruby on Rails backend.
Responsibilities may include:
- Developing and maintaining Ruby on Rails backend functionality
- Building, maintaining, and troubleshooting RESTful APIs
- Working with databases and application data
- Supporting user authentication and account functionality
- Supporting features including user profiles, recommendations, search, notifications, and analytics
- Integrating third-party APIs and cloud services
- Debugging backend and server-side issues
- Improving backend performance, reliability, and security
- Assisting with backend testing and deployment
- Working with GitHub branches, pull requests, and code reviews
- Documenting backend systems and development processes
- Collaborating with our frontend, mobile, UI/UX, and development team
What We’re Looking For
We’re looking for a Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, or related student interested in backend software development.
Experience or coursework in the following is preferred:
- Ruby
- Ruby on Rails
- RESTful APIs
- SQL and database development
- Git and GitHub
- Backend application development
- Authentication systems
- Cloud services
- Debugging and software testing
Ruby on Rails experience is preferred but not required. Strong candidates with experience in another backend language or framework who are interested in learning Rails are encouraged to apply.
Familiarity with Flutter/Dart, React.js/JavaScript, Firebase, or mobile app development is a plus, but not required.
Ideal Candidate
You may be a good fit if you:
- Want real-world backend development experience
- Enjoy solving technical problems and debugging
- Are comfortable learning an existing codebase
- Can work independently while collaborating with a development team
- Communicate progress and technical issues clearly
- Are dependable and willing to take ownership of assigned projects
- Are interested in startups, mobile apps, and building products used by real users
What You’ll Gain
This internship provides the opportunity to work on a real, live consumer application rather than only classroom projects.
You’ll gain hands-on experience with:
- Ruby on Rails development
- Production backend architecture
- APIs and databases
- GitHub development workflows
- Cloud services and application infrastructure
- Debugging real production issues
- Cross-functional software development
- Mobile application backend development
- Startup product development
Your contributions may become part of the production REC application, giving you meaningful projects and experience to discuss on your résumé, portfolio, and future job interviews.
Internship Details
This is an unpaid internship designed for students seeking practical software engineering experience. We are happy to work with your university’s requirements if you are seeking academic or internship credit.
We value curiosity, reliability, communication, and willingness to learn as much as existing technical experience.