Full Stack Product Engineer

About the role

Optimal develops research software that helps teams make smarter, data-led decisions. The company works with well-known global brands and places strong emphasis on great user experience and the value of human insight.

This opening is for an intermediate full stack product engineer who enjoys building, launching, and continuously improving product experiences in a fast-paced setting. You will be part of a compact, highly collaborative team spanning Product, Engineering, and Design, and your contribution will go beyond coding to include product thinking and customer understanding.

The position is suited to someone who likes moving quickly, learning from feedback, and using AI to improve the speed and quality of software delivery. It offers a high degree of ownership and the chance to have a real impact on the product.

Work location

This is a remote role for candidates based in New Zealand or Australia, with the option to work from the Wellington headquarters.

What you will do

• Create and deliver product features that improve the user research experience.
• Incorporate AI into your development process to help build and release software more efficiently.
• Partner closely with Product and Design to understand user challenges and turn them into workable solutions.
• Take ownership of work from start to finish and keep progress moving by prioritizing outcomes over perfection.
• Help strengthen the engineering environment by sharing knowledge and learning from teammates.

What the team is looking for

• A proactive, entrepreneurial mindset with comfort working through uncertainty and incomplete information.
• A product-oriented approach that focuses on why a feature matters and how it fits into the larger experience.
• Hands-on experience with a similar stack, including React, Ruby on Rails, AWS, infrastructure as code, and CI/CD tools.
• A strong customer focus and a genuine interest in improving the user experience.
• Clear communication and strong collaboration skills in a remote-first team.
• The ability to solve problems by breaking them down and delivering practical solutions.

Benefits and rewards

• Competitive pay with the chance to participate in the company’s Employee Share Option Plan (ESOP).
• Annual wellbeing allowance and related support.
• Substantial support for learning and professional development each year.
• Home office setup support.
• An extra day off for your birthday.
• Room to grow professionally and develop your career.
• The opportunity to make a meaningful impact as part of a high-performing team.
• Flexible, remote-first working, with the option to be based anywhere in New Zealand or Australia.

Additional information

The company is interviewing candidates as applications are received.