What It's Like to Be a Software Engineer at Gusto
As a software engineer at Gusto, you'll be building products that help small businesses take care of their teams. Gusto's engineering culture is centered around empathy for the customer, and a desire to build high-quality, reliable software. The company has a monolithic Rails application that they are in the process of breaking down into smaller services, so there are plenty of interesting challenges to work on. The tech stack is primarily Ruby on Rails, with some teams using React, and they are heavy users of AWS.
Day-to-day, you can expect to work in a collaborative environment with a strong focus on mentorship and career growth. You'll be working with product managers, designers, and other engineers to build and ship features that have a real impact on the lives of small business owners and their employees. Gusto has a strong set of engineering principles and values that guide their work, and they are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team.
Salary & Compensation
Gusto offers competitive salaries and benefits, with a focus on creating a great work-life balance. Here's a general breakdown of what you can expect for a software engineering role in San Francisco:
| Level | Base Salary | Total Comp (incl. equity) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry (L1-L2) | $120K–$160K | $150K–$220K |
| Mid (L3-L4) | $160K–$220K | $220K–$320K |
| Senior (L5+) | $220K–$280K | $320K–$400K+ |
Interview Process
The interview process at Gusto is designed to be a two-way street, giving you a chance to get to know the team and the company. It typically consists of 4-5 rounds:
- Recruiter Screen — A 30-minute call with a recruiter to discuss your background and interest in the role.
- Technical Phone Screen — A 60-minute coding interview with a software engineer. You can expect a practical coding exercise that is relevant to the work you'd be doing at Gusto.
- Onsite/Virtual Loop — A series of 4-5 interviews with engineers and managers. This will include a mix of coding, system design, and behavioral questions.
- Values Interview — A dedicated interview to assess your alignment with Gusto's values.
How to Stand Out
- Show your passion for helping small businesses. Gusto is a mission-driven company, and they want to see that you're excited about their mission.
- Demonstrate your product sense. Gusto engineers are expected to have a strong sense of product ownership.
- Be a great communicator. Gusto is a highly collaborative environment, so they're looking for people who can communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Show that you're a lifelong learner. Gusto is a company that is constantly learning and growing, and they want to see that you are too.