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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Ruby on Rails Software Developer - **Company:** Free Uk Genealogy - **Location:** UK (Remote available) - **Contract:** Voluntary work - **Skills:** ASP.NET, JavaScript (Programming Language), Github, Python (Programming Language), MongoDB, Open Source Technology, Ruby on Rails, Ruby, Software Engineering, Git, Legacy Systems - **Published:** June 3, 2026 - **Apply:** https://reachvolunteering.org.uk/opp/ruby-rails-software-developer ## About the Role We are looking for individuals with a strong interest in software development and a willingness to contribute their skills in a collaborative, volunteer-led environment., * Experience with Ruby/ Ruby on Rails, or the ability to learn quickly based on experience with similar frameworks (such as Python, JavaScript, or ASP.NET) * Familiarity with version control using Git * Experience of working with GitHub (or similar platforms), including pull requests and issue management * Ability to work independently and communicate effectively in a remote team Desirable skills and experience: * Experience with MongoDB * Experience with JavaScript * Familiarity with legacy systems or data-heavy applications * Experience of working in volunteer or open-source environments We are particularly keen to hear from developers who are retired or approaching retirement and are looking for a way to stay mentally active, contribute to a meaningful cause, and remain connected to a technical community. That said, we welcome applications from developers at any stage of their career, including those looking to build experience and develop their skills in a supportive environment. You do not need prior experience in genealogy or charity work. What matters most is your willingness to contribute, collaborate, and apply your skills to support our mission. A thoughtful, pragmatic approach to problem-solving and an appreciation for working with existing systems will be especially valuable in this role. ## Description Free UK Genealogy is a charity dedicated to providing free public access to family history records. We have three websites (FreeBMD, FreeREG and FreeCEN) that enable anyone to access the information... Museums / heritage Local / community +2 more Read more about Free UK Genealogy What will you be doing? Free UK Genealogy is a volunteer-driven charity providing free online access to over 500 million genealogical records. Our platforms, including FreeBMD, FreeREG and FreeCEN, are used by researchers worldwide, and we are now entering an exciting phase of technical development. We are looking for Ruby on Rails developers to join our distributed technical team. This is a flexible, remote volunteering role where you can contribute at a pace that suits you, working alongside experienced volunteers and contributors. You will help develop, maintain and improve our core platforms, supporting both ongoing operations and new initiatives such as FreeBMD2 and FreePRO. Tasks may include enhancing existing features, improving performance, supporting data workflows, and contributing to new functionality. Our development work is collaborative and managed via GitHub, with discussions on requirements, accessibility etc. forming a key part of how we work. You will have the opportunity to engage with a friendly and knowledgeable team, many of whom bring decades of experience across software development, genealogy, and data projects. We particularly welcome interest from developers who are retired or approaching retirement and would like to continue using their skills in a meaningful, flexible and intellectually engaging way., Our services are entirely free to access, and they rely on a combination of volunteer effort and robust, well-maintained technology. As demand for our services continues to grow, so too does the need for sustainable and scalable technical solutions. By contributing your development expertise, you will directly support the ongoing availability and improvement of services used by thousands of people every day. Your work will help ensure that historical records remain accessible, searchable and useful for individuals, families and communities exploring their heritage. You will also play a part in shaping the future of our platforms. We are actively modernising our technology stack and developing new services, and experienced developers are critical to ensuring these initiatives succeed. Beyond the technical impact, your involvement helps strengthen our volunteer community. Sharing knowledge, mentoring others, and contributing to a collaborative environment are all valuable aspects of the role. Ultimately, your contribution will help preserve and democratise access to historical information, ensuring it remains freely available for future generations. Before you apply After applying through Reach, you will be asked to complete a short application form. Once submitted, a member of our team will review your application and respond with next steps. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a 30 minute informal online interview with one of our team members. All applicants will be informed of the outcome. We are committed to a fair, transparent and inclusive recruitment process. ## Related Videos - [Always on the Right Track with Rails with Eileen Uchitelle, Senior System Engineer at GitHub](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100358-always-on-the-right-track-with-rails-with-eileen-uchitelle-senior-system-engineer-at-github) - [Coffee with Developers: David Heinemeier Hansson](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/875-coffee-with-developers-david-heinemeier-hansson) - [Innovating Developer Tools with AI: Insights from GitHub Next](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1268-innovating-developer-tools-with-ai-insights-from-github-next) - [How a Small Team Shrank a Microsoft Monorepo by 94%](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1236-how-a-small-team-shrank-a-microsoft-monorepo-by-94) - [Coffee with Developers - Robby Russell](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/917-coffee-with-developers-robby-russell) - [Fireside Chat with David Heinemeier Hansson](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/980-fireside-chat-with-david-heinemeier-hansson) ## Related Articles - [Dev Digest 121 - AI goes offline](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/456-dev-digest-121-ai-goes-offline) - [Find a Developer Job: 12 Best Job Sites For Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/165-find-a-developer-job-12-best-job-sites-for-developers) - [Fully Remote Software Engineer Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/447-fully-remote-software-engineer-jobs) - [Fullstack Developer Salary UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/251-fullstack-developer-salary-uk) - [Frontend Developer Salary in The UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/233-frontend-developer-salary-in-the-uk) - [Software Engineer Salary in The UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/231-software-engineer-salary-in-the-uk)