Job Description

You will play a critical role in shaping the future of our client's backend systems, working directly with their CTO to define our technical roadmap and establish the engineering standards that will power their growth. As a mentor, you will be a force multiplier, elevating the skills and careers of their junior team members. 

• Architect, design, and implement scalable APIs and business logic using Node.js and PostgreSQL 
• Lead API design discussions, ensuring robust authentication (authn) and authorization (authz) mechanisms 
• Apply common security practices for APIs and data, including secure data handling, encryption, and protection against common vulnerabilities (e.g., SQL injection, XSS) 
• Design and optimize PostgreSQL database schemas, ensuring data integrity and performance 
• Collaborate closely with the CTO to establish, document, and enforce backend best practices 
• Mentor and upskill junior engineers, providing code reviews, technical guidance, and support 
• Stay up to date with the latest backend technologies, frameworks, and industry trends

Job Requirements

Must have:

• 5+ years of backend development experience
• Recent 3+ years of knowledge of Node.js & Typescript for server-side development
• Strong PostgreSQL expertise including database design, query optimization, and migrations
• Deep experience with Express.js or Koa.js frameworks - must be proficient in at least one
• Strong knowledge of RESTful API design, versioning, and documentation (OpenAPI/Swagger) 
• Expertise in authentication and authorization standards (OAuth2, JWT, RBAC, etc.) 
• Deep understanding of security best practices for APIs and data 
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to troubleshoot complex backend issues 
• Strong communication and leadership skills 
• Demonstrated mentoring experience

Nice to have: 

• Experience with enterprise auth platforms (Cerbos, Auth0, Okta, FusionAuth) 
• Familiarity with GraphQL API design and implementation 
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) 
• Experience with CI/CD, automated testing, and code quality tools 
• Exposure to event-driven architectures and message queues (e.g., Kafka, RabbitMQ) 
• Performance profiling, monitoring, and scaling backend systems 
• Hands-on experience with DevOps practices 

Skills