Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Senior Backend Developer to join our small but growing engineering team of 7 engineers. You will play a critical role in shaping the future of our backend systems, working directly with our CTO to define our technical roadmap and establish the engineering standards that will power our growth. As a mentor, you will be a force multiplier, elevating the skills and careers of our junior team members.

The ideal candidate will have a strong emphasis on API and business logic development along with establishing and enforcing best practices for the backend team.

Key Responsibilities:

• 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
• Able to work independently in a hybrid work environment (2 days/week work from home)

Job Requirements

About You:

You're more than just a developer; you're a builder, a mentor, and a leader. You have a passion for creating high-quality, maintainable systems that stand the test of time. You enjoy the process of teaching and learning, and you find genuine satisfaction in helping junior engineers grow in their careers. You are someone who takes pride in their work and is excited by the opportunity to shape the technical direction of a growing organization. If you're looking for a role where your technical expertise and leadership will have a significant impact, this is the place for you.

If you are passionate about backend engineering, mentoring, and establishing technical excellence with our Node.js and PostgreSQL stack, we invite you to apply!

Required Skills:

• 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 or leadership experience

Nice to Have Skills:

• 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