Lead backend development of scalable, secure Node.js APIs and microservices. Participate in architecture and system design, integrate databases and third-party services, support CI/CD and cloud deployments, implement monitoring and performance troubleshooting, and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
API & Backend Development
- Design, develop, and maintain RESTful and/or GraphQL APIs using Node.js.
- Build scalable, secure, and performant backend services and microservices.
- Integrate third-party systems, internal services, and databases.
- Use best practices for error handling, logging, caching, and performance optimization.
Architecture & System Design
- Participate in architectural planning and technical design discussions.
- Implement clean, maintainable, well-documented code following industry standards.
- Contribute to system design decisions around scalability, reliability, and security.
Database & Data Layer
- Work with relational and NoSQL databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis).
- Design efficient schemas, write optimized queries, and implement ORM/ODM solutions.
Collaboration & Deployment
- Collaborate with frontend engineers, QA, product managers, and DevOps teams.
- Participate in code reviews, sprint planning, and technical documentation.
- Support CI/CD processes and deployment to cloud environments (AWS, GCP, Azure).
Monitoring & Maintenance
- Implement monitoring, logging, and alerting using tools like Prometheus, Grafana, Datadog, or similar.
- Diagnose and resolve performance bottlenecks, outages, and production issues.
- Ensure reliability, security, and compliance standards across backend systems.
Qualifications
Required
- 3–5+ years of hands-on backend development experience.
- Strong proficiency in Node.js, JavaScript/TypeScript, and modern backend frameworks (e.g., Express, NestJS, Fastify).
- Experience building and maintaining APIs at scale.
- Solid understanding of microservices, serverless architectures, and distributed systems.
- Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
- Strong knowledge of databases (SQL and NoSQL).
- Experience with Git, CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing.
- Familiarity with API documentation tools (Swagger/OpenAPI).
Preferred
- Experience with event-driven architectures (Kafka, RabbitMQ, SNS/SQS).
- Knowledge of containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes).
- Experience with OAuth2, JWT, and security best practices.
- Familiarity with performance tuning and application profiling.
- Experience with infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, CloudFormation).
Compensation, Benefits and Duration
Minimum Compensation: USD 44,000
Maximum Compensation: USD 154,000
Compensation is based on actual experience and qualifications of the candidate. The above is a reasonable and a good faith estimate for the role.
Medical, vision, and dental benefits, 401k retirement plan, variable pay/incentives, paid time off, and paid holidays are available for full time employees.
This position is available for independent contractors
No applications will be considered if received more than 120 days after the date of this post
Photon Chicago, Illinois, USA Office
11 East Adams Street Suite 1100, Chicago, IL, United States, 60603
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