Senior Back-End Engineer (API)

Job summary

As a Senior Back-End Engineer (API), you will play a key role in designing, implementing, and maintaining robust, scalable, and high-performance server-side logic and database architectures. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop efficient, secure, and reliable back-end solutions that power our applications. Your expertise in Node.js, TypeScript, database management, AWS services, back-end services optimisation and observability will be critical in delivering seamless user experiences and meeting business objectives.

Key responsibilities

Server-Side Development

• Design, develop, and deploy server-side logic using Node.js & TypeScript.

• Ensure solid code styling and maintainability through best practices.

• Optimise and maintain APIs and backend services to ensure scalability and reliability.

• Implement asynchronous programming patterns and event-driven architecture.

Database Management

• Implement and optimise database schemas, queries, and transactions.

• Work with MySQL and NoSQL (Redis, MongoDB, DynamoDB) databases.

• Design efficient data storage and retrieval strategies.

API Development

• Develop and maintain RESTful and GraphQL APIs.

• Integrate third-party APIs and ensure efficient inter-service communication.

• Implement API Gateway strategies for managing requests and scaling services.

Distributed and Observable Software Architecture

• Design, implement and manage distributed software using Bull/BullMQ and AWS-native queuing systems.

• Ensure observability using robust logging and data dashboards using Pino, ELK, Grafana, and AWS CloudWatch.

Security and Performance Optimisation

• Apply secure coding practices and data encryption techniques.

• Optimise application performance through caching strategies, load balancing and scalability planning.

• Design for high load, measure and optimise performance using K6 and other tools.

• Implement rate limiting, authentication (OAuth, JWT), and access controls.

AWS Cloud Services

• Utilise AWS services including Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB and other services.

• Implement serverless functions and event-driven architectures.

• Monitor cloud resources and optimise deployments for cost-effectiveness and performance.

Collaboration and Documentation

• Work closely with front-end developers (React), designers, QA, and project managers.

• Maintain clear and up-to-date documentation of codebases, APIs, and deployment processes.

About you

Qualifications:

• Proficiency in one or more of the following technologies, depending on the team’s stack: 

  • Node.js & TypeScript (Express, Koa, or equivalent frameworks)

• API Development and Tooling: REST, OpenAPI, Postman, K6

• Databases and data modelling: SQL, NoSQL, MySQL, Redis, Mongo

• HTML, CSS, and JavaScript Fundamentals

• Version Control: Git, GitLab, Git Flow

• Observability: Logging, status reporting and monitoring

• AWS Fundamentals: Access Management, S3, CloudFront, EC2/ELB

• Containerisation Fundamentals: Using Docker Locally, Configuring and Running Pre-built Containers