Job Description:Location: Hybrid 1-2 days/week onsite (Reading or Paddington), rest remoteContracting period: 4 months with possibility to extend.Role OverviewWe are seeking a
Senior Backend Engineer with strong Node.js expertise to design, build, and optimise cloud-native microservices. Youll work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, delivering high-performance APIs and scalable backend systems for digital, telecom, SaaS, or high-transaction sectors. The ideal candidate combines architectural thinking with hands-on coding, thrives in containerised environments, and embraces DevOps practices.
Key Responsibilities- Design, develop, and maintain microservices in production using Node.js and modern frameworks (Fastify preferred; Express, Koa, or Hapi also considered).
- Implement and maintain APIs using REST, GraphQL, OpenAPI, and Swagger standards.
- Build cloud-native solutions using Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud providers (GCP preferred; AWS/Azure also relevant).
- Apply best practices for security (OAuth 2.0, OIDC, CORS, CSRF).
- Work with SQL and NoSQL databases such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, and Redis.
- Ensure code quality with unit and functional testing using frameworks like Cypress, Mocha, or Jest.
- Collaborate closely with DevOps teams, leveraging CI/CD pipelines (GitHub, GitLab) and IaC tools (Terraform, Ansible).
- Monitor and optimise services using tools like Splunk, StackDriver, Datadog, or Grafana.
- Mentor junior engineers and contribute to technical knowledge sharing.
RequirementsTechnical Skills- 5+ years of professional backend development experience, with deep hands-on expertise in Node.js asynchronous programming and non-blocking I/O.
- Proven track record of delivering production microservices.
- Solid understanding of cloud-native architectures and containerisation.
- Familiarity with DevOps pipelines, IaC, and monitoring tools.
- Strong database skills (SQL & NoSQL).
Soft Skills- Clear communicator, able to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Pragmatic approach to problem-solving and mentoring.
- Proactive in troubleshooting and root cause analysis.
- Comfortable navigating ambiguity and fast-changing requirements.