Backend Software Engineer – API and Database Development

The Elite Job; De Pere (WI); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

The Elite Job is seeking a Backend Software Engineer – API and Database Development to join our technology team in De Pere, WI. You will design, develop, test, and maintain backend services for web, mobile, and enterprise software, focusing on secure, scalable APIs and robust data management.

You will collaborate with frontend, QA, product, and operations teams to deliver reliable software, implement best practices, and contribute to performance optimization and security improvements across the

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS or related field preferred.
• Strong knowledge of backend programming, APIs, and databases.
• Experience with REST APIs and HTTP methods.
• Familiarity with SQL and NoSQL databases is a plus.
• Experience with Git and testing practices.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, implement, and maintain robust backend services and server-side applications.
• Write clean, reusable, scalable, and maintainable code using appropriate backend languages and frameworks.
• Develop business logic, workflows, authentication, and data-processing services.
• Build backend components to support responsive web and mobile apps and third-party integrations.
• Follow coding standards and best practices; participate in reviews and documentation.

Skills

Java

Python

JavaScript/TypeScript

Go

C#

PHP

API design

REST / GraphQL

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS or related field

Tools

PostgreSQL

MySQL

MongoDB

Git

OpenAPI/Swagger

Postman

Docker

CI/CD

Job description

1. Job Summary

The Elite Job is seeking a talented and motivated Backend Software Engineer – API and Database Development to join our growing technology team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for designing, developing, testing, and maintaining reliable backend systems that support modern web applications, mobile platforms, and enterprise software solutions.

In this role, you will focus on building secure, scalable, and high-performance application programming interfaces (APIs), managing databases, and developing server-side application logic. You will collaborate closely with frontend developers, UI/UX designers, quality assurance engineers, product managers, and other technical stakeholders to deliver efficient and dependable software solutions.

The successful candidate should have a strong understanding of backend programming concepts, database architecture, API integration, application security, and software development best practices. You should be comfortable troubleshooting technical issues, improving application performance, and writing clean, maintainable code.

At The Elite Job, we value problem-solving, continuous learning, teamwork, and innovation. This position offers an opportunity to contribute to meaningful software projects, expand your technical expertise, and develop your career in backend engineering.

2. Key Responsibilities

Backend Application Development

• Design, develop, implement, and maintain robust backend services and server-side applications.
• Write clean, reusable, scalable, and maintainable code using appropriate backend programming languages and frameworks.
• Develop business logic, application workflows, authentication processes, and data-processing services.
• Build backend components that support responsive web applications, mobile applications, and third-party integrations.
• Follow established coding standards, architectural guidelines, and software development best practices.

API Design and Development

• Design, develop, document, and maintain RESTful APIs and, where appropriate, GraphQL endpoints.
• Create secure and efficient endpoints for communication between frontend applications, databases, and external services.
• Implement authentication and authorization mechanisms, including token-based authentication where appropriate.
• Validate incoming requests, handle errors consistently, and ensure reliable API responses.
• Integrate third-party services, payment gateways, notification systems, and external data sources when required.
• Maintain API documentation using tools and standards such as OpenAPI or Swagger.
• Monitor API performance and identify opportunities to improve response times, reliability, and scalability.

Database Design and Management

• Design and maintain relational and non-relational database structures based on application requirements.
• Work with database technologies such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, or other suitable database platforms.
• Create efficient SQL queries, indexes, relationships, constraints, and database schemas.
• Optimize database performance by identifying slow queries, unnecessary operations, and inefficient data-access patterns.
• Implement data validation, integrity checks, backup procedures, and appropriate recovery strategies.
• Support database migrations, schema changes, and data transformation activities.
• Apply appropriate access controls and security practices to protect sensitive information.

Testing, Debugging, and Quality Assurance

• Write and maintain unit tests, integration tests, and API tests to ensure application reliability.
• Identify, investigate, and resolve backend defects, performance bottlenecks, and production issues.
• Collaborate with quality assurance teams to reproduce issues and implement effective solutions.
• Review code to maintain quality, readability, reliability, and consistency.
• Participate in peer reviews and contribute constructive feedback to improve engineering standards.
• Verify that new features work correctly without negatively affecting existing application functionality.

Security and Performance Optimization

• Implement secure coding practices to protect applications against common vulnerabilities.
• Apply appropriate input validation, encryption, access controls, and secure configuration practices.
• Follow relevant security guidance, including protection against SQL injection, broken access controls, and insecure authentication.
• Optimize server resource usage, database operations, caching, and application response times.
• Assist with performance monitoring, incident investigation, and root-cause analysis.
• Help ensure that applications remain reliable as user traffic and data volumes increase.

Collaboration and Project Delivery

• Work with frontend developers to define API contracts, request formats, and response structures.
• Collaborate with product managers and business stakeholders to translate requirements into technical solutions.
• Participate in sprint planning, daily stand-ups, retrospectives, and other Agile development activities where applicable.
• Maintain technical documentation covering application architecture, API behavior, database structures, and deployment processes.
• Communicate development progress, technical challenges, and potential risks to relevant team members.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and recommend practical solutions to engineering challenges.

3. Required Skills and Qualifications

Educational Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline is preferred.
• Candidates with relevant technical certifications, equivalent practical experience, or strong software development portfolios may also be considered.
• A solid understanding of programming fundamentals, algorithms, data structures, and database concepts is essential.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in at least one backend programming language, such as Java, Python, JavaScript/TypeScript with Node.js, PHP, C#, or Go.
• Practical understanding of REST API development, HTTP methods, status codes, request handling, and response formats.
• Experience with relational databases such as PostgreSQL or MySQL; familiarity with MongoDB or other NoSQL systems is an advantage.
• Knowledge of SQL queries, database relationships, indexing, transactions, and query optimization.
• Understanding of authentication, authorization, session management, and API security.
• Familiarity with Git or other version control systems.
• Experience using API testing tools such as Postman or equivalent tools.
• Understanding of unit testing, integration testing, debugging, and software quality practices.
• Basic knowledge of Linux environments, command-line tools, and application deployment is beneficial.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building and maintaining production-ready APIs.
• Familiarity with Docker, containerization, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Knowledge of cloud platforms such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud.
• Understanding of caching technologies, message queues, asynchronous processing, or background jobs.
• Familiarity with microservices architecture and distributed systems concepts.
• Experience with monitoring, logging, and application performance tools.
• Awareness of data privacy requirements and secure software development practices.

4. Experience

Entry-Level Candidates

• Basic understanding of backend programming, APIs, and database fundamentals.
• Academic projects, internships, personal projects, or open-source contributions demonstrating practical skills.
• Willingness to learn new frameworks, tools, and development practices.
• Ability to understand technical instructions and work collaboratively with experienced developers.

Mid-Level Candidates

• Typically 2–4 years of experience in backend development or a related software engineering role.
• Demonstrated experience developing APIs, integrating databases, and maintaining server-side applications.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex bugs, improve performance, and write reliable automated tests.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams and delivering features within project timelines.

Senior-Level Candidates

• Typically 5 or more years of relevant backend engineering experience.
• Strong experience in API architecture, database optimization, application security, and scalable system design.
• Ability to guide technical decisions, review code, mentor developers, and improve engineering processes.
• Experience diagnosing production incidents and designing reliable backend solutions.
• Candidates with different levels of experience may be considered based on demonstrated skills, project work, and role requirements.

5. Working Hours

• Employment Type: Full-time.
• Typical Schedule: Monday to Friday, subject to the teams operating schedule.
• Working Hours: Approximately 8 hours per day, with breaks in accordance with company policy and applicable employment laws.
• Work Arrangement: Remote, hybrid, or office-based, depending on the specific position and business requirements.
• Time Zone: Candidates may need to coordinate with colleagues, clients, or stakeholders in different time zones.
• Flexibility: Flexible scheduling may be available where supported by the project and team.
• Meetings: Participation in project discussions, sprint meetings, technical reviews, and progress updates may be required.
• Additional Hours: Occasional support outside standard working hours may be necessary for critical deployments or production incidents, subject to applicable policies.
• Final working hours, time-zone expectations, and employment arrangements will be communicated during the recruitment process.

6. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Technical Knowledge

• Strong understanding of backend development principles, application architecture, and server-side processing.
• Knowledge of API design, database modeling, data validation, and efficient data retrieval.
• Understanding of software development life cycles, testing methodologies, and version control workflows.
• Awareness of application security, performance optimization, and scalable system design.
• Ability to understand technical documentation and apply relevant development standards.

Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills

• Ability to analyze technical problems, identify root causes, and implement effective solutions.
• Strong logical reasoning and attention to detail when working with code and data.
• Ability to investigate application errors and evaluate alternative technical approaches.
• Confidence in breaking complex requirements into manageable development tasks.

Communication and Collaboration

• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to explain technical concepts to developers and non-technical stakeholders.
• Willingness to collaborate, share knowledge, receive feedback, and participate in code reviews.
• Ability to document technical decisions and communicate potential risks effectively.

Organizational Abilities

• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple development responsibilities.
• Commitment to meeting agreed project deadlines without compromising code quality.
• Willingness to adapt to changing requirements, technologies, and project priorities.
• Ability to work independently while seeking guidance when necessary.

Professional Attributes

• Strong sense of ownership, accountability, and professional integrity.
• Curiosity and enthusiasm for learning new technologies.
• Commitment to writing secure, maintainable, and well-tested code.
• A proactive attitude toward identifying improvements and preventing recurring issues.
• Respect for confidentiality, data protection, and responsible handling of company information.

7. Benefits

• Competitive Compensation: Salary aligned with relevant experience, technical expertise, and role responsibilities.
• Flexible Work Arrangements: Remote or hybrid working options where available for the position.
• Professional Development: Opportunities to develop backend engineering skills through practical projects, technical learning, and knowledge sharing.
• Learning Resources: Access to relevant documentation, technical resources, and approved training opportunities where available.
• Career Advancement: Opportunities to progress into senior engineering, technical leadership, architecture, or specialist roles based on performance and business needs.
• Collaborative Environment: Opportunities to work with developers and professionals across different technical disciplines.
• Meaningful Projects: Participation in software development initiatives involving APIs, databases, integrations, and application performance.
• Performance Recognition: Recognition of contributions, quality improvements, and successful project delivery in accordance with company policy.
• Employee Support: Access to applicable leave, statutory benefits, and other employment benefits according to the employment agreement and local regulations.
• Specific benefits, salary ranges, insurance coverage, paid leave, and allowances will be confirmed during the hiring process. These benefits should not be considered guaranteed unless expressly included in the official employment offer.

8. Why Join The Elite Job?

• Joining The Elite Job offers an opportunity to build a career in backend software engineering while contributing to the development of reliable and scalable digital solutions.
• Develop Your Technical Expertise: Apply your programming and database knowledge to practical engineering challenges while improving your API development, debugging, and system optimization skills.
• Work on Challenging Projects: Gain exposure to backend systems, application integrations, data management, and software reliability initiatives, depending on project assignments.
• Grow Your Career: Build a professional development path toward senior backend engineering, API architecture, database engineering, cloud development, or technical leadership.
• Collaborate with Other Professionals: Work alongside colleagues from software engineering, frontend development, quality assurance, product management, and other relevant functions.
• Make a Practical Impact: Contribute to software features and improvements that support application functionality, data accuracy, system performance, and user experience.
• Learn Continuously: Stay engaged with evolving programming languages, development frameworks, cloud technologies, and modern software engineering practices.
• Build Your Professional Portfolio: Where permitted by company policy and confidentiality requirements, gain experience that can strengthen your technical capabilities and professional achievements.
• At The Elite Job, we encourage candidates who are passionate about technology, committed to quality, and eager to solve real-world problems to explore this opportunity.