Principal Backend Engineer

Midwest Startups; Illinois; Hybrid; USD 133,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid Work Schedule

Quarterly Profit-Sharing

Casual Dress Code

On-demand Pay

Health Insurance

401k/401k Match

Volunteer Opportunities

Monthly IT Stipend

Team Member Events

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Parts Town is seeking a Principal Backend Engineer to design, architect, and optimize scalable microservices powering our eCommerce and enterprise platforms. You will drive backend architecture and ensure integration across systems like commerce, CMS, ERP, PIM, and marketing.

You will mentor engineers, define logging/observability, and lead CI/CD and testing automation to ensure reliable deployments. Expertise in Node.js, TypeScript, cloud-native platforms, and distributed systems is required.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in backend system design and distributed applications.
• Expert in Node.js, TypeScript, and Azure cloud.
• Strong knowledge of databases: PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis.
• Experience with microservices and event-driven architectures (Kafka, NATS).
• Familiar with REST, GraphQL APIs, and testing/CI/CD ecosystems.

Responsibilities

• Backend Architecture: Design scalable, cloud-native microservices across platforms (eCommerce, CMS, ERP).
• Implementation & Best Practices: Use Node.js/TypeScript, Docker, Kubernetes, serverless tech; support modularization and API-first design.
• Engineering Standards: Establish CI/CD, automated testing, and backend tooling standards.
• Operational Practices: Define observability and logging, disaster recovery, and reliability strategies.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work with frontend, DevOps, and data teams to optimize APIs and databases.
• Mentor engineers and collaborate with Principal Engineers to drive excellence.

Skills

Node.js

TypeScript

Cloud-native

Microservices

Event-driven

REST API

GraphQL

Kafka

NATS

Kubernetes

Serverless

CI/CD

Testing

Tools

Terraform

Pulumi

Docker

Job description

Description

Position at Parts Town

See What We’re All About

As the fastest-growing distributor of restaurant equipment, HVAC and residential appliance parts, we like to do things a little differently. First, you need to understand and demonstrate our Core Values with safety being your first priority. That’s key. But we’re also looking for unique enthusiasm, high integrity, courage to embrace change…and if you know a few jokes, that puts you on the top of our list! If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves, go above and beyond and put your ambition to work, all while having some fun, let’s chat –

Perks

• Parts Town Pride – check out our virtual tour and culture!
• Quarterly profit-sharing bonus
• Hybrid Work schedule
• Team member appreciation events and recognition programs
• Volunteer opportunities
• Monthly IT stipend
• Casual dress code
• On-demand pay options: Access your pay as you earn it, to cover unexpected or even everyday expenses
• All the traditional benefits like health insurance, 401k/401k match, employee assistance programs and time away – don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

The Job at a Glance

As a Principal Backend Engineer, you will design, architect, and optimize scalable microservices that power our eCommerce and enterprise platforms. You’ll drive backend architecture and ensure seamless integration across systems like commerce, CMS, ERP, PIM, and marketing. Championing best practices in modularization, API design, and event-driven architectures, you’ll leverage Node.js, TypeScript, Docker, Kubernetes, and serverless technologies to create secure, high-performance services. You’ll own backend engineering policies, CI/CD pipelines, and testing automation to ensure reliable deployments. As a technical leader, you'll define logging, observability, and disaster recovery strategies, ensuring high availability. Collaboration with frontend, DevOps, and data teams will be key to optimizing system performance. Mentoring engineers and contributing to architectural decisions will be central to your role. This position is ideal for someone with extensive experience in backend design and distributed systems.

A Typical Day

• Backend Architecture: Design scalable, cloud-native microservices and ensure seamless interoperability between platforms (eCommerce, CMS, ERP, PIM, marketing)
• Implementation & Best Practices: Leverage Node.js, TypeScript, Docker, Kubernetes, and serverless technologies to build high-performance services. Advocate for modularization, API-first, event-driven architectures, and domain-driven design
• Engineering Standards: Establish CI/CD practices, automated testing, and backend tooling standards. Drive adoption of best practices for service-to-service communication (REST, GraphQL, gRPC)
• Operational Practices: Lead disaster recovery strategies, define observability and logging best practices, and drive automated testing strategies
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work with frontend, DevOps, and data teams to optimize APIs, caching, and databases.
• Mentor engineers and collaborate with other Principal Engineers to ensure engineering excellence

To Land This Opportunity

• You have strong written and verbal communication skills in English
• You have 10+ years of experience in backend system design, eCommerce, and distributed applications
• You’re an expert in Node.js, TypeScript, and cloud-native platforms (Azure preferred)
• You’re passionate and knowledgeable of databases (PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis), microservices, event-driven architectures (Kafka, NATS), and API standards (REST, GraphQL)
• You possess experience with unit, integration, and contract testing (Jest, Mocha, Pact) and CI/CD (Terraform, Pulumi)
• You are a familiar with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure), serverless computing, Kubernetes, and containerization
• You have proven ability to mentor engineers and collaborate across teams.

About Your Future Team

The Ecommerce team is a fast-growing group that embraces the rapid change that comes with incredible growth. We bring our whole selves to work each day – personality and all – in true Parts Town style. At Parts Town, we value transparency and are committed to ensuring our team members feel appreciated and supported. We prioritise our positive workplace culture where collaboration, growth, and work-life balance are celebrated. The salary range for this role is $133,164.93 - $179,711.01 annually which is based on including but not limited to qualifications, experience, and geographical location. Parts Town is a pay for performance-company. In addition to base pay, some roles offer a profit-sharing programme, and an annual bonus depending on the role. Our comprehensive benefits package includes health, dental and vision insurance, 401(k) with match, employee assistance programmes, paid time off, paid sick time off, paid holidays, paid parental leave, and professional development opportunities. Parts Town welcomes diversity and as an equal opportunity employer all qualified applicants will be considered regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.