Senior Backend Developer

Smart state; Fort Lee (NJ); On-site; USD 220,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Partially subsidized in-office meals

Comprehensive medical, dental, vision

401(k)

Generous PTO

Job summary

Smart State Inc. is seeking a Senior Backend Developer to own core APIs and high-performance services in a fast-scaling product ecosystem.

You’ll design and optimize Node.js/Nest.js backends, integrate third-party APIs, and implement robust data operations with SQL and NoSQL databases. This office-based, full-time role requires 5+ years of experience and deep hands-on Node.js expertise, with a focus on microservices, testing, and distributed systems.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional web development experience.
• 3+ years of hands-on Node.js (Nest.js preferred).
• Strong experience with SQL and NoSQL databases.
• Solid Git and collaborative workflows.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and scale backend services using Node.js and Nest.js.
• Design and implement third-party API integrations and platform modules.
• Write clean, well-tested code following TDD principles.
• Work with MongoDB, MySQL, and Redis for high-volume data operations.
• Implement REST, GraphQL, and WebSocket protocols.
• Collaborate with frontend, DevOps, and product teams for reliable solutions.
• Apply microservice architecture best practices for scalability and performance.
• Participate in code reviews, architecture discussions, and CI initiatives.
• Demonstrate strong fundamentals in distributed systems.

Job description

Are you ready to build high-performance backend services and own core APIs for a fast-scaling digital product ecosystem?

Location: Fort Lee, New Jersey

Work Mode: Full-time, office-based (Remote or hybrid not available)

The Role

As a Senior Backend Developer, you will be a key contributor within our platform engineering team. You’ll design, implement, and optimize high-performance Node.js APIs and microservices that power a global, fast-scaling product ecosystem. This role is ideal for a backend engineer who takes ownership of core services, drives performance and reliability, and wants to deepen technical impact in a fast-paced, hands-on environment.

What You’ll Do

• Develop, maintain, and scale robust backend services built with Node.js and Nest.js.
• Design and implement third-party API integrations and new platform modules from concept through deployment.
• Write clean, maintainable, and well-tested code following TDD principles.
• Work with SQL and NoSQL databases such as MongoDB, MySQL, and Redis to support high-volume data operations.
• Implement REST, GraphQL, and WebSocket communication protocols across services.
• Collaborate closely with frontend, DevOps, and product teams to deliver reliable and efficient solutions.
• Apply best practices for microservice architecture, scalability, and performance optimization.
• Participate in code reviews, architecture discussions, and continuous integration initiatives.
• 5+ years of professional experience in web development.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience with Node.js, ideally with Nest.js.
• Practical experience with high-volume databases, both SQL and NoSQL.
• Proficiency with Git and collaborative development workflows.
• Experience with message brokers such as RabbitMQ or Redis Pub/Sub.
• Solid understanding of TDD and experience writing automated unit and integration tests.
• Strong fundamentals in microservices architecture and distributed systems.

Nice to Have

• 2+ years of experience with CI/CD pipelines, containerization, and microservices deployment.
• Familiarity with Kubernetes or other container orchestration systems.
• Experience with the NATS messaging system.
• Hands-on experience with TypeScript and advanced Node.js tooling.

Bonuses

Discretionary, performance based

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision + 401(k)

Time Off

Generous PTO policy

Perks

Partially subsidized in-office breakfasts and lunches

Culture

Collaborative, international team that celebrates milestones and wins together

Growth

Strong opportunities for professional development and ownership within a scaling organization

Smart State Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that different perspectives make us stronger and provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants regardless of race, color identity, religion, or any other protected status. If you have the drive and the skills, we want to hear from you.

Salary range

$220,000 - $240,000 USD