Senior Backend Engineer (Node.js / Microservices) to $5500

About Us

We’re Buff (https://www.buff.game/) - the earn-to-play gaming loyalty platform used by millions of gamers worldwide. Our mobile and desktop apps reward users for playing the games they love, and our backend platform powers a massive network of partners, marketing pipelines, and real-time engagement.
 

As we continue to scale fast, we’re strengthening our core engineering team with exceptional talent that can think big, move fast, and build systems that last.
 

If you look at scaling challenges and feel excitement (not fear), if CI/CD automation sparks joy, and if you enjoy shipping features end-to-end—requirements, design, code, tests, monitoring—you might just be “the one.”
 

What You’ll Do
• Own backend features end-to-end: requirements clarification, architecture, implementation, testing, deployment, and post-release monitoring.
• Design and build scalable, resilient NestJS microservices running in AWS EKS.
• Work with PostgreSQL using Prisma ORM, as well as Valkey/Redis for caching and distributed workflows.
• Develop and optimize integrations with 3rd-party analytics, marketing, and gaming platforms.
• Work extensively with NATS + JetStream for pub/sub and queueing patterns.
• Lead efforts to improve reliability, scalability, observability, and automation across the platform.
• Champion CI/CD maturity and testing automation aligned with a trunk-based development workflow.
• Partner closely with product, analytics, and client teams to create high-impact features.
• Be an owner, a teammate, and a leader—help improve processes, push quality forward, and bring ideas to life.

Tech Stack
• Backend: Node.js ecosystem, NestJS framework
• Storage: PostgreSQL + Prisma ORM
• Caching / Queues: Redis / Valkey, NATS JetStream
• Cloud: AWS (EKS, ECR, ALB, S3, Secrets Manager)
• CI/CD: GitHub Actions
• Ecosystem: Extensive 3rd-party integrations with marketing and analytics platforms

Required Experience
• 10+ years of experience in software development
• 5+ years in backend microservices architecture
• Strong expertise with Node.js and NestJS
• Hands-on experience with PostgreSQL and Prisma ORM
• Experience with Redis/Valkey
• Knowledge of NATS, JetStream, or similar pub/sub and streaming technologies
• Solid experience with AWS (EKS, ALB, ECR, S3, Secrets Manager)
• Strong proficiency with modern CI/CD best practices: GitHub Actions and Argo CD

Soft Skills
• Team player with strong communication and collaboration skills
• Thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment
• Creative thinker with the ability to solve problems outside the box
• Ownership mentality and passion for high-quality engineering

Bonus Skills
• Experience with React, React Native, or Electron
• Understanding of marketing and attribution systems from an engineering perspective

Why Join Us?
• Build high-scale systems used by millions of gamers
• Work on a unique, data-rich, real-time platform
• Move fast, make an impact, and shape the future of Buff
• No politics, just talented people building great things together