Lead Backend Engineer

Our client is looking for an experienced Lead Backend Engineer to design, build, and scale modern backend systems and cloud-native applications supporting headless and frontend applications.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role combining backend engineering, architecture, DevOps, and team leadership. You will lead a Scrum team throughout the software development lifecycle while contributing directly to backend development, cloud architecture, database and search solutions, and engineering best practices.

The role reports to the Chief Architect.

Responsibilities

Backend Engineering & Architecture

• Lead a Scrum team throughout the SDLC, ensuring project goals are delivered within scope and timelines.
• Design, develop, and maintain scalable backend services using TypeScript, Node.js, and Python.
• Build cloud-native and serverless applications primarily on AWS and Serverless Framework.
• Participate in architectural design and technical strategy for modern backend and service workflows.
• Apply distributed systems, event-driven, API-first, and microservices patterns.
• Lead code reviews and promote maintainable engineering practices.

Database & Search

• Design and optimize MongoDB data models, queries, indexes, and aggregation pipelines.
• Improve database performance, scalability, and cost efficiency in high-volume environments.
• Implement advanced search solutions using Elasticsearch, Atlas Search, Lucene-based engines, and/or vector search.
• Support both conventional and AI-based search workflows.

AWS & Infrastructure

• Design and operate cloud-native solutions using AWS services such as Lambda, ECS, Fargate, SQS, SNS, EventBridge, S3, and VPC.
• Implement Infrastructure as Code using Terraform and/or CloudFormation.
• Contribute to infrastructure initiatives focused on scalability, reliability, security, performance, cost optimization, and disaster recovery.
• Define and maintain CI/CD pipelines supporting automated testing and deployment.

Reliability & Security

• Monitor and improve the reliability, observability, and performance of distributed systems across multiple environments.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex system and production issues.
• Ensure security and compliance best practices are followed across internal and external services.

Requirements

• 8+ years of professional backend engineering experience building complex, production-grade systems.
• Strong hands-on expertise with Node.js, TypeScript, and Python.
• Extensive experience with MongoDB, including schema design, indexing, query optimization, aggregation pipelines, and performance tuning.
• Strong experience designing and operating serverless and cloud-native architectures on AWS.
• Hands-on experience with Terraform and/or CloudFormation.
• Experience with Elasticsearch, Atlas Search, Lucene-based engines, and/or vector search.
• Strong understanding of distributed systems, event-driven architectures, API-first design, and microservices.
• Experience designing and maintaining CI/CD pipelines.
• Strong understanding of system reliability, observability, performance, security, and scalability.
• Experience leading code reviews and promoting engineering best practices.
• Strong communication skills and ability to lead and collaborate with engineering teams.

Nice to Have

• AWS or related cloud certification(s).
• Experience with AI-based search or vector search technologies.
• Experience working with enterprise SaaS products and distributed systems.
• Experience leading Scrum or engineering teams.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or equivalent professional experience.

What We Offer

• Competitive market salary.
• Fully remote work.
• Opportunity to design and scale modern backend and cloud-native systems.
• Hands-on ownership of backend architecture and technical direction.
• Work with modern AWS, serverless, database, and search technologies.
• Collaboration with experienced international engineering teams.
• Opportunity to lead a technical team while remaining hands-on.