Senior Backend Engineer

Quick Facts

• Role: Senior Backend Engineer

• Focus: Build and scale backend systems for a high-traffic gaming companion site

• Tech emphasis: TypeScript on Node.js, REST/GraphQL, SQL, Redis caching, ClickHouse analytics

Description

Build and maintain backend services for a high-traffic gaming companion site, including REST and GraphQL APIs, database/query design, caching, analytics, and queue-based background processing. You will integrate multiple third-party services, process game media, support SEO and performance for web pages, and work daily with AI coding agents while enforcing safe merge guardrails.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain REST and GraphQL APIs (user profiles, subscriptions, game data), including authentication, rate limits, and typed contracts

• Design database schemas and queries for PostgreSQL/MySQL, including versioned game data and live-data migrations

• Run ClickHouse analytics pipelines (request logs, materialized views, revenue/article metrics) powering dashboards

• Own cache layers end to end using Redis-compatible stores (query caching, tag invalidation, HTTP headers, CDN purges)

• Implement scheduled jobs and queue consumers (NATS) for syncing game data, leaderboards, search indexing, sitemaps, webhooks, payouts, and deletion requests

• Integrate third-party APIs (e.g., Stripe, Discord, Blizzard, IGDB, Steam, YouTube) with retries, backoff, and rate-limit handling

• Process game images into tiles/sprite sheets/responsive sizes

• Keep API responses lean for Remix/Next.js pages to improve TTFB, PageSpeed, and SEO

• Collaborate with agentic AI coding tools (direct, review output, and enforce tests/lint/build guardrails)

• Deploy using Docker, GitHub Actions, and Kubernetes

• Support high-traffic launches, including occasional coverage outside standard hours

Requirements

• 5+ years of backend development with TypeScript on Node.js

• Strong command of TypeScript’s type system (generics, inference, discriminated unions, narrowing)

• Experience with schema validation using Zod or similar

• Strong SQL skills in PostgreSQL and/or MySQL (schema design, indexing, query plans, migrations on live data, transactions/locking)

• Production experience with analytical databases at scale (ClickHouse preferred; BigQuery/Druid acceptable)

• Experience designing caching with Redis (invalidation strategies, HTTP cache headers, CDN behavior)

• Experience with REST and GraphQL API design/consumption (authentication and rate limiting)

• Experience with background jobs and message queues (idempotency / handling double-run or missed runs)

• Experience with high-volume, user-facing production applications

• Experience taking a product from idea to production

• Daily, hands-on proficiency with agentic AI coding tools (e.g., Claude Code, Cursor) and strong judgment on when to review/check output

• Comfort reading and changing React code when features touch the frontend

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment with shifting priorities

• Flexibility for evenings/weekends during game launches

• Passion for gaming

• Upper-intermediate English level

Benefits

• Growth: mentorship, internal TechTalks, challenging projects, and an annual learning budget

• Competitive compensation: regular performance and compensation reviews

• Flexibility: 100% remote work with flexible hours and a healthy work rhythm

• Meaningful projects: modern technologies with global teams and leading brands

• Collaborative culture: supportive environment with minimal micromanagement

• Well-being & support: people-focused resources tailored to your location