Senior API Engineer

Quick Facts

• Role: Senior API Engineer (Senior Backend Engineer)

• Focus: REST/GraphQL APIs, database design, analytics, caching, queues, and AI-assisted development

• Work model: 100% remote with flexible hours

Description

Build and scale backend REST and GraphQL APIs for a high-traffic gaming companion site. Own core backend systems including PostgreSQL/MySQL data modeling, ClickHouse analytics pipelines, Redis caching, scheduled jobs/queue consumers, and third-party integrations. Work daily with agentic AI coding tools, reviewing outputs and maintaining safety guardrails for safe merges.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain REST and GraphQL APIs in TypeScript using Fastify and Hono (user profiles, subscriptions, game data), including authentication, rate limits, and typed contracts.
• Design database schemas and write queries for PostgreSQL and MySQL using Prisma and Drizzle, including versioned game data, player builds, and live migrations.
• Run ClickHouse analytics pipelines (request logs, materialized views, article and revenue metrics) supporting queries for dashboards.
• Own caching end-to-end with Redis-compatible stores, query caching, tag invalidation, HTTP cache headers, and CDN purges.
• Build and operate scheduled jobs and queue consumers using NATS for syncing game data, leaderboards, Meilisearch indexing, sitemaps, Stripe webhooks, payouts, and data deletion requests.
• Integrate third-party APIs (Stripe, Discord, Blizzard, IGDB, Steam, YouTube) with retries, backoff, and rate-limit handling.
• Process game images into map tiles, sprite sheets, and responsive image sizes.
• Keep API/page responses lean to improve time to first byte, PageSpeed, and SEO in Remix and Next.js contexts.
• Direct and review AI coding agents; maintain guardrails via tests, lint rules, build checks, and agent instructions.
• Deploy using Docker, GitHub Actions, and Kubernetes; support high-traffic game launches, including outside standard hours.

Requirements

• 5+ years of backend development using TypeScript on Node.js.
• Strong command of TypeScript’s type system (generics, inference, discriminated unions, narrowing).
• Schema validation experience with Zod or similar.
• Strong SQL skills in PostgreSQL and/or MySQL: schema design, indexing, query plans, migrations on live data, transactions and locking.
• Experience running an analytical database at production volume (ClickHouse preferred; BigQuery, Druid or similar also count).
• Experience designing caching: Redis or a compatible store, invalidation strategies, HTTP cache headers, CDN behavior.
• Experience designing and consuming REST and GraphQL APIs, including authentication and rate limiting.
• Experience with background jobs and message queues, including jobs that may run twice or not run at all.
• Experience with high-volume, user-facing production applications.
• Experience taking a product from idea to production.
• Proficiency with agentic AI coding tools (e.g., Claude Code, Cursor) through daily hands-on use and good judgment about when to review output.
• Comfortable reading and changing React code when a feature reaches the frontend.
• Able to work in a startup-style, fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
• Flexible about working hours for evening/weekend game launches.
• Upper-intermediate English level.
• Passion for gaming.

Benefits

• Growth with mentorship, internal TechTalks, challenging projects, and a dedicated annual learning budget.
• Competitive compensation with regular performance and compensation reviews.
• Flexibility: work 100% remotely with flexible hours that support focus and autonomy.
• Meaningful, modern projects using modern technologies alongside global teams and leading brands.
• Collaborative culture with zero micromanagement.
• Well-being & support via local programs and people-focused support tailored to your location.