Staff Backend Engineer (Node.js/TypeScript)

Staff Backend Engineer (Node.js/TypeScript)We are looking for a Staff Backend Engineer (Node.js/TypeScript) to join a US-based logistics software company building a workforce management platform for delivery businesses. The product serves companies that run on large networks of independent contractor drivers, bringing onboarding, compliance, and ongoing workforce administration into one place. Its customers are delivery operations across the United States. You will take ownership of the backend's technical direction and long-term health as the most senior backend engineer in the company: making architectural decisions, setting engineering standards, and staying hands-on with the code that matters most. You will work closely with the product team to turn feature ideas into clear technical plans, support other engineers on hard problems, and keep a live, money-handling system reliable as the company grows. The ideal candidate enjoys solving technical challenges, takes ownership of their work, and leads through hands-on engineering rather than formal authority.Requirements8+ years of professional backend development experienceSeveral years of experience as the senior technical owner of a production system worked on by other engineersStrong commercial experience with Node.js and TypeScriptStrong experience with PostgreSQL or other relational databasesExperience designing systems with strict correctness requirements, such as payments or audit trailsExperience improving a live production system without resorting to a full rewriteDaily use of AI coding tools as a core part of your development workflowExperience advising other engineers on complex technical problemsAbility to explain technical constraints and trade-offs to product and business stakeholdersAvailability for at least 3 hours of daily overlap with US Eastern Time (EST)Excellent English communication skillsNice to HaveExperience in contractor management, HR tech, or compliance softwareExperience working in a small team or early-stage companyConsidered views on where AI-generated code belongs in a production codebaseResponsibilitiesOwn the technical direction of the backend and make architectural decisions with the reasoning documentedSet engineering standards for service boundaries, data modelling, API design, error handling, and observabilityWrite code regularly on core abstractions, hard problems, and work that sets patterns for the teamTake accountability for the reliability, performance, and maintainability of the backendDiagnose and fix structural problems such as slow endpoints, lock contention, and fragile migrationsKeep the codebase in a state where new engineers can become productive quicklyTurn product intent into broken-down, sequenced technical plans for the engineering teamProvide honest effort estimates and flag unrealistic plans before commitments are madeAdvise senior engineers on hard problems and act as a sounding board for designs before implementationImprove testing, release process, review flow, and technical documentation