Lead Backend Engineer

Lead Backend EngineerLocation: RemotePay Range: $75/hr. to $80/hr. on w2Job DescriptionProfile: Lead engineer with both leadership and hands-on development skills. Team: BigFuture This team is working on student facing products/programs – both new and redesign of legacy Java applications into modern AWS based React/Node applications. Most dev teams work in a poly skilled manner working on automation and improving frameworks for testing in addition to core development.In This Role, You Will:Design and Development (60%)Design and deliver high-quality software that is scalable, secure, and reusable—leveraging modern technologies, proven design patterns, and cloud-native practices to power BigFuture's core tools.Collaborate with product owners, architects, and stakeholders to uphold the highest engineering standards and translate big ideas into impactful, student-facing solutions.Break down new product capabilities into actionable, verifiable technical changes that move quickly from concept to reality.Design and implement solutions to allow rapid testing of innovative concepts using the latest technologies, typically React web appsCreate sharable documentation, both technical and non-technicalExercise discretion in prototyping: investing time to make sure the most important things work well, and working with the team to mock or minimize less important featuresMaintain clean code and strong engineering standards such that when prototypes are greenlit for further development, the project is easy to build uponContinuously develop the skills required to work with this rapidly developing technologyTeam Operations & Success (30%)Participate in, or lead Agile SCRUM ceremonies (Sprint Planning, Grooming, Daily SCRUM, Demo) by contributing to team deliverables and driving alignment, focus, and momentum across sprints.Elevate team performance by giving and receiving thoughtful code reviews, mentoring peers, and helping solve complex technical challenges.Assist in resolving production issues with urgency and precision, ensuring a smooth and reliable user experience.Model discipline in adhering to development standards, security practices, and CI/CD principles while helping the team move fast without compromising quality.Continuously grow your skills and embrace a poly-skilled environment where everyone contributes beyond their specialty.Serve as an organizational Subject Matter Expert on implementing Generative AI applicationsWork with our Enterprise Architecture team to review and/or establish implementation patterns involving Generative AI toolsAdvise on, and where feasible, create tools and infrastructure that will enable teams to safely deploy Generative AI toolsLearning & Sharing (10%)Keep abreast of developments in GenAI capabilities and implementationsShare knowledge of new developments with the team via chats, meetings, and presentations when appropriateServe as an advisor to internal teams developing staff education around Generative AIAbout You, You Have:7+ years of professional experience designing, building, testing, and managing scalable web applications in AWS-hosted environments3+ years' experience building back-end applications using Node(with TypeScript)Experience with relational and NoSQL databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redshift, DynamoDB)Experience building observability for your products: Set up CloudWatch, X-Ray, for logging, metrics, and alerts.Hands-on experience implementing Generative AI applications (e.g., RAG chatbots, model fine-tuning, or other LLM-powered tools)Enthusiasm for learning new technologies, especially in the fast-moving GenAI spaceStrong knowledge and hands-on experience with back-end technologies such as Node.jsExperience with asynchronous programming and event-driven messaging patternsStrong knowledge of AWS services (e.g., Lambda, SNS, SQS, S3, Step Functions, IAM, KMS, API Gateway, CloudWatch, DynamoDB)Experience working in Agile/Scrum environmentsProven ability to mentor and coach less experienced teammates in new technologiesStrong analytical thinking, structured problem-solving, and practical decision-making skillsEffective communication and documentation skillsProficiency in reviewing and improving code structure and architecture for testability, maintainability, and scalability, with hands-on experience in JavaScript/TypeScript, React, Node.js, Next.js, APIs, and AWS Serverless technologies (Lambdas, DynamoDB, S3, CloudWatch, etc.).Leadership in the end-to-end design and implementation of user interfaces, from architectural planning and component strategy through to polished execution, including accessibility, performance optimization, and mentoring peers on building intuitive, scalable, and user-centric front-end solutions.Strong problem-solving skills, working collaboratively with team members to identify and resolve issues, and partnering with Product Owners to prioritize backlog.Proven ability to pitch new ideas and implement improved systems and processes, delivering excellent results.Effective communicator and team lead, able to provide actionable feedback, mentor team members, and participate in interviews to evaluate engineering talent.Bachelor's degree in computer science, or related engineering fields preferred