Contract: Full-Time / Freelance
Location: Remote (preferably UK-based)
Start Date: Immediate
Project Duration: 4-8 months (initial scope)
Reports to: Head of Technology
Vetlexicon is undergoing a full rebuild of its online veterinary reference platform. We’re migrating to a new CMS with headless architecture. Within scope will be: decoupled architecture, third-party integrations for user management, search, and e-commerce. We’re building a modular, scalable infrastructure that will serve both logged-in users (subscribers, institutions) and general traffic users.
Role Overview
We are looking for a hands-on Full Stack Developer to lead the backend and infrastructure side of the project and collaborate with a fractional Frontend Developer. You will set up, customize, and manage the CMS, build API endpoints, and implement data architecture, integrations, and content management features for a busy editorial team. You’ll also handle backend functionality for subscription logic, user management, and work with AWS cloud infrastructure.
Key Responsibilities
Backend Architecture & CMS
* Set up and configure headless CMS.
* Define and implement custom content types and relationships (e.g., species, articles, diagnostic trees).
* Develop modular API endpoints to support the frontend.
* Ensure versioning, staging, and Git integration.
Data Migration & Transformation
* Write migration scripts to pull content from existing via REST or GraphQL.
* Normalize and restructure data for import into new CMS.
* Preserve legacy URL structure and SEO-critical metadata.
E-Commerce & Content Access
* Integrate Stripe (subscriptions, pricing plans, entitlements).
* Implement logic to control content access based on user subscription level (species-level access).
* Support recurring billing, trials, and SSO-linked enterprise access.
Authentication & User Management
* Set up user auth front end and back end for authentication, user roles, and entitlements.
* Handle user note-taking, bookmarking, and CPD tracking backend logic.
* Implement bulk user imports and programmatic subscription management.
DevOps & Infrastructure
* Deploy environments on AWS (S3, RDS, DynamoDB) or alternatives like Render.
* Set up logging, monitoring (Sentry, NewRelic), and observability tooling.
* Handle CI/CD pipelines using GitHub Actions or Vercel.
Required Experience
* 4+ years of full stack development experience in production systems.
* Proven experience with headless CMS (or comparable Node.js-based CMS like Payload).
* Strong knowledge of Node.js, REST APIs, and modern JS tooling.
* Familiarity with PostgreSQL (designing schemas, performance tuning).
* Comfortable with cloud services (AWS stack – EC2, S3, RDS, CloudWatch, MongoDB).
* Prior work with Stripe API, OAuth/SAML SSO.
* Experience setting up CI/CD workflows, environments, and deployments.
* Ability to work independently in a lean team, balancing speed and technical quality.
Nice-to-Have Skills
* Experience with OpenSearch or Typesense for custom search integrations.
* Familiarity with GitHub Projects, agile planning tools.
* Past work in subscription or gated content platforms.
* Experience with content-heavy platforms or healthcare/education tech.
Working With Us
* You’ll work closely with a dedicated Frontend Developer and a hands-on Project Manager.
* We move fast but value maintainable, scalable architecture.
* Clear priorities, weekly planning, and open communication.
How to Apply
Send your CV/portfolio along with:
* A short cover note describing a recent project you led involving a CMS or e-commerce integration.
* We will be hiring quickly so please state your availability.
* We don’t care about formats of cover letters, or how you ‘stand out’ in a conventional sense, or how well you sell yourself. We like to work with good people who do good work. Show your work and show who you are.
* GitHub link or code samples if available.
* Hourly or daily rate expectations.
Send to andrew.balerdi@vetstream.com