Lead Developer (Node.JS)
I'm looking for an experienced Lead Developer to support API development and backend delivery for a high-traffic consumer platform. You’ll work alongside front-end engineers to build scalable, secure, and performant systems using modern tools and AI-assisted development.
*This is a fully remote contract for 6 months, outside IR35*
You’ll be a good fit if you:
* Deliver production-ready APIs fast and independently
* Have proven experience with consumer-facing platforms
* Use AI coding tools (Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, or similar) to speed up development
* Make confident technical decisions with minimal guidance
* Follow clear architectural standards and established development patterns
* Understand backend performance, scalability, and security at production scale
* Build reliable, maintainable APIs and data systems
* Collaborate effectively with front-end developers to design and implement seamless integrations
* Apply caching and optimization techniques for high-traffic environments
We’re not looking for:
* Developers needing extensive supervision or mentoring
* Anyone without production experience in consumer-facing systems
* Those who avoid AI coding tools
Core Technical Requirements:
* Node.js (extensive production experience) - this is key, you must have
* RESTful API design and development (production experience)
* Database design and optimization (SQL and/or NoSQL)
* Authentication, authorization, and security best practices
* AI coding tools (GitHub Copilot, Claude, Cursor, or similar)
Nice to Have:
* React JS / Next.js (for full stack capability)
* Payload CMS
* Azure
* Microservices architecture