Lead Developer (Contract, AI-Driven Environment, Node.JS) We’re looking for an experienced backend senior 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. *6 month, fully remote contract. Outsdie 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