Senior Backend Developer

About the role

Smart State is seeking a Senior Backend Developer to design, build, and optimise high‑performance Node.js APIs and micro‑services that power a fast‑scaling global product ecosystem. The role is fully on‑site in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and offers the chance to own core services and influence backend architecture.

Key responsibilities

• Develop, maintain and scale robust backend services using Node.js and the Nest.js framework.
• Design and implement third‑party API integrations and new platform modules from concept to deployment.
• Write clean, well‑tested code following Test‑Driven Development principles.
• Work with SQL and NoSQL databases (MongoDB, MySQL, Redis) to handle high‑volume data operations.
• Implement REST, GraphQL, and WebSocket communication protocols across services.
• Collaborate with frontend, DevOps, and product teams to deliver reliable solutions.
• Apply best practices for microservice architecture, scalability and performance optimisation.
• Participate in code reviews, architecture discussions and CI initiatives.

Required profile

• 5+ years of professional web development experience.
• 3+ years of hands‑on Node.js development, preferably with Nest.js.
• Strong knowledge of JavaScript (ES6+) and modern backend design patterns.
• Experience with high‑volume SQL and NoSQL databases.
• Proficiency with Git and collaborative development workflows.
• Solid understanding of microservices architecture and distributed systems.

Required skills

• Node.js
• Nest.js
• TypeScript
• JavaScript (ES6+)
• SQL (MySQL)
• NoSQL (MongoDB, Redis)
• REST, GraphQL, WebSocket
• Message brokers (RabbitMQ, Redis Pub/Sub)
• Test‑Driven Development, unit and integration testing
• Git
• CI/CD pipelines, Docker, Kubernetes (optional)
• NATS messaging system (optional)