Technical Lead (Node / TypeScript)

About the Opportunity:

We are seeking a talented lead backend engineer to join a dynamic early-stage fintech startup that is innovating in the rewards and hospitality sectors. This company is developing a high-velocity, scalable platform that bridges consumer engagement with merchant financial solutions. Engineering lies at the heart of their operations.

The Role:

As one of the first Software Engineers with a strong emphasis on Backend Engineering, you will be instrumental in designing, constructing, and scaling the core infrastructure of this Fintech platform. You'll be responsible for deploying production-ready code weekly, managing key services from conception to completion, and playing a vital role in influencing the pace of product iteration and the reliability of services for a rapidly expanding user base (aiming to serve over 100,000 active customers).

In this hands-on capacity, your contributions will involve:

• Creating Robust Backend Systems: Conceptualising and implementing resilient, event-driven solutions utilising technologies such as queues, message brokers, and databases to power the central fintech application.
• Promoting Technical Excellence & Language Adaptability: Crafting secure, high-quality code, primarily in TypeScript (Node.js), and selecting appropriate languages (like Python, Go, Rust, etc.) for specific tasks, ranging from scripting data workflows to compiling performant services.
• Fostering Observability & Dependability: Integrating monitoring tools for metrics, tracing, and logging, with the objective of maintaining exceptional system uptime (over 99.9%).
• Ensuring Security & Adherence: Implementing secure coding standards and data protection measures that meet industry-specific payment regulations (including PCI DSS, PSD2, and UK standards).
• Accelerating Development Cycles: Collaborating closely with product and design teams to rapidly deploy experiments and refine features based on data insights.
• Mentoring & Teamwork: Engaging in pair programming, conducting code reviews, and sharing best practices to enhance the capabilities of the entire engineering team.
• Influencing Future Direction: Contributing to architectural discussions, evaluating emerging technologies, and shaping the future technical direction.

What They're Seeking:

The team is open to both experienced senior engineers and promising mid-level candidates. Ideal applicants will possess:

• A profound understanding of backend fundamentals, including queues, databases, message brokers, event-driven architectures, and system monitoring.
• Proficiency in TypeScript/Node.js or similar contemporary languages, coupled with the aptitude to quickly master new technologies.
• Demonstrated production-level experience in at least one of the following: Python (for data pipelines, analytics, machine learning, or scripting tasks).
• A compiled language (such as Go, Rust, Java, Kotlin, etc.) for services requiring high performance.
• Practical experience with cloud platforms (like AWS), continuous integration/delivery practices, infrastructure as code, containers, and automated deployment pipelines.
• A strong security-conscious approach, including familiarity with encryption, secret management, and typical fintech/compliance requirements.
• A results-oriented mindset, focused on continuous delivery, iteration, and improvement.

Desirable Attributes:

• Prior experience in fintech or payments (e.g., with PCI, PSD2, Open Banking standards).
• Hands-on experience with serverless, event-sourcing, or CQRS patterns.
• Contributions to open-source projects or technical publications.
• Experience in mentoring engineers or leading small project initiatives.
• A track record of scaling systems to support large user bases (from initial stages to over 100,000 users).