Experienced Node.js Developer Needed for API & Backend Development

We are seeking an experienced Node.js Developer to architect, build, optimize, and deploy a scalable backend system for a modern web/mobile application. The ideal candidate should have a strong command of Node.js (v18+), Express.js, REST APIs, database logic, authentication systems, and microservice-friendly architecture.

This project involves building secure API endpoints, managing relational or NoSQL databases, integrating payment gateways or external APIs, implementing authentication workflows, and ensuring fast, reliable server performance. You should be comfortable working with asynchronous operations, error handling, middleware patterns, schema design, caching, and deployment pipelines.

You will collaborate closely with frontend teams (React/Android/iOS) to design predictable, efficient, and well-documented REST API endpoints. Responsibilities include creating modular codebases, optimizing database queries, implementing rate limits, ensuring proper security layers, and building scalable backend workflows capable of handling production-level traffic.

The role requires strong experience in debugging, server logs, structured error reporting, version control workflows, and writing unit/integration tests. You will also handle environment management using dotenv, build scripts, PM2/Docker deployment, and CI/CD integration where needed.

If you enjoy backend problem-solving, designing clean architectures, and building systems that prioritize performance, stability, and maintainability, you’ll be a strong fit for this project.

✅ Responsibilities (15 points)

Develop backend services using Node.js (v18+) and Express.js

Build secure REST APIs with proper validation

Create scalable architecture using modular controllers/services

Integrate third-party APIs (payment, SMS, analytics, etc.)

Implement authentication (JWT/OAuth2) and authorization

Optimize database (MongoDB/MySQL/PostgreSQL) with indexing

Write async workflows with proper error handling

Implement caching (Redis) and rate limiting

Build cron jobs, queues, and background workers

Debug issues using logs, breakpoints, and monitoring tools

Write automated tests (Jest/Mocha)

Prepare API documentation (Swagger/OpenAPI)

Ensure high security (OWASP backend standards)

Deploy apps with PM2/Docker/GitHub Actions

Collaborate with frontend/mobile teams to align API needs

✅ Required Skills (15 points)

Strong proficiency in Node.js (v16–18+)

Express.js or Fastify experience

REST API architecture & JSON workflows

MongoDB or MySQL/PostgreSQL experience

JWT authentication & OAuth integration

Experience with async/await and promises

Caching & message queues (Redis, BullMQ)

Git, GitHub, and Git workflows

Docker basics for containerized development

Understanding of MVC/service-based architecture

API documentation with Swagger/Postman

Testing frameworks (Jest/Mocha/Chai)

Error tracking tools (Sentry/LogRocket)

Load handling & performance tuning

Understanding of backend security best practices

✅ Tools & Technologies

Node.js v18+

Express.js / Fastify

MongoDB, PostgreSQL, or MySQL

Redis / RabbitMQ / BullMQ

Swagger / Postman

Docker / PM2

Git & GitHub

pnpm / npm / yarn

VS Code

CI/CD (GitHub Actions)

✅ Deliverables

Fully functional backend API

Database schema + optimized queries

Authentication system (JWT/OAuth2)

REST API docs (Swagger/Postman)

Error handling + logging middleware

Caching & rate limiting

Payment or third-party API integrations

Unit & integration tests

Deployment-ready build

Environment setup instructions

1–2 revision cycles

✅ Budget

Hourly: $35–75/hr

Project: $3,000 – $15,000

Monthly Retainer (optional): $3,500 – $8,000

✅ Timeline

Total Duration: 6–12 weeks

Week 1–2: Architecture + DB design

Week 3–6: Core API + integrations

Week 7–9: Optimization + testing

Week 10–12: Deployment + documentation

✅ Success Metrics

API response time < 150ms

99%+ uptime in production

95%+ test coverage on core modules

Zero major security vulnerabilities

Smooth integration with frontend & mobile

Stable logs (low error frequency)

High scalability under load