Lead (Node.js and API) | Dallas, Texas

Photon$46K — $161K *
Information Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 8+ years of backend engineering experience or equivalent impact
  • 3+ years of technical leadership on product teams
  • Expert-level proficiency in Node.js/TypeScript with successful domain-driven microservices delivery
  • Strong understanding of domain-driven design (DDD), event-driven architectures, and microservice patterns
  • Experience designing secure, resilient public APIs with knowledge of authentication/authorization
  • Hands-on experience with Kubernetes and cloud-native deployments, including CI/CD
  • Strong communication skills to simplify complex trade-offs

Responsibilities

  • Design and build domain-driven microservices using Node.js/TypeScript
  • Architect greenfield systems including service boundaries and data models
  • Set API standards for versioning, error contracts, and resiliency patterns
  • Ensure production readiness by managing SLOs, dashboards, and incident responses
  • Collaborate across teams to unblock work and deliver integrated releases
  • Communicate proactive updates to leadership on statuses and risks
  • Promote engineering best practices through code reviews and mentoring

Benefits

  • Medical, vision, and dental benefits
  • 401k retirement plan
  • Variable pay/incentives
  • Paid time off
  • Paid holidays
Full Job Description
Job Description

The Role

Digital API team is looking for a hands-on Architect with deep Node.js/TypeScript expertise to design and deliver domain-driven microservices for customer-facing digital experiences. You ll own greenfield builds from zero-to-production, lead engineers by example (coding ~70% of the time), and drive cross-team triage while keeping leadership proactively informed.

What You ll Do
  • Design & build domain-driven, event-aware microservices in Node.js/TypeScript (Express/Fastify/NestJS) with clean, testable code.
  • Architect greenfield systems: service boundaries, data models, REST APIs, event streams, CI/CD, observability, and runtime topology.
  • Set API standards: versioning, OpenAPI/Swagger, pagination, error contracts, resiliency patterns (timeouts, retries, circuit breakers).
  • Own production readiness: SLOs, dashboards, alerting, runbooks; lead incident triage/bridge calls and drive blameless RCAs.
  • Collaborate across teams (web, mobile, data, security, ops) to unblock work, sequence dependencies, and land integrated releases.
  • Communicate proactively with leadership: crisp status, risk/mitigation, dependencies, and measurable outcomes.
  • Raise the bar: code reviews, engineering best practices, mentoring, pair programming, tech talks, and documentation.
  • Think two steps ahead: anticipate edge cases, scaling, operability, and cost; recommend pragmatic sequencing and trade-offs.

Tech Stack You ll Work With
  • Languages/Frameworks: Node.js, TypeScript, Express/Fastify/NestJS
  • APIs: REST, OpenAPI/Swagger, OAuth2/OIDC, JWT
  • Data: PostgreSQL/MySQL, NoSQL (MongoDB/DynamoDB), Redis cache
  • Messaging/Streaming: Kafka/RabbitMQ (sagas, outbox, idempotency)
  • Cloud & Platform: One major cloud (AWS/Azure/Google Cloud Platform), Docker, Kubernetes, API Gateway/Ingress, IaC (Terraform/CloudFormation)
  • CI/CD & Observability: GitHub Actions/Jenkins, ELK/Dynatrace, feature flags, OpenTelemetry, Datadog/New Relic/Prometheus, log aggregation

What You ll Bring
  • 8+ years backend engineering (or equivalent impact), 3+ years technical leadership on product teams.
  • Expert-level Node.js/TypeScript with proven delivery of domain-driven microservices at scale.
  • Strong grasp of DDD (entities/aggregates/bounded contexts), event-driven architectures, and microservice patterns (saga, outbox, circuit breaker).
  • Designed secure, resilient public APIs used by web/mobile clients; deep understanding of authN/authZ (OAuth2/OIDC), secrets, and TLS.
  • Production experience with Kubernetes and cloud-native deployment, CI/CD, and observability (metrics, traces, logs, SLOs).
  • Demonstrated success leading triage/incident response and driving RCAs to lasting improvements.
  • Outstanding communication able to simplify complex trade-offs, tell a delivery story, and keep partners aligned.
  • Bias for action: you go the extra mile, anticipate the next two steps, and ship high-quality software.

Nice to Have
  • Experience in telecom (ordering, provisioning, billing, identity) or large consumer digital platforms.
  • API gateways (Apigee/Kong), rate limiting/quotas, multi-tenant patterns.
  • Performance tuning, capacity planning, and cost optimization in cloud environments.

Compensation, Benefits and Duration

Minimum Compensation: USD 46,000
Maximum Compensation: USD 161,000
Compensation is based on actual experience and qualifications of the candidate. The above is a reasonable and a good faith estimate for the role.
Medical, vision, and dental benefits, 401k retirement plan, variable pay/incentives, paid time off, and paid holidays are available for full time employees.
This position is available for independent contractors
No applications will be considered if received more than 120 days after the date of this post

About Photon

Photon Careers

Joining Photon presents an unparalleled opportunity to advance one's career with a leader in digital innovation. Photon is actively seeking talented individuals to join its diverse team of professionals, dedicated to reshaping industries through technology and creativity.

Explore Job Opportunities

Photon offers a variety of job opportunities that cater to a range of skills and interests. Each position at Photon is designed to challenge team members while providing meaningful pathways for professional and personal growth.

Experience the Culture and Benefits

Photon is committed to fostering a workplace culture that promotes diversity and inclusion. The company provides comprehensive benefits designed to support the health, well-being, and financial security of each team member. At Photon, every professional enjoys access to career development programs and diversity training, ensuring they are equipped for leadership roles in an evolving marketplace.

Engage in Professional Growth

Photon believes in the power of innovation and leadership to drive success. The company supports its team members with resources for continuous learning and growth, including advanced training sessions and leadership workshops. Networking within Photon’s industry-leading community allows for unparalleled career advancement and skill enhancement.

Internship Programs

For those beginning their professional journey, Photon offers internship programs that provide a robust foundation in digital solutions. Internships at Photon are characterized by immersive projects and hands-on learning, guided by experts in various fields. These programs are a gateway to full-time employment and a promising career path.

Join the Team

Photon is hiring! Explore open positions that match your skills and interests. Photon looks for passionate, curious, creative, and solution-driven team players. Whether you are starting your career or looking to make a significant impact in your professional journey, Photon has a place for you.

Prepare for Your Interview

Photon values a thorough selection process. Prospective team members are encouraged to prepare by understanding the company’s mission and values. Tailoring your resume to highlight relevant experience and skills will make a significant difference. Engage actively during your interview, demonstrating your knowledge and enthusiasm for the role you are applying for.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with the latest from Photon by following the company’s career blog. Gain insights from insiders, learn about new job openings, and get tips on preparing your resume and acing your interview.

Career Development at Photon

Photon is dedicated to the professional development of its team members. The company offers various tools and resources, including career coaching and performance feedback, to help individuals reach their full potential. With Photon, career aspirations are nurtured, encouraging every team member to excel and innovate in their respective roles.

Networking and Career Opportunities

Photon encourages its team members to engage in networking within the company and the broader industry. These connections can lead to myriad opportunities, from collaborative projects to mentorship. Networking at Photon is not just about building professional relationships; it's about fostering a community of innovation and mutual growth.

Conclusion

Photon is not just a company; it is a community of driven professionals committed to making a difference. With a focus on innovation, leadership, and diversity, Photon offers a dynamic environment where ambitious individuals can thrive. Explore the possibilities and join Photon’s team of leaders, innovators, and visionaries.
Learn more about Photon

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