Backend Engineer

The Senior Backend Engineer designs, builds, and maintains scalable backend systems and services that power learning solutions for Pansophic Learning. This role is primarily responsible for backend development, API design, and system integrations, ensuring high performance, reliability, and scalability. The Backend Engineer is expected to deliver high-quality solutions in a timely manner while continuously improving backend architecture and development practices.

This role reports directly to the Software Development Manager and works closely with Software Engineers, QA/Test Engineers, and cross-functional teams. The ideal candidate is proactive, innovative, and able to contribute ideas that enhance current and future backend systems.

This position will work 4 days per week in office in Tysons Corner, VA.

Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable backend services and APIs for K-12 learning environments
• Build and manage RESTful APIs using Node.js and Express
• Design and implement data models using relational and NoSQL databases
• Develop and maintain backend systems using Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Ensure performance, scalability, and reliability of backend systems
• Implement best practices for code management, version control, and deployment using Git
• Troubleshoot and resolve production issues, ensuring system stability
• Collaborate with frontend developers, QA engineers, and product teams to deliver end-to-end solutions
• Contribute to system architecture decisions and backend design improvements
• Support deployment processes and maintain CI/CD workflows

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 10+ years of overall software development experience
• 5+ years of professional experience with Node.js and Express
• Expert-level proficiency in JavaScript and TypeScript
• Strong experience building and consuming RESTful APIs
• Deep understanding of backend architecture and distributed systems
• Strong SQL skills, preferably with PostgreSQL
• Experience with NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, DynamoDB)
• Experience working with AWS services such as Lambda, ECS, EC2, RDS, S3, DynamoDB, and API Gateway
• Experience with message queue technologies and backend design patterns
• Experience with Git version control and modern branching strategies
• Experience working in Unix/Linux environments