Our Engineering team ensures Code and Theory delivers scalable, high-performance, web applications that delight users. We always strive to balance the demanding nature of working on new technologies with the real-world demands of high-performance web applications. Working in collaboration with our multi-disciplinary engineering, design, and quality assurance teams, you will build software that solves real-world problems for incredible clients.
Our Back-end Engineers partner with our cross-functional teams to identify and implement innovative technologies that ensure server-side applications are robust, secure, efficient, and drive business growth.
As a Lead Back-End Engineer, you will combine hands-on execution with technical leadership and system-level thinking, partnering closely with cross-functional teams.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
- Design and implement scalable, high-performance backend services and APIs, with an emphasis on reliability, security, and long-term maintainability
- Build and maintain backend services using appropriate technology stacks, with an emphasis on clean architecture and API-driven design
- Design, build, and maintain REST and GraphQL APIs to support headless, decoupled frontends and system integrations
- Optimize database schemas, queries, and caching strategies for performance, scalability, and high-traffic content sites.
- Apply backend security best practices including authentication, authorization, data protection, and vulnerability mitigation
- Support DevOps workflows including CI/CD pipelines, deployments, monitoring, and performance tuning in cloud environments
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to ensure clean contracts between systems
- Lead and participate in code reviews, architectural discussions, and technical decision-making
- Actively uphold and strengthen Agile delivery practices, including sprint planning, estimation, and retrospectives
- Troubleshoot and resolve complex backend and integration issues
- Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance across backend-related work
- Contribute to technical documentation, playbooks, and standards to support maintainability and team scalability
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent practical experience)
- 7+ years of backend engineering experience across production systems
- Strong fundamentals in backend engineering concepts: APIs, data modeling, performance, security, and system design
- Experience working with PHP-based frameworks (e.g., CodeIgniter, Laravel) and/or CMS platforms (e.g., CraftCMS)
- Experience with headless integration, including decoupled architecture and RESTful APIs
- Experience with Google APIs (Calendar) and Google SSO
- Experience integrating transactional email services (e.g., Mandrill or similar email delivery platforms)
- Knowledge and experience working with AWS (EC2, RDS, ElastiCache, S3, Route53, ELB).
- Understanding of web security best practices and ability to implement security measures for websites
- Familiarity with modern front-end technologies (JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, CSS)
- Knowledge of version control systems (Git)
- Able to work with Docker and Docker compose
- Good understanding of hosting environments, server administration, and optimization techniques
- Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to debug complex issues
- Experience with Agile software development methodologies and project management tools
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, able to work with cross-functional teams
- Experience in JIRA or at least other ticket tracking tools
NICE TO HAVE
- Exposure to system modernization or migration projects (legacy to modern stacks)
- Experience with frontend frameworks (React, Next.js, Vue) to improve backend–frontend collaboration
- Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code, observability, and production monitoring tools
- Exposure to additional backend languages or paradigms (e.g., Go, Python, event-driven systems)
- Exposure to AI-related integrations or services (e.g., AI APIs, automation, or data-driven features)
- Familiarity with legacy frontend libraries and tooling (e.g., jQuery and related plugins, Bootstrap, Handlebars, Moment.js)
- Exposure to creative and design tools (e.g., Figma) and an understanding of how engineering supports creative workflows
- Experience working on marketing, content-driven, or creative technology projects
