Senior Backend Engineer (Node.js/TypeScript, GoLang, Python)

Role and Responsibilities

• Develop software in an API-friendly manner by using a modern tech stack and cloud stack. As a member of the core Launchpad engineering team, you’ll have the opportunity to work across ventures covering a wide array of industries, user bases and technologies. Perhaps you’ll spend 3 months building and launching one MVP, and then hand it over so that you can start building a different product from zero.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with frontend developers, product designers, and founder teams to build, launch and grow high-impact applications with seamless user experiences.
• Take responsibility for end-to-end product delivery, including security considerations, code reviews, testing, quality assurance and bug fixes as part of the CI/CD cycle.
• Make foundational architectural decisions, and define and prioritize technical roadmaps for early stage ventures.
• Identify opportunities and lead efforts to continuously improve Launchpad’s engineering practices, with the objective of furthering impact delivered to customers through high quality products.
• Onboard and mentor new team members as Launchpad’s team grows (both Launchpad’s core engineering team, and portfolio company teams built for venture spin outs).

Required Experience

• 5-7+ years of experience in developing data manipulation systems with API (REST/RPC) by using Node.js and TypeScript, and at least one additional language (Go, Python are preferred).
• Experience working in a product-focused startup and building user-friendly applications (either B2B or B2C) from zero. (Please note that candidates who have worked primarily in IT consultancies, software development agencies, and/or large corporations won’t be a good fit for us).
• Exceptional knowledge in operative systems, linux, RAM, CPU, algorithm, networking, and a strong understanding of OOP concepts, SOLID, GRASP, etc.
• Good knowledge of PostgreSQL and relevant topics (e.g., ACID and isolation levels, race conditions, deadlocks).
• Strong use of test frameworks and motivation to improve test coverage (unit, functional, integrational).
• Fluent use of CI/CD management systems Docker, Helm, and Kubernetes, and ArgoCD for declarative deployment.
• Ability to setup and use Terraform to manage infrastructure in AWS.
• Experience with monitoring (e.g., Datadog, Prometheus, Loki, Newrelic, PagerDuty).
• High level of competency across the full application development life cycle, including analyzing product specifications, building, testing, and resolving issues.
• Excellent critical thinking capabilities, proactive cross-functional communication skills, and the ability to learn quickly and continuously upskill in unfamiliar areas.

Ideal Experience

• Skills in system administration and ability to resolve unix-related problems.
• Deep understanding of cloud stack (AWS, Google Cloud, etc).
• A degree in computer science or a related discipline is a plus.
• Japanese language skills are a plus.