Backend Engineer (Node.js, TypeScript)

About The Company Parts Town is the fastest-growing distributor specializing in restaurant equipment, HVAC, and residential appliance parts. Renowned for its innovative approach and commitment to excellence, the company has consistently demonstrated growth and industry leadership. Recognized on the Inc. 5000 list for 15 consecutive years and the Crain’s Fast 50 list ten times, Parts Town prides itself on fostering a dynamic and inclusive workplace culture. The organization has also been voted a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace for the last four years, reflecting its dedication to employee satisfaction and community engagement. As a company that values safety, integrity, and innovation, Parts Town offers a vibrant environment where passionate individuals can thrive and contribute to meaningful projects. About The Role We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Backend Engineer to join our innovative team. In this role, you will be responsible for designing, architecting, and optimizing scalable microservices that power our eCommerce and enterprise platforms. You will lead backend architecture initiatives, ensuring seamless integration across various systems including commerce, CMS, ERP, PIM, and marketing platforms. Your expertise will drive the adoption of best practices in modularization, API design, and event-driven architectures, utilizing technologies such as Node.js, TypeScript, Docker, Kubernetes, and serverless solutions. As a technical leader, you will own backend engineering policies, CI/CD pipelines, and testing automation to guarantee reliable and high-quality deployments. Your role will also involve defining logging, observability, and disaster recovery strategies to maintain high system availability. Collaboration with frontend, DevOps, and data teams will be essential to optimize system performance, and mentoring engineers will be a key aspect of your leadership. This position offers an exciting opportunity for someone with extensive backend experience and a passion for building robust, scalable systems in a fast-paced environment. Qualifications 10+ years of experience in backend system design, distributed applications, and eCommerce platformsExpertise in Node.js and TypeScriptProficiency with cloud-native platforms, preferably AzureStrong knowledge of databases such as PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and RedisExperience with microservices architecture and event-driven systems (Kafka, NATS)Familiarity with API standards including REST, GraphQL, and gRPCHands-on experience with unit, integration, and contract testing frameworks such as Jest, Mocha, PactProficiency with CI/CD tools like Terraform and PulumiKnowledge of containerization and orchestration tools, including Kubernetes and DockerExcellent communication skills in English, both written and verbalProven ability to mentor engineering teams and collaborate effectively across departments Responsibilities Design and develop scalable, cloud-native microservices that support our eCommerce and enterprise platformsImplement best practices in API design, modularization, and event-driven architectureEstablish and maintain CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and backend tooling standardsLead disaster recovery planning, observability strategies, and logging practices to ensure system resilienceCollaborate with frontend, DevOps, and data teams to optimize APIs, caching, and database performanceMentor and guide engineering teams to uphold engineering excellence and best practicesContribute to architectural decisions and technical strategy for backend systemsEnsure security, high performance, and high availability of backend servicesDrive continuous improvement in development processes and operational practices Benefits Team member appreciation events and recognition programsVolunteer opportunities to engage with the communityMonthly IT stipend to support your technology needsCasual dress code for a comfortable work environmentOn-demand pay options to access your earnings as you goComprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans401(k) plan with company match to support your financial futureEmployee assistance programs for personal and professional supportPaid time off, sick leave, holidays, and parental leaveOpportunities for professional development and career growth Equal Opportunity Parts Town is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status. We believe that diversity enriches our culture and drives innovation, and we are dedicated to providing a welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.