Backend Software Engineer (Node.js, API)

SITE Technologies, founded in 2018, is dedicated to transforming the facility management industry through innovative AI solutions that enable enterprise clients to operate more efficiently. Our company culture embraces a hybrid work environment, allowing remote and Chicago-based team members to collaborate seamlessly and deliver exceptional products. We prioritize innovation, teamwork, and fostering an enjoyable work atmosphere. Our core values—solving impossible problems, embracing empathy and integrity, owning outcomes, striving for excellence, and thriving together—guide our daily operations and strategic initiatives.

About the role

We are seeking a seasoned Lead Backend Software Engineer to join our team. This role is pivotal in guiding and expanding our backend engineering efforts while actively contributing to the development and evolution of SITE's platform and related customer systems. As a player-coach, the Lead will directly oversee a small team of 3 to 4 senior backend engineers, set technical direction, and ensure the delivery of high-quality, reliable backend solutions. The ideal candidate will possess a pragmatic, product-focused mindset, with the ability to translate complex operational workflows and user needs into clear technical plans, robust data models, and stable API contracts. Collaboration with product managers, other technical teams, and business stakeholders is essential to deliver backend systems involving geospatial data, imagery, asset workflows, reporting, third-party integrations, and AI-driven experiences.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in backend development, with a strong focus on Python
• Proven experience as a hands-on technical lead managing engineering teams
• Deep understanding of backend architecture, workflow modeling, API design, and data consistency
• Experience building production APIs using FastAPI or similar frameworks
• Strong knowledge of relational databases such as PostgreSQL, SQLAlchemy, and migration tools like Alembic or Flyway
• Hands-on experience with AWS services including ECS, Lambda, RDS, S3, and IAM
• Proficiency with Docker, Git, and CI/CD pipelines using tools like GitHub Actions or AWS CodePipeline
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate across multiple teams
• Experience mentoring senior engineers and fostering team growth
• Practical fluency with AI coding agents such as Claude Code and Cursor

Additional preferred qualifications include experience in startup environments, managing distributed teams, infrastructure as code (Terraform, Terragrunt), observability tools (Datadog, Sentry), geospatial data handling, and large-scale data processing.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical design and implementation of core backend APIs and services, primarily in Python and FastAPI
• Define and maintain architectural standards for domain models, schemas, service boundaries, and API contracts
• Translate product requirements into detailed technical plans, milestones, and deliverables
• Directly oversee critical development tasks, conduct code reviews, and manage release cycles
• Ensure high standards for testing, CI/CD, security, observability, and system performance
• Develop and maintain integrations across geospatial, media, reporting, asset management, and third-party systems
• Design and manage ETL pipelines and data migration processes for imagery, geospatial, and operational data
• Manage and mentor a team of senior backend engineers through regular feedback, performance reviews, and career development initiatives
• Coordinate with product, frontend, data, operations, and QA teams to prioritize work and deliver customer value
• Hire, onboard, and develop backend engineering talent to strengthen the team
• Identify and remove delivery blockers to ensure predictable, high-quality system releases

Benefits

• Remote work opportunity within the US, with flexibility in 18 eligible states
• Competitive annual salary ranging from $70,000 to $90,000, plus stock options
• Generous paid vacation and sick leave policies
• Ten company holidays and two floating holidays annually
• Paid volunteer days twice a year
• Paid parental leave after 90 days of employment
• Comprehensive health, dental, vision, life, and short-term disability insurance starting the first month
• 401(k) plan with a 4% employer safe harbor contribution
• Collaborative and innovative workplace culture with a talented team