Staff Backend Engineer

About the role

This Staff Backend Engineer position at Trojan Trading involves significant ownership of the company's backend services, reporting directly to the technical co-founders. The core responsibility is to design, develop, and maintain robust backend systems using TypeScript within the Bun.js framework. This includes building out trading functionalities, analytical tools for traders, and integrating third-party services, all while ensuring the platform can handle a high volume of concurrent users and data streams.

A key aspect of this role is ensuring the availability and reliability of the platform. This means designing fault-tolerant architectures, implementing comprehensive monitoring and alerting systems, and establishing disaster recovery protocols. The engineer will also be crucial in optimizing system performance, particularly for database queries, to deliver rapid response times for thousands of users without compromising stability. Success in this role means a highly performant, reliable, and scalable backend that supports a seamless trading experience.

The role requires a commitment to code quality, upholding best practices, and producing well-structured, efficient, and documented code. Collaboration is also essential, as the Staff Backend Engineer will work closely with frontend teams and end-users to ensure backend solutions align with the platform's overall objectives. The ability to independently identify, debug, and resolve complex technical issues is critical for maintaining smooth platform operations.

The total compensation for this role is between $200,000 and $500,000 annually, based on the overall market range for positions at Trojan Trading.

Skills that matter here

• TypeScript: This role requires proficiency in TypeScript for developing and maintaining robust backend services within the Bun.js framework.
• Node.js: Candidates should have extensive experience with Node.js, specifically 7+ years in backend development, to build complex microservices.
• Bun.js: The role involves using Bun.js as the primary framework for backend development, leveraging its capabilities for high-performance systems.
• Postgres: A strong understanding of Postgres is necessary, including schema and query design, and optimization for high-performance and reliability in a trading context.

Who this role suits

• Someone who thrives on owning projects from conception to completion, demonstrating strong independent work ethic.
• An individual who takes deep personal pride in the quality and impact of the software products they build.
• A developer with a proven track record of leading a mid-sized engineering team and fostering effective cross-functional collaboration.
• A person who excels at identifying and solving complex technical challenges in high-stakes, high-performance environments.

From the employer

Key Responsibilities

• Project/Product Ownership: Leadership and oversight of Trojan Trading’s backend services while reporting directly to the technical co-founders.
• Backend Development: Design, develop, and maintain robust backend services using TypeScript (Bun.js framework) to support trading functionality, tools/analytics for traders, third-party integrations, and more.
• System Availability/Reliability: Design scalable and fault-tolerant architectures, implement monitoring/alerting, and maintain disaster recovery protocols to ensure system availability.
• Performance Optimization: Ensure backend systems & database queries deliver top-tier speed for thousands of concurrent users without compromising on reliability.
• Code Quality: Uphold best practices by writing well-structured, efficient, and well-documented code.
• Collaborate Across Teams: Work closely with frontend teams and users to align backend solutions with platform objectives.
• Problem Solving: Identify, debug, and resolve complex technical issues to maintain smooth platform operations.

Requirements

• Technical Expertise: Proficiency in Node.js/Bun.js and TypeScript with 7+ years of experience in backend development. Must have delivered a complex microservices-based backend serving web clients end-to-end.
• Experience serving a high number of concurrent users with large data-streaming requirements.
• Proficiency with building robust and optimized API endpoints and web sockets.
• Strong understanding of Postgres, including schema/query design and optimization for high-performance/high-reliability use cases.
• Autonomy: Proven ability to work independently while driving projects to completion.
• Team Collaboration: Strong communication skills to work effectively within a cross-functional team. Experience leading a mid-sized engineer team.
• Pride: We look for people who take deep pride and responsibility in the products they build.

What We Offer

• Remote Flexibility: Work from anywhere on your schedule.
• Challenging Projects: Solve complex problems with cutting-edge technology in the trading space.
• Impactful Role: Shape backend systems powering one of the largest trading platforms on the market and shaping the experience of tens of thousands of daily users.
• Collaborative Culture: Join a team that values innovation, efficiency, and collaboration.
• Compensation/Culture: The overall market range for roles at Trojan Trading is typically $200k - $500k annually. This market range is based on total compensation. Trojan Trading has a culture that is built upon meritocracy, high-intensity output, and personal growth.