Senior Software Engineer, Backend (Node.js, TypeScript, Rust)

$50–80/hr

rate as listed

Workload: 40 hrs/week
Engagement: Project-based
Location: US
Field: STEM and Coding

Build and operate high-traffic backend services using Node.js, TypeScript, and Rust for consumer web and mobile experiences. This is a full-time W-2 role focused on APIs, integrations, production reliability, and senior-level technical ownership.

Day-to-day work

You would lead scoped backend features from design through production, working with Engineering, UX, Product, Business, and Analytics. The work includes building and maintaining REST and GraphQL APIs, server-to-server integrations, CI/CD workflows, monitoring, defect resolution, code review, mentoring, and production integrations with AI/ML capabilities.

Technical scope

Hands-on production experience with Node.js and TypeScript is required. Hands-on coding experience with Rust is also required, whether in production services, performance-critical modules, or substantial systems work. GraphQL on Node.js, including schema design, resolvers, or federation, is a plus rather than a requirement. The role also calls for detailed knowledge of HTTP semantics, cookies, headers, caching, sessions, service authentication, timeouts, and retries.

Platform screening

Expect the screening to look for verifiable examples of senior ownership in high-traffic consumer systems. Strong responses will explain architectural choices, production constraints, failure handling, performance evidence, and personal contributions rather than relying on broad claims about scale or leadership. Evaluation may also cover how you review code, balance delivery against maintainability, and judge whether an AI/ML capability is safe and useful in a production service.

Practical details

This is a W-2 employment position with Cincinnatus LLC, with placement in an enterprise client's engineering organization. The commitment is at least 40 hours/week during weekdays; the listing does not specify remote eligibility, location requirements, or how much work is asynchronous. Pay band: $50–80/hr

What they look for

Production backend development with Node.js and TypeScript
Hands-on Rust development in services, performance-critical modules, or substantial systems work
High-traffic consumer web platform engineering
HTTP, caching, sessions, service authentication, timeouts, and retries
REST and GraphQL API design and operation
Senior-level feature ownership, code review, and technical mentoring

Included with this listing

Interview prep — 10 questions

Matched to what this platform's screening actually measures. Answer each out loud in 60–90 seconds: claim → concrete example → implication.

What it tests: This tests whether your career progression included accountable technical ownership rather than task execution within someone else's design.
A strong answer: Choose one system and identify its users, traffic profile, architecture, your decisions, cross-functional dependencies, launch process, and operational results. Separate your own contribution from the team's work and name a decision you would change today.
Where people lose it: Candidates lose points by describing the employer or system at length without establishing which decisions, implementation work, and production outcomes were personally theirs.

Summary, eligibility guidance and screening preparation are prepared by Sidequest from the platform's posting. Check the source listing before applying.

STEM AND CODING on Sidequest

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