BACKEND ENGINEERING LEAD
Skills
Location
You must be live (or willing to live) in: Barcelona, Spain
Languages
Fluent English
Job Description
We're looking for a passionate Backend Engineering Lead to drive technical excellence and lead a talented team focused on building high-performance backend systems.
🎯 Responsibilities
- Design, build, and maintain robust backend services and APIs using NestJS and TypeScript.
- Own architecture and delivery on core systems including gamification engine, in-app economy, and map infrastructure.
- Architect and optimize PostgreSQL schemas and queries for large-scale performance.
- Implement and manage Redis caching strategies.
- Leverage Google Cloud Platform (Cloud Run, Pub/Sub, Cloud Storage) for deployment and infrastructure.
- Drive end-to-end technical decisions, from design to production.
- Document critical systems, distribute ownership, and harden key components to reduce risk.
- Champion adoption of AI tooling to boost team productivity.
- Proactively identify and mitigate technical risks.
- Improve backend processes, track team performance, and enhance release discipline and stability.
- Manage a team of 5 backend engineers, conducting 1:1s, giving direct feedback, and fostering professional growth.
- Translate product and business priorities into actionable technical plans.
- Serve as a proactive communication bridge between backend and other teams.
- Mentor team members, helping identify and close skills gaps through effective delegation and support.
🛠️ Requirements
- 6+ years of experience in backend development, with hands-on work on production systems at scale.
- Deep expertise in TypeScript and NestJS, with a reputation as a technical go-to for complex problems.
- Strong PostgreSQL skills, including indexing, query optimization, and schema design for large-scale systems.
- Hands-on experience with Redis and Google Cloud Platform.
- Experience with Prisma ORM or similar is a strong plus.
- Proven experience leading or mentoring engineers, delivering direct feedback, and nurturing team growth.
- Comfortable with scoping work before building and challenging unnecessary complexity.
- Proactive communicator who surfaces risks early without prompting.
- Fluent in English.
🧰 Technical Toolbox
- Backend: Node.js with TypeScript, NestJS, Prisma ORM
- Database: PostgreSQL, Redis (caching)
- Infrastructure: Google Cloud Platform (Cloud Run, Pub/Sub, Cloud Storage)
- Mobile: React Native with TypeScript
- Analytics: BigQuery, Mixpanel, Metabase
- Practices: REST APIs, CI/CD pipelines, code reviews, agile sprints
🤗 We offer
- Opportunities to lead impactful projects used by millions from day one.
- Professional growth, learning opportunities, and international exposure.
- Supportive, talented, and passionate international team environment.
- Central office location in Barcelona.
- Meal voucher.
- Wellness allowance (Urban Sports).
- Private healthcare.
- Hybrid working culture with international flexibility.
- Additional holiday days.
- Friday team lunches.
- Regular company events and offsites.
🌟 What Sets This Role Apart
- Hands-on leadership (70% individual contributor, 30% management).
- Direct impact on product and technical direction in a mission-driven environment.
- Opportunities to shape backend best practices and advance a fast-growing, international product.
About the team
31
employees
11
nationalities
Benefits and perks
Work from home
Health insurance
Food & drinks
Restaurant Ticket
Gym discount
Location
Barcelona
