Senior Backend Engineer - Pre-Seed Music Tech Startup

Please read carefully. This will start out as a part-time role with the potential for full-time upon securing funding. While part-time, you will be vesting equity without any other compensation. If we receive funding, we will bring you on full-time and pay you a competitive salary.

Location: Remote

Commitment: Part-time (20 hours/week), with potential for full-time upon funding

Compensation: 1-2% equity until funding, with market-competitive salary upon securing funding

About Us

We’re an early-stage, pre-seed startup with a bold vision to transform how artists grow and connect with their audience. Our mission is to empower artists by providing an advanced feedback tool that delivers targeted insights, enabling them to hone their craft and expand their reach. We’re building a platform where artists can receive feedback from their ideal listeners and audience segments, creating a pathway to better music and a stronger fanbase.

The Role

We are looking for a skilled Senior Backend Engineer to join us on a part-time, equity-only basis (1-2%) until funding is secured. This role is ideal for someone passionate about building impactful products from the ground up and willing to invest their time for equity compensation, with the understanding that a market-competitive salary will be offered once we secure funding. You’ll work closely with our team to build and scale core features, including:

A quality control system to ensure high-quality reviews
A secure and sophisticated payment system to support transactions and artist earnings
Real-time live streaming for artists to connect with their audience
A powerful analytics engine for data-driven insights and user feedback
A matching algorithm to connect artists with relevant audience segments for feedback

What You’ll Do:
Design and implement secure, scalable REST APIs using Node.js, TypeScript, and Express
Develop and maintain MongoDB databases using Mongoose for seamless data handling
Manage backend infrastructure with Docker and Kubernetes, and deploy/operate a Next.js application without Vercel
Contribute to architecture and design decisions, bringing technical insight to product strategy
Build and optimize an analytics engine to generate actionable insights and drive engagement
Be comfortable working on the weekend, as we move quickly and adapt to user needs
What We’re Looking For:

Experience:
5+ years as a backend engineer with hands-on expertise in building and securing REST APIs
Skills:
Proficient in Node.js, TypeScript, Express, MongoDB, Mongoose, Docker, worker services, and event bus systems
DevOps: Solid experience with Kubernetes (K8s), Docker, deployment/operation of Next.js applications, and infrastructure management
Architecture: Experience in making design and architecture decisions in complex, scalable systems
Startup Experience: Previous experience in a startup environment, with a strong ability to work independently and manage multiple responsibilities
Self-Motivated: A proactive and self-motivated individual who thrives under responsibility and is eager to take ownership of their work
Collaborative Mindset: Comfortable working part-time in a small, agile team, with openness to feedback and weekend availability when needed

Why Join Us?
Opportunity to shape an innovative product from the ground up with a clear mission and market potential
Flexible, remote work with a part-time commitment until funding, with opportunities for full-time employment post-funding
Equity compensation (1-2%) and a chance to be a foundational team member, with a market-competitive salary once funding is secured
Apply Today!

If you’re excited to work on a mission-driven product and have the technical skills to help artists elevate their craft, we’d love to hear from you.