Make It All Work - Senior Backend Engineer

Back-End Developer is needed in Brooklyn, United States.

Client: Make It All Work

Location: Brooklyn, NY

Contract: Contract

Job Description

Make It All Work (MIAW) is a full-service technology, consulting, and web development firm based in New York City. MIAW specializes in designing modern websites and offers services including website maintenance, SEO, custom hosting solutions, and mobile app development.

The Senior Backend Developer is a high-seniority contract role responsible for the end-to-end success and health of client backend systems. This role requires improving client interactions, owning technical tasks, and reducing dependency on current architecture and infrastructure leadership. The developer will manage all aspects of backend development, deployment, and ongoing maintenance to ensure smooth project flow.

Job Responsibilities and Duties

• Backend Development & Ownership: Lead backend development within existing systems, focusing on technical execution, participation in discovery phases, and post-deployment monitoring.
• Code Health & Monitoring: Monitor deployed code for stability using tools like Sentry or Rollbar and manage backend maintenance.
• Maintenance: Handle system maintenance, debug issues, and manage WordPress updates and plugins.
• Integrations: Manage complex integrations, troubleshoot real-world integration issues such as webhook failures and API errors.
• Client Interaction: Act as a client-facing resource to communicate technical issues and expectations.
• Project Support: Assist in feature scoping and provide necessary QA support.
• Systems Optimization & Automation: Identify inefficiencies and implement automation or AI workflows.
• Knowledge Transfer & Documentation: Create documentation to facilitate knowledge transfer for new developers.

Qualifications and Experience

• Experience Level: Strong seniority and the ability to independently tackle complex problems.
• Technical Competency: Experience in backend development and maintaining API-driven systems; strong familiarity with the WordPress ecosystem.
• Integration Experience: Proven experience troubleshooting system integrations within live production environments.
• Automation & AI Tooling: Experience in identifying automation opportunities and leveraging AI tools.
• Security & Identity: Understanding of authentication and identity mechanisms.
• Problem Solving: Strong problem-solving skills and capability to address issues in complex systems.
• Mindset: Detail-oriented with a production-first attitude; willing to manage inherited codebases.
• Soft Skills: Strong communication and client management abilities.

Salary and Benefits

• Compensation: $45–$65/hour, based on experience and contract negotiations.
• Structure: This is a Contract/Freelance position.

Work Environment and Location

• Work Arrangement: Remote, contract-based position with varying workload.
• Team: High degree of autonomy and ownership required.

What Success Looks Like in This Role

• Quick adaptation to existing systems and integrations.
• Ability to debug unfamiliar codebases confidently.
• Safe deployment of fixes and features without destabilizing production.
• Proactive monitoring of deployments and issue resolution.
• Effective documentation of key system knowledge for maintainability.