API Backend Engineer
Responsibilities:
Design and build RESTful APIs: Implement new endpoints and evolve existing ones across auth, posts, comments, notifications, messaging, and social-graph domains using Node.js, Express, and TypeScript. Model and migrate data: Design relational schemas in PostgreSQL via Prisma ORM, write and review migrations, and optimise queries (cursor-based pagination, composite indexes, cascading deletes). Integrate third-party services: Work with Twilio (SMS/OTP), Azure Blob Storage (media uploads with SAS-signed URLs), Azure AI/Claude (AI content classification), Microsoft Graph (transactional email), and identity verification providers (Dojah / QoreID for NIN/KYC). Implement authentication & security: Maintain a multi-strategy auth system spanning phone-number OTP, email/password, Apple Sign-In, and Google Sign-In, with JWT access/refresh token rotation, rate limiting (express-rate-limit), and security headers (helmet). Build content moderation pipelines: Extend the AI-powered Post Integrity engine that classifies user-generated content and enforces publish/review/override workflows in real time.
Write and maintain tests: Add unit tests (Jest, SuperTest) and Postman collections; maintain code quality via ESLint, TypeScript strict mode, and automated CI checks. Ship via CI/CD: Work within the Azure DevOps Pipelines workflow: lint → type-check → security audit → deploy to Azure Functions v4 (dev auto-deploy, prod with approval gate). Design for trust & safety: Implement user blocking, muting, content reporting, audit logging, and NIN identity-verification flows with full attempt-level audit trails
Requirements:
3 years of professional backend development with Node.js and TypeScript. Strong experience with Express.js (or equivalent HTTP framework), middleware patterns, error handling, request validation.
Proficiency with PostgreSQL and an ORM such as Prisma: schema design, migrations, indexing, and performance tuning. Solid understanding of RESTful API design, resource modelling, status codes, pagination strategies, input validation (Zod or similar). Experience implementing JWT-based authentication, token lifecycle, refresh rotation, multi-provider OAuth flows. Familiarity with cloud object storage (Azure Blob Storage, AWS S3, or GCP Cloud Storage) — file uploads, signed URLs, content-type handling. Comfortable writing unit and integration tests (Jest, SuperTest, or equivalent). Working knowledge of Git, CI/CD pipelines, and branch-based deployment strategies.
Nice-to-Have:
Experience with Azure Functions (serverless) or similar FaaS platforms. Exposure to AI/ML API integrations — calling hosted LLMs (Claude, GPT) for content classification, moderation, or NLP tasks. Familiarity with identity verification / KYC providers (Dojah, Smile ID, QoreID, or similar). Experience with Twilio or other CPaaS platforms for SMS/OTP workflows. Knowledge of Microsoft Graph API for email or calendar integrations.
Understanding of trust & safety patterns — rate limiting, abuse prevention, content moderation, and audit logging. Experience supporting mobile-first APIs consumed by React Native / Expo apps. Familiarity with Azure DevOps (Pipelines, Library variable groups, Environments with approval gates).
Why Join Us:
Greenfield ownership: The backend is young and moving fast; you'll shape the architecture, not just maintain it. Full-stack influence: Collaborate closely with mobile and design to define API contracts and user experiences. AI-forward product: Work on real AI features (content moderation, classification) shipping to production today. Impact at scale: Every line of code you write directly powers the product our users interact with daily.