Senior MERN Dev (AI + Display advertising)

This is not a standard developer role. We are seeking a foundational technical leader to architect, build, and own the entire platform for a well-funded advertising startup. You will be employee #1 in engineering, working directly with the founder to translate a business vision into a scalable, intelligent, and world-class technical product from the ground up. If you are looking for true greenfield ownership and the chance to define a company's technical DNA, this is it.

[Note on Sector] Our platform serves a diverse range of SMEs, including businesses in the alcohol, dating, and entertainment industries. Please ensure you are comfortable working in these sectors before applying.

✅ Your Mandate: From Architecture to Execution

As the lead architect, you will have complete ownership of the technical stack and roadmap. Your primary mandate is to:

• Architect & Build the Core Backend: Design and implement a robust, scalable, and secure backend using Node.js, with Strapi as the headless CMS.
• Own End-to-End Integration: Lead the seamless integration of our Next.js frontend with all backend services, data sources, and critical third-party APIs.
• Design a Scalable Data Engine: Engineer a provider-agnostic Data Abstraction Layer to ingest, normalize, and process data from various sports and information APIs (e.g., TheSportsDB), preparing it for our AI content systems.
• Lead a Critical API Integration: Take full technical ownership of the integration with the Xibo Digital Signage CMS. You will be the primary technical authority, ensuring a resilient, automated workflow from our portal to thousands of digital screens.
• Establish Engineering Excellence: Define and implement best practices for the entire development lifecycle: code quality, CI/CD, automated testing, and infrastructure management on Vercel.
• Build and Lead the Team: You will be the cornerstone of our engineering team. This includes making key hiring decisions, mentoring future engineers, and shaping a culture of ownership and high performance.

🏆 Required Experience & Mindset: Who You Are

We need a proven leader, not just a programmer. You must be able to demonstrate the following:

• 7+ Years of Experience: With a portfolio of complex, full-stack applications you have built from concept to launch.
• Architectural Mastery: You don't just consume APIs; you design them. You think in terms of systems, data models, and scalability. You can show us examples of architectural decisions you've made and why.
• Node.js & Next.js Expertise: You have deep, hands-on experience building production-grade applications with Node.js and the Vercel/Next.js ecosystem.
• Headless CMS & API Integration Pro: You have a proven track record of integrating complex, third-party APIs. Demonstrable experience with a Headless CMS is required (Strapi is a major advantage).
• A "Founder" Mindset: You are an autonomous, proactive problem-solver. You thrive in an environment where you are given a goal, not a list of tasks. You think critically about business needs and how technology can solve them.
  

💡 How to Apply & Demonstrate Your Fit

To apply, please send a direct message that includes:

1. A link to your Resume & portfolio (GitHub, live projects, etc.).
2. Your expected monthly or annual salary in USD.
3. Your detailed answers to the three screening questions below.

Applications submitted without answers to these questions will not be considered.

Screening Questions for Applicants: