Job Description

Job Title:

Senior Full Stack Developer

Position Type:

Full-Time Contractor

Working Hours:

U.S. Hours



About Pavago

Pavago is hiring a Senior Full Stack Developer on behalf of a fast-scaling U.S. startup. This is a unique opportunity for a highly capable developer to own the full-stack development of a brand-new platform and grow into a CTO-level leadership role. Our ideal candidate is someone who loves building, is passionate about architecture and technology leadership, and has a solid understanding of modern development practices including AI integrations and scalable, real-time systems.



Responsibilities

Lead the Platform Build: Own the development of a secure, scalable, high-performing full-stack application from ground zero. Define the Stack: Propose and implement a modern, future-ready tech stack that may include React, Next.js, NestJS, PostgreSQL, Redis, and AWS. Backend Engineering: Build robust REST APIs, design relational data models, implement middleware logic, and ensure endpoint protection using technologies such as Node.js, NestJS, and Redis. Frontend Development: Craft highly responsive and accessible UIs using React, Redux Toolkit, Tailwind CSS, and component-driven architecture. AI & Real-Time Features: Integrate AI-powered features such as LLM-based text processing, basic NLP functionalities, and real-time updates using WebSockets or similar protocols. DevOps & Cloud Deployment: Set up and manage deployments using AWS (especially EC2), Vercel, or GCP. Implement CI/CD pipelines, monitoring, and alerts. Security & Access Control: Establish RBAC (Role-Based Access Control), secure authentication/authorization flows, caching strategies, and endpoint protections. Collaborate with Stakeholders: Work closely with the founder to align development with business vision and user needs. Later, help build and lead the engineering team. Documentation & Team Readiness: Maintain high-quality documentation, establish best practices, and mentor future technical hires.

What Makes You a Great Fit

Builder-Minded Leader: You've built production-ready full-stack systems independently and thrive in fast-moving environments. Tech Strategist: You can make sound architectural decisions, justify your stack, and plan for scale. AI-Curious & Capable: You have hands-on exposure to WebSockets, LLMs, or NLP whether through projects or experimentation. Security-Conscious: You take endpoint protection, RBAC, token management, and data security seriously. High Ownership: You don't wait to be told rather you see a gap, and you fill it. Strong Communicator: You write and speak with clarity, and you're collaborative in remote-first teams.

Required Skills & Experience

Full stack experience: 5+ years of experince ideally in startups or high-ownership environments. Frontend: Proficiency in React, Redux Toolkit, Next.js, Tailwind CSS. Backend: Strong knowledge of Node.js, NestJS, REST API development, Express JS. Database: Experience with PostgreSQL, Prisma, MongoDB, and Redis for caching. Security & Access Control: Strong implementation skills with RBAC models, JWT/OAuth token handling, and endpoint protection. DevOps: Deployment experience with AWS EC2 (preferred), GCP, or Vercel; CI/CD via GitHub Actions or CircleCI. Web Sockets & Real-Time Apps: Comfortable implementing real-time data flows (e.g., using Socket.io or similar). AI/NLP/LLM Exposure: Experience or strong interest in integrating AI features such as chat interfaces, text summarization, or NLP. Architecture: Familiar with microservices, middlewares, modular system design, and scalable infrastructures. Collaboration: Git, GitHub, Notion, Slack, Zoom.

What Does a Typical Day Look Like?

You'll begin your day by reviewing tasks in GitHub or Notion. Most days involve a mix of coding (backend APIs, frontend UI, or DevOps tasks), testing, and real-time feature development. You might be integrating an AI-powered chat module, optimizing database queries, deploying to AWS EC2, or refining RBAC-based access flows. You'll also join calls with the founder to prioritize next steps and share architectural input. The work is high-impact, hands-on, and foundational.



Interview Process

Intro Call: A quick conversation to align on goals and experience. Technical Deep Dive: Discuss your previous work, decisions, and approach to scalable systems. Live Coding or Take-Home Challenge: Showcase your thought process and technical depth. Founder Interview: Align on product vision, leadership expectations, and long-term role. Reference & Background Check: Conduct swift verification of your references and past employment details.

Ready to Apply?

If you're a hands-on full stack developer with a passion for architecture, leadership, and innovation including AI and real-time systems this is your moment. You'll help build the foundation of a product that matters, and grow into a leadership role as the team scales. If you thrive in early-stage environments and are excited about owning both code and technical direction, we want to hear from you.