Backend Engineer : Modernizing a National Sports Platform

Lead Backend Developer Location: On site – Arlington, VA Type: Full-Time About Uplifter Uplifter Inc. is a leading North American sports-technology company powering 1,700+ clubs, 200+ national and provincial organizations, and 4 million users across gymnastics, curling, skating, cycling, athletics, and more. With teams in Toronto, Vancouver, Montréal, and Nashville, we build the mission-critical infrastructure that keeps amateur and elite sport running—membership, events, payments, compliance, sanctioning, and athlete pathways. As we unify multiple platforms (Uplifter, Interpodia, Curling Club Manager) and build Uplifter 2.0, we are modernizing our engineering organization to deliver scalable, reliable, and intuitive product experiences. We are seeking a hands-on, architectural-minded Lead Backend Developer to take ownership of our backend strategy, API design, and data infrastructure. Job Summary The Lead Backend Developer is responsible for architecting, building, and maintaining the server-side logic and databases that power Uplifter 2.0. You will bridge the gap between technical execution and product strategy, ensuring our backend services are secure, highly scalable, and capable of handling high-volume transactions for millions of users. This role is hands-on coding and architecture decision making. While you will mentor other backend developers, you will not be directly managing them. Your role will focus on code quality, best practices, system design, and technical direction. You will work closely with the CPO, Product Managers, and the Staff Engineer to define the backend roadmap and ensure seamless integration with our mobile and frontend clients. This role is fully on site, in-office 5 days a week at our office in Arlington VA, just outside of Washington D.C. Key Responsibilities Backend Leadership & Architecture • Own the technical architecture of the Uplifter backend ecosystem, driving the modernization of our stack. • Lead the design and implementation of robust, scalable RESTful APIs to support our mobile and web applications. • Make high-level technological decisions regarding database schema design, caching strategies, and microservices vs. monolith trade-offs. Delivery & Execution • Write clean, secure, and efficient code (Python/Django and/or PHP) to handle complex business logic and payments. • Collaborate with Product Managers to estimate features, identify backend bottlenecks, and maintain predictable delivery cycles. • Troubleshoot complex server-side issues, optimize database queries, and ensure high system availability. • Oversee the security of user data, ensuring compliance with privacy standards and secure payment processing. Mentorship & Collaboration • Mentor mid-level and junior engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and ownership through code reviews. • Partner with Mobile and Frontend Leads to define clear API contracts and data models. • Work with the DevOps/Infrastructure team to improve CI/CD pipelines and deployment processes. Preferred Qualifications Required • 5+ years of professional backend development experience, with at least 2+ years in a Lead or Senior capacity. • Deep expertise in Python (Django) and Node.js. • Strong understanding of modern SaaS architecture (API-first, microservices), database design (PostgreSQL), and caching (Redis/Memcached). • Experience with cloud environments (AWS) and serverless technologies. • Proven ability to lead technical decisions and mentor other engineers without direct management authority. • Experience with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes). Nice to Have • Experience in multi-product or multi-codebase environments. • Background in sports technology, membership systems, or high-volume transactional SaaS. • Experience with complex payment gateway integrations (Stripe, PayPal, etc.). • Experience working with modern backend languages like Go, Rust, or TypeScript. Why Join Uplifter? • Compensation: Competitive salary + performance bonus. • Impact: A chance to directly impact amateur and elite sport across North America and globally. • Culture: Strong culture of ownership, autonomy, and product innovation. • Time Off: Unlimited PTO subject to delivery on targets. • Benefits: Health/dental/vision benefits. • Work Environment: On site with a small, dedicated, local team for rapid growth.