Backend Software Engineer (Node.js) | LabArchives

What do we need
We are looking for a Backend Software Engineer to join the LabArchives team, a small, dedicated group building industry-leading Electronic Laboratory Notebook (ELN), Inventory, and Scheduler products used by researchers and institutions around the globe.

In this role, you will partner closely with product, operations, and support teams to design, build, and maintain the backend systems that power the LabArchives suite of products. You will have a substantial impact on our development process and our products, applying your passion for technology to all of our systems and processes while helping grow LabArchives globally. 

 In this role you will get to:

• Collaborate with product, operations, and support team members to design, develop, and maintain the backend services and APIs behind the LabArchives suite of products.
• Iteratively plan, build, test, and release new backend features, primarily in Node.js.
• Read, understand, and contribute to our existing Ruby on Rails codebase as needed.
• Create and maintain a robust unit test suite, and participate in the creation and expansion of our automation test framework.
• Participate in code reviews, security audits, and performance and scalability evaluations.

We are looking for people with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, or equivalent combination of education and 9+ years of experience, along with a technology enthusiast’s mindset and a passion for learning and continuous improvement. You will bring deep hands-on experience in backend and database development, and be comfortable collaborating closely with team members across several departments.

 The key skills we are looking for:

• Strong server-side development experience with Node.js, including building and maintaining APIs and services.
• Hands-on experience with synchronous and asynchronous integration patterns. 
• Ability to read, understand, and work within Ruby, preferably with experience in Ruby on Rails.
• Familiarity with database design, query optimization, and data modeling.
• Solid grounding in object-oriented and functional programming paradigms.
• Working knowledge of modern JavaScript (ES6+) and RESTful API design.

You may also have:

• Hands-on experience working on SaaS products in a regulated or research-focused industry.
• Familiarity with automated testing tools and CI/CD pipelines.
• Exposure to security best practices and secure API design (e.g., authentication, authorization, data protection).
• Basic familiarity with front-end frameworks such as React, Angular, or Vue, enough to collaborate effectively with front-end teammates.
• Interest in scientific or educational technology and its impact on how research gets done.