Junior Backend Engineer (node.js)

Publitas

Get hot jobs first on Telegram

New positions appear faster in our channel

Location: Netherlands
Job Type: full-time
Work Format: 🌍 Remote
Salary: €38,000–€58,000
Posted: May 9, 2026

Job Description

About us:

We are Publitas! We’re a remote-first, fast-growing SaaS company helping brands turn static content into digital discovery experiences that drive results.

We’re not about busywork, hierarchy, or hand-holding. We hire sharp minds, trust them fully, and measure success by real results, not noise. If you thrive in autonomy, challenge, and high ownership, you’ll love it here.

This role is for you if you…

Get excited by taking ownership and figuring things out proactively
Thrive in a remote, async, fast-paced environment
Are striving to deliver impact, not just running tasks
Think in systems but execute with creativity
Are direct, collaborative, and have a growth mindset

This role is NOT for you if you…

Need layers of process or someone to constantly tell you what to do
Prefer “business as usual” over change
Want a team where mediocre is okay
Have never worked remotely and think async means “lonely”
Are waiting for permission instead of taking initiative

Job requirements

The work you’ll do…

Take ownership by:

Collaborating with a cross-functional team (Product, Design, Engineering) to build and improve backend features.
Supporting the development and maintenance of scalable backend services using Node.js.
Assisting in improving the performance, reliability, and stability of our platform.
Writing clean, maintainable, and well-tested code.
Monitoring, debugging, and resolving issues with guidance from senior team members.
Learning our systems, tools, and best practices while actively contributing to team discussions.

This challenge will suit you if:

You have 1–2 years of experience building web applications using Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript).
You have a basic understanding of backend concepts such as APIs, databases, and system design.
You are eager to learn and can break down problems with support from more experienced engineers.
You are comfortable working in a remote, async environment and take responsibility for your work.
You are a clear communicator in English and open to feedback and continuous improvement.

Bonus:

Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS).
Exposure to databases (SQL or NoSQL).
Basic understanding of REST APIs and/or microservices.
Interest in data processing or scraping pipelines (relevant to your current project shift).
Some exposure to frontend technologies (React) is a plus but not required.

What We Provide to Help You Win…

Salary: €38,000–€58,000 per year (gross), depending on your experience level and location.
25 vacation days + your local national holidays
A top-tier MacBook and remote-ready gear
Monthly wellness budget to invest in your health
Co-Working allowance
Events, training, or courses that directly and primarily contribute to your work at Publitas
Free books on Kindle and Audible
Free Publitas Swag (merchandise)

🎯 Who is this job for?

This role is best suited for a Junior Backend Engineer with 1–2 years of experience in Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript) who is comfortable working independently in a remote-first SaaS environment. The candidate should understand backend fundamentals such as REST APIs, databases, scalable services, debugging, testing, and basic system design, with bonus exposure to AWS, microservices, SQL/NoSQL, or React. They should enjoy ownership, async collaboration, fast-paced product development, and be familiar with maintaining and improving backend platforms alongside cross-functional teams.

💬 Potential Interview Questions

How would you structure a simple REST API in Node.js for a SaaS backend?
A clean structure usually separates routes, controllers, services, and data access logic. This makes the code easier to test, maintain, and extend.
What is the difference between JavaScript and TypeScript in backend development?
TypeScript adds static typing on top of JavaScript, helping catch errors earlier and making large Node.js codebases easier to understand and refactor.
How do you handle errors in an Express.js API?
Use centralized error-handling middleware, return consistent error responses, and avoid exposing internal implementation details to clients.
What is async/await in Node.js, and why is it useful?
async/await makes asynchronous code easier to read and maintain compared to nested callbacks or long promise chains. It is commonly used for database calls, API requests, and file operations.
How would you debug a slow backend endpoint?
I would check logs, measure response times, inspect database queries, look for unnecessary external calls, and use profiling or monitoring tools to identify the bottleneck.
What is the difference between SQL and NoSQL databases?
SQL databases use structured schemas and are strong for relational data and transactions. NoSQL databases are more flexible and often used for document-based or high-scale use cases.
How would you write tests for a Node.js backend service?
I would write unit tests for business logic and integration tests for API endpoints or database interactions. Tools like Jest can help automate these tests.
What does it mean to write maintainable backend code?
Maintainable code is readable, well-structured, tested, and avoids unnecessary complexity. It should be easy for another engineer to understand and safely change.
What are microservices, and when might they be useful?
Microservices split an application into smaller independent services. They can be useful when different parts of a system need to scale, deploy, or evolve independently.
How would you approach working in a remote async engineering team?
I would communicate clearly in writing, document decisions, share progress proactively, and ask focused questions when blocked. Async work requires ownership and making context easy for others to follow.**

📋 Job Summary

Publitas is a remote-first SaaS company helping brands transform static content into high-performing digital discovery experiences. As a Junior Backend Engineer, you’ll build and maintain scalable Node.js backend services, improve platform reliability, write clean tested code, and collaborate with Product, Design, and Engineering teams. The stack includes Node.js, JavaScript/TypeScript, APIs, databases, with bonus exposure to AWS, REST, microservices, data processing, and React. This fully remote role offers €38,000–€58,000 gross per year, plus vacation days, wellness and co-working budgets, equipment, learning perks, and a high-ownership culture where proactive engineers can grow fast.