Mid-Level / Junior Python (Django) & Next.js Developer

Mid-Level / Junior Python (Django) & Next.js Developer We have developed a custom middleware application that synchronizes our Shopify e-commerce store with our Lightspeed Retail inventory system. Following launch, the middleware is experiencing several critical bugs and functionality issues that need to be addressed promptly. We are looking for a junior-to-mid-level developer with experience in Python, Django, and Next.js who can quickly become familiar with the existing codebase, diagnose and resolve the current issues, and take ownership of the middleware going forward. After the immediate problems are resolved, this developer will be available to provide ongoing maintenance, troubleshooting, bug fixes, and incremental improvements as needed. Position Type: Part time / on-call retainer (maintenance, bug fixes, and feature enhancement) Primary Tech Stack: Python 3, Django, Django REST Framework, Celery, Redis, Next.js, React, TypeScript, PostgreSQL, Docker, REST APIs, Webhooks Integrations: Shopify Admin API, Lightspeed Retail (R-Series) API Who we Are SWi Fence is Wyoming’s premier fencing and perimeter security provider. Founded as a family business with roots in Powell, WY, SWi ("Service With Integrity") has grown to serve residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial clients across multiple locations in Wyoming and beyond. SWi Fence recently launched a Shopify-based e-commerce store to support digital growth, social commerce, and modern marketing. The challenge: our customer-facing store has moved to Shopify, while in-store operations, POS, and core inventory management remain in Lightspeed Retail (R-Series). The solution: we built a custom middleware platform that keeps the two systems aligned by syncing products, inventory, orders, customers, and operational status data. That platform is live in production and business-critical. We need a reliable developer to patch several post-launch operational bugs we’re experiencing, and be available to take ownership of ongoing maintenance, incident response, incremental improvements, and day-to-day technical stewardship. About the Role You will inherit a working production integration made up of two application codebases: a Django + Celery backend that owns APIs, webhook intake, sync jobs, admin tooling, and operational data a separate Next.js + React + TypeScript frontend that staff use to manage sync activity and settings This is primarily a maintenance and enhancement role, not a greenfield build. You will be expected to diagnose sync issues, follow logs, work with third-party API documentation, make targeted product improvements, and keep production stable. Key Responsibilities Post-Launch Fixes: We’ve already launched the new store, and are now faced with several issues that are not working as they should. Production maintenance: Keep the Django backend, Celery worker/beat processes, Redis-backed jobs, and internal frontend running smoothly. Bug fixing & troubleshooting: Diagnose sync failures, webhook delivery issues, inventory mismatches, API version changes, auth failures, and rate-limit edge cases. Feature development: Implement scoped improvements to sync logic, internal dashboards, configuration screens, and support workflows. API integration work: Maintain and extend Shopify and Lightspeed integration logic, including payload mapping and auth flows. Operational ownership: Read logs, work with Docker-based deployments, and maintain clear documentation for future support. Required Qualifications & Tech Stack Python & Django: Experience maintaining Django applications and building APIs with DRF. Async processing: Comfort working with Celery and Redis-backed background jobs. SQL & ORM: Familiarity with PostgreSQL and writing/debugging Django ORM queries. APIs & webhooks: Hands-on experience with third-party REST APIs, OAuth/API-key auth patterns, retries, and safe webhook processing. Frontend maintenance: Ability to work comfortably in Next.js, React, and TypeScript for an internal operations UI. Debugging: Strong skills in tracing issues across logs, async tasks, API responses, and user-facing screens. Version control: Comfortable with GitHub-based workflows and pull requests. Desirable Experience Shopify Admin API, including GraphQL-based workflows Lightspeed Retail (R-Series) integrations E-commerce, retail, POS, or inventory-management systems Docker Compose-based deployment workflows Maintaining applications on a VPS or similar self-managed infrastructure Example Tasks You'll Handle Extend order or customer payload mapping between Shopify and Lightspeed. Investigate and fix failed sync runs by tracing Celery jobs, webhook requests, and API responses. Update internal dashboard pages to expose clearer sync status, filtering, or retry flows. Adjust middleware behavior to account for Shopify/Lightspeed API changes or business process updates.