Title: Node.js/PostgreSQL App Migration — GCP to Digital Ocean or Render (Start This Week)

Updated Posting - I need an experienced DevOps engineer to migrate a stable production web application off Google Cloud Platform to Digital Ocean. The GCP account has a billing suspension with a hard deadline, so I need someone who can start immediately and complete this within 5-7 days. The app is running and stable. I have a fresh compressed database backup ready to go. This is a clean lift-and-shift with one important security cleanup task included. Stack: - Backend: Node.js/Express API (ES6, Babel, built to /dist) - Frontend: React (served via Node/Express static server, built via Webpack) - Database: PostgreSQL 11 (749MB, 48 tables, Sequelize ORM, 543 migrations) - File storage: Minimal local uploads + Google Drive integration via OAuth credentials file (critical) - Email: Mailgun (external, no migration needed) - Error logging: Sentry (external, no migration needed) - Process management: PM2 or equivalent needs to be configured on new server Scope of work: 1. Set up new server environment on Digital Ocean (Ubuntu Droplet) 2. Configure Node.js environment and install dependencies 3. Restore PostgreSQL database from provided .sql.gz backup file (749MB source, 180MB compressed) 4. Transfer application source code and verify it matches production 5. Transfer and place Google Drive OAuth credentials file (JSON) at correct path — this is critical for a key integration and must work on the new server 6. Move all hardcoded credentials and secrets out of config files into environment variables — this includes the database password in api/src/database/config.json, the app secret key in api/src/config.json, and any other hardcoded values. Config files should reference environment variables only. 7. Configure reverse proxy via nginx 8. Set up PM2 or equivalent process manager to keep app running and restart on crash 9. Verify app runs correctly on new server before DNS cutover 10. Cut over DNS and confirm production is live on new host 11. Keep GCP instance accessible for 48 hours post-cutover as fallback if possible 12. Provide handoff documentation — what's running, where, how to restart if needed, and list of environment variables required What I will provide: - SSH access to current GCP server - Compressed database backup file (.sql.gz) — already created and ready - Database credentials, app secret key, and list of all hardcoded config values with their locations - Source code zip - Google Drive OAuth credentials file location on current server - Domain/DNS access What I need from you: - Ability to start this week — this is time sensitive - Proven experience with Node.js production deployments on Digital Ocean - Familiarity with PostgreSQL database restoration - Clean handoff documentation after completion - Clear communication throughout — I am non-technical so please communicate in plain language Milestone payment released upon successful DNS cutover and confirmation that the app is running correctly on the new host. If you have experience migrating Node.js apps off GCP specifically, please mention it in your proposal.