Backend Software Engineer (Node.js / TypeScript) — Developer Portal Integrations

Summary We're looking for a Backend Software Engineer to build the custom integration work required to connect our Backstage developer portal to the rest of our stack. Backstage is already deployed on AWS EKS via GitOps (ArgoCD), so this is not an infrastructure or greenfield role. This is primarily backend software engineering: designing and writing custom Backstage backend plugins, integration services, and API glue code in Node.js/TypeScript so the catalog, CI/CD visibility, Kubernetes, GitOps, and observability integrations work reliably end to end. Off the shelf plugins only get us part of the way. The job is the custom engineering that closes the gap. Some React is involved for the frontend surfaces of these plugins, and you'll write some Go over time (no prior Go experience required; we'll support your ramp up). You'll work closely with platform engineers who own EKS, Vault, ArgoCD, and GitOps. Responsibilities Design and build custom Backstage backend plugins using the New Backend System (createBackendPlugin), including custom entity providers, catalog processors, and backend API endpoints Write custom integration code connecting Backstage to external APIs (GitHub, GitLab, ArgoCD, Kubernetes, Crossplane, OpenTelemetry), handling authentication, data mapping, sync logic, webhooks, pagination, and rate limits Extend, patch, and adapt off the shelf plugins where they don't meet our requirements Model and persist integration data (PostgreSQL via Knex) Wire the Software Catalog to GitHub and GitLab for catalog-info.yaml ingestion and entity discovery, including custom discovery and processing logic where needed Implement backend wiring for CI/CD visibility (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI), ArgoCD sync and deployment state, Crossplane resource exposure, and OpenTelemetry instrumentation Configure SSO/OIDC authentication on the backend Build the React/TypeScript frontend surfaces for these plugins where required (secondary to the backend work) Contribute to occasional Go services and tooling with mentorship Debug and resolve integration issues, configuration errors, and backend compatibility problems across Node.js services Test integrations end to end and deliver documented, reproducible configuration Requirements Strong Node.js / TypeScript backend engineering, including building services and REST/GraphQL APIs, ideally with Express Demonstrated experience writing custom integrations against third party APIs (auth flows, webhooks, pagination, error handling, data transformation) Comfortable designing and extending modular, plugin based architectures Experience with a relational database and query layer (PostgreSQL / Knex or similar) Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills across Node.js backend services Able to read and work within GitOps managed codebases (ArgoCD, Helm, Kustomize) Comfortable working near Kubernetes environments (EKS preferred) Working React / TypeScript ability for building plugin frontends (secondary, but expected) Willingness to learn Backstage's plugin architecture (legacy and New Backend System) and some Go. Direct Backstage experience is a plus, not a requirement Nice to Have Hands on experience deploying and configuring Backstage plugins in a real, deployed environment Custom Backstage backend plugin development (entity providers, processors) Backstage integrations with GitHub/GitLab and the ArgoCD plugin Backstage Kubernetes plugin and multi cluster configuration Crossplane resources in the catalog OpenTelemetry SDK setup for Node.js/TypeScript TechDocs (MkDocs/Python pipeline, S3 backend) SSO/OIDC provider integrations HashiCorp Vault or AWS Secrets Manager for secrets wiring Backstage Scaffolder and software templates Familiarity with the Backstage CLI and monorepo tooling Any exposure to Go Project Scope Backstage is already running on EKS, so no greenfield or infra setup is needed Focus is custom backend integration engineering, testing, and bug fixing in Node.js/TypeScript Key integrations: GitHub/GitLab catalog and CI, ArgoCD, Crossplane, OpenTelemetry Platform engineers own EKS, Vault, ArgoCD, and GitOps Deliverables Working, tested, custom built plugin and API integrations, backend first (Node.js/TypeScript), with the necessary React frontend surfaces, delivered with clear, documented, reproducible configuration.