Chinese API Integration Developer — Chinese Tech Platforms (Long-Term Contract)

API Integration Developer — Chinese Tech Platforms (Long-Term Contract) We’re looking for a resourceful API Integration Developer to help us discover, evaluate, and integrate cost-effective Chinese APIs and technology services into our products. If you can navigate the Chinese tech ecosystem and read Chinese-language documentation, we’d love to work with you. This is a fully remote, long-term contract with flexible hours. What you’ll do Research and identify cost-effective Chinese APIs and SaaS platforms (e.g., Baidu AI, Alibaba Cloud, Tencent Cloud, iFlytek, SenseTime, ByteDance) that can replace or supplement more expensive Western alternatives Evaluate API documentation (including Chinese-language docs), pricing, and terms of service Build proof-of-concept integrations to test reliability, latency, and data quality Develop and maintain RESTful and GraphQL integrations between our systems and these providers Create internal comparison reports, including cost breakdowns and feature-parity analysis Collaborate with our development team to implement selected APIs into production Monitor API usage, costs, and performance, and recommend optimizations Stay current with the Chinese tech landscape and flag new or more affordable alternatives Troubleshoot integration issues, handle error responses, and manage rate-limiting strategies Requirements At least 2 years in software development or API integration Hands-on experience with RESTful APIs, webhooks, and OAuth authentication Familiarity with Chinese tech platforms (Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, JD Cloud, Huawei Cloud, etc.), or ability to ramp up quickly Ability to read and navigate Chinese-language API documentation (Mandarin reading ability strongly preferred) Proficiency in at least one backend language: Python, Node.js, PHP, or Java Experience with Postman, Swagger, or Insomnia for API testing Strong analytical skills for comparing pricing models and making cost-benefit recommendations Reliable internet and a quiet workspace Good written and verbal English Self-motivated and able to work independently Nice to have Cloud experience (AWS, GCP, or a Chinese cloud provider) Familiarity with Alipay or WeChat Pay APIs Knowledge of China’s PIPL data-privacy regulations Prior experience sourcing technology services from Chinese vendors Details Engagement: Long-term contract, ~40 hours/week Schedule: Flexible, with some overlap during SGT/CST business hours CNY/month, depending on experience; we’ll agree on an hourly or fixed rate within this budget All payments and agreements handled through Upwork