RioSlum Studiois hiring a Backend Engineer to join our remote engineering team. This is not a role for someone who needs hand-holding. This is for someone who gets direction, locks in, and executes. We build systems that power high-impact platforms used by large organizations across the U.S. The work matters, the pace is real, and expectations are high. If you are the type who takes ownership, moves fast, and solves problems without drama, keep reading.Compensation & Benefits $5,000 to $6,000/month (USD) $1,600/year healthcare stipend 10 days PTO per year All major holidays paid End of year holiday break Fully remote (Potential for in-office work in the future)What We Need From You You run with instructions and figure things out You move with urgency, not anxiety You are thick skinned, we operate in the political space You are professional, no complaining, no excuses You are flexible, late nights or weekends happen when things get urgent You take extreme ownership of your work You are responsive on email, Slack, and calls, you do not disappear You have stability, we are not looking for job hoppersWhat You'll Do Build scalable backend systems using PHP (Laravel, WordPress) and Node.js Develop and maintain REST APIs Design and optimize background processing systems (queues, batching, retries, rate limiting) Integrate with third-party services (CRMs like HubSpot, external APIs, email/SMS tools) Handle large datasets and data pipelines Improve performance across APIs and backend systems Design data models and scalable architecture Implement caching strategies Debug and resolve production issues quickly Own features end to endCore Responsibilities Write clean, maintainable, documented code Build reusable services and modules Handle real-world edge cases (API failures, rate limits, inconsistent data) Work with cron jobs and scheduled systems Communicate clearly with the team Hit deadlines and move projects forwardRequirements 5+ years backend development experience Strong experience with: PHP Laravel Node.js Deep understanding of APIs and system design Experience with async processing (queues, batch jobs, cron) Experience with third-party integrations Strong debugging and problem-solving ability Comfortable in a remote environment Fluent in English Experience with Git/GitHub AWS experienceNice to Have WordPress as a backend (headless or API-first) HubSpot or CRM integrations Redis / queue systems High-volume data systemsWhat We Value Ownership mindset Builders, not just coders Pragmatic thinking, not perfection paralysis Clear communication Client focused (going above and beyond) Fast learnersIf you are looking for something easy, this is not it. If you want to be part of a small team doing meaningful work at a high level, we should talk.Apply here or message me directly.