Senior Backend Engineer

About Airwayz

Airwayz is a defense-grade airspace technology company building the operational infrastructure for the low-altitude airspace era. We are on a mission to make complex airspace safe, governed, and commercially viable for everyone operating in it.

Our platform is a sophisticated autonomous decision-making engine that sits between raw sensor data and operational action. Unlike systems that stop at detection or visualization, our platform autonomously connects, orchestrates, and governs sensors, effectors, and drone operators. It processes complex data in real-time to provide automated responses and AI-assisted mission planning, acting as the critical intelligence layer for human decision-makers.

We operate globally, managing high-stakes environments like the Port of Rotterdam (managing 80+ drone vendors daily with zero shutdowns), Port of Ashdod, the IDF and more. Recently, we validated our technology for World Cup 2026 infrastructure protection alongside the US Army 7th Infantry Division, FBI, CISA, and DHS.

We are a small, fast-moving team of ~25 people. If you want to work on technology that is operationally real, commercially significant, and genuinely hard this is the place.

The Role

As a Senior Backend Engineer at Airwayz, you will be a core pillar of our R&D. We are looking for a "Force Multiplier" , a seasoned engineer who thrives on efficiency and leverages modern AI-assisted workflows to deliver high-quality, production-grade code at an exceptional pace.

You will own complex features from architecture to production, leading our backend evolution and helping the team adopt the next generation of engineering practices.

What You’ll Do

• Design & Architect: Build scalable, high-performance services powering our autonomous decision-making engine using Node.js.
• Master Real-Time Systems: Solve complex challenges involving sensor integration and mission-planning algorithms using Event-Driven Architectures (EDA), Caching strategies, and scalable data distribution via Pub/Sub and Queues.
• AI-Driven Delivery: Act as a champion for AI-powered engineering, using the latest tools to boost delivery speed while maintaining architectural precision.
• End-to-End Ownership: Lead features from technical design and async flow implementation to production deployment.
• Collaborate: Partner closely with Product and other R&D teams to translate operational defense-grade needs into elegant technological solutions.

What You Bring

• 7+ years of professional experience in backend development (Node.js & TypeScript).
• AI-Native Mindset: Extensive experience with AI-powered development tools (Cursor, Claude, Copilot) to 5x your output.
• Framework & Architecture Mastery: Deep experience with Nest.js and building modular, distributed, and autonomous systems.
• Data Mastery: Strong proficiency in both relational and NoSQL databases—specifically PostgreSQL and MongoDB. You know how to design schemas and optimize queries for high-scale, real-time environments.
• Async Expertise: Hands-on experience with Event-Driven patterns, Pub/Sub, and Queues (e.g., Redis, RabbitMQ).
• Cloud-Native Excellence: Proficiency in CI/CD, Docker, and Kubernetes (K8S). You believe in "shifting left" and comprehensive testing.
• Academic Foundation: B.Sc. in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• Problem-Solving Prowess: A natural ability to resolve complex architectural issues in a high-stakes environment.

Bonus Points:

• Frontend Familiarity: Experience with React and modern frontend workflows. Being Fullstack-oriented is a major advantage in our fast-paced environment.

Why Airwayz?

• Real Impact: Your code will protect infrastructure and manage the skies for events like the World Cup.
• Elite Team: Work with IAF veterans and top-tier engineers in a mission-driven environment.
• Forward-Thinking: We don’t just allow AI tools; we expect you to lead with them.