Platform Engineer

**Start up company **Work from anywhere position **Contract/Fulltime

The Role

This is a

founding-level systems role

responsible for the core logic that makes the product feel simple while doing very hard things underneath.

You will architect the platform that connects

cryptographic hardware ,

real-world commerce

and

high-trust user experiences . That includes secure validation, escrowed payments, vendor integrations and UX-critical backend logic.

If users trust the product and vendors rely on it - it’s because your systems make that possible.

This platform must be: Secure by default Commercially reliable UX-driven, not backend-convenient Designed to scale without rewrites

You will own the

source of truth

that everything else depends on.

What You Will Build (The Core Systems)

Hardware Validation & Trust Layer

Server-side cryptographic verification for encrypted NFC scans Replay protection, key isolation, and deterministic validation Clear trust boundaries between hardware, backend, and clients

⚙️ Secure Backend & API Architecture

Hardened Next.js backend (App Router + Node/Express) APIs designed for high-volume, real-time scan and transaction flows Performance, observability, and failure safety built in

State Machines & Business Logic

PostgreSQL/Supabase schemas that model asset lifecycles, ownership and commerce (Factory → Vendor → Retail → User → Resale / Transfer) Enforced state transitions that prevent invalid actions at the database level Complex conditional logic that powers seamless user flows

Payments, Escrow & Commerce Systems Design and implement

escrow-based payment flows

using

Stripe Handle delayed capture, conditional release, refunds and dispute scenarios Tie payment state directly to asset validation and ownership transfer Ensure financial workflows are auditable, secure, and UX-safe

Vendor Systems & POS Integration Build APIs and integrations to support

vendor POS systems Enable vendors to validate assets, initiate transactions, and update inventory Design vendor-facing workflows that are reliable under real-world conditions Support both automated and semi-manual vendor operations

UX-Driven Backend & 3D Asset Support Backend here directly enables experience quality. Design data models and APIs to support

rich 3D assets and product views Enable progressive loading, permissions, and state-aware rendering Support UX flows where asset state, ownership, and validation dynamically affect what users see Partner closely with UX and frontend teams to eliminate edge cases before users find them

Your job is to make

complex systems feel invisible .

Role-Based Access & Internal Control Systems Implement strict role-based access using Supabase Auth + RLS Build internal “God Mode” tools for ops, vendors, and support teams Ensure every action is permissioned, auditable, and explainable

The Stack Core:

Next.js (App Router), TypeScript, Node.js Data:

Supabase (PostgreSQL, RLS, Auth) Payments:

Stripe (Escrow / Conditional Capture) Security:

Cryptographic key handling, secure APIs Integrations:

Vendor POS systems, third-party services

Who We’re Looking For You are a

systems-first engineer

who understands that UX, security and commerce are inseparable. You design systems that are hard to break and easy to use You’ve shipped production software with complex backend logic You think in flows, invariants, and failure modes You’re comfortable owning decisions that become permanent

Big Plus: Experience with fintech, escrow systems, or marketplaces IoT, NFC, or hardware–software integration Supporting UX teams with backend logic for rich experiences

Why This Role Matters This platform becomes the

trusted intermediary

between physical assets, money, vendors and users. Once it’s live: Mistakes cost trust Correctness compounds value You won’t just be building infrastructure, you’ll be defining the rules that commerce and ownership run on.