Node.js Backend Team Lead (iGaming)

Bright IT — Toronto, ON

Location: Toronto, Ontario (In-Office) (King & Spadina)
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday
Salary Range: $165,000 - $200,000 CAD per year
AI Disclosure: We do not use artificial intelligence to screen, assess, or select applicants for this position.
Vacancy Status: This posting is for an existing vacancy at our Toronto office.

BrightIT is a high-velocity tech hub focused on delivering world-class digital solutions for the iGaming sector. We bridge the gap between creative startup culture and industrial-scale execution.

Mission: Empowering brands through bold, responsible technology.

Vision: Creating a home for the brightest minds in tech to redefine the gaming landscape.

Are you a Backend Team Lead who thrives on building high‑performance services, leading engineers, and owning the core APIs that power a fast‑scaling digital product ecosystem?

The Role 

As a Backend Team Lead, you will be a key contributor and leader within our platform engineering organization. You will own the design, implementation, and optimization of high‑performance Node.js APIs and microservices that power our global, fast‑scaling product ecosystem. This role blends hands‑on backend engineering with technical leadership, giving you the opportunity to guide a team of developers, influence architecture, and ensure performance, reliability, and scalability for thousands of players worldwide.

What You’ll Do 

• Lead and mentor a team of backend engineers, providing technical guidance, code reviews, and support for their growth and performance.

• Develop, maintain, and scale robust backend services built with Node.js (Nest.js framework).

• Design and implement third‑party API integrations and new platform modules from concept through deployment.

• Write clean, maintainable, and well‑tested code following TDD principles.

• Work with SQL and NoSQL databases (MongoDB, MySQL, Redis) to support high‑volume data operations.

• Implement REST, GraphQL, and WebSocket communication protocols across services.

• Collaborate closely with frontend, DevOps, and product teams to deliver reliable and efficient solutions.

• Apply best practices for microservice architecture, scalability, and performance optimization.

• Participate in and lead code reviews, architecture discussions, and continuous integration initiatives.

• Contribute to improving engineering processes, standards, and documentation within the backend team.

What We’re Looking For: 

• 5+ years of professional experience in web development.

• 3+ years of hands‑on experience with Node.js (ideally with the Nest.js framework).

• Deep knowledge of JavaScript (ES6+) and modern backend design patterns.

• Practical experience with high‑volume databases (SQL and NoSQL), including MongoDB, MySQL, and Redis.

• Proficiency with Git and collaborative development workflows.

• Experience with message brokers (such as RabbitMQ or Redis Pub/Sub).

• Solid understanding of TDD and experience writing automated unit and integration tests.

• Strong fundamentals in microservices architecture and distributed systems.

• Demonstrated experience providing technical leadership, mentoring developers, or acting as a go‑to technical expert within a team.

Nice to Have: 

• 2+ years of experience with CI/CD pipelines, containerization, and microservices deployment.

• Familiarity with Kubernetes or other container orchestration systems.

• Experience with the NATS messaging system.

• Hands‑on experience with TypeScript and advanced Node.js tooling.

Why Join Us?

We believe that our people are our greatest asset, and we are committed to fostering a supportive and high-energy work environment.

• Comprehensive Health Benefits: Robust extended health, dental, and vision coverage from day one.
• Time Off: 20 days of paid vacation plus additional paid sick days to ensure you stay rested and healthy.
• Culture: A collaborative team environment where we care deeply for our employees and our social impact.
• Stability: A full-time, in-office role (5 days a week) in a professional and modern workspace.

Be the ultimate guardian of our community: Lead the charge in player safety by architecting world-class responsible gaming protocols and pioneering next-gen tools that set the gold standard for player protection.

We view responsible gambling not just as a regulatory requirement, but as a core ethical responsibility and a pillar of our sustainable business model, ensuring we lead the industry in player protection and social integrity. At the heart of our platform is a sophisticated responsible gambling framework designed to protect our community. We take pride in being a socially conscious operator that leverages technology to ensure gaming remains safe, transparent, and sustainable for everyone.