founding engineer position

Backend Engineer – Social Video & Web3 Platform

You’ll be the architect behind the infrastructure that makes culture tradeable.

About VALA

VALA is a next-generation social video platform merging culture, crypto, and community.
Users can create, tip, and trade value directly inside video content — all powered by Solana and on-chain incentives.
We’re live on iOS, Android, and the Solana dApp Store, scaling fast toward millions of users and transactions.

We’re now entering our production-scale phase, building the backend that will power real-time video, social engagement, and financial transactions globally.

The Opportunity

This isn’t a feature-factory role. It’s a founding engineer position where you’ll own core architecture decisions that define VALA’s long-term technical direction.
You’ll work directly with the CEO and lead mobile dev to stabilize, scale, and evolve the backend that drives every video upload, Spark tip, and swap transaction.

Our Stack

• Core: Node.js / NestJS / TypeScript
  

• Database: PostgreSQL + Drizzle ORM (Neon)
  

• Blockchain: Solana Web3.js / SPL Token / Jupiter DEX / OKX DEX
  

• Caching: Redis (cache-manager-redis-yet)
  

• Infrastructure: AWS (ECS, Lambda, MediaConvert, S3, CloudFront, CloudWatch) + Docker
  

• Auth: Privy SDK
  

• APIs: Jupiter, OKX, Birdeye, StreamChat and More
  

• Monitoring: Winston, Terminus, CloudWatch
  

What You’ll Own

1. Core Infrastructure & Transactions

• Architect and scale the Solana + DEX transaction pipeline (Jupiter + OKX)
  

• Implement resilient retry queues, circuit breakers, and on-chain monitoring
  

• Design multi-sig, escrow, and secure value-transfer systems
  

• Streamline wallet synchronization across multiple providers
  

2. Video + Media Pipeline

• Build and maintain the AWS MediaConvert + S3 pipeline for uploads
  

• Optimize HLS transcoding for adaptive HQ playback
  

• Tune CloudFront caching and delivery for global performance
  

• Design APIs that unify video storage, engagement, and tipping flows
  

3. Scalability & Reliability

• Design autoscaling strategies for ECS and Neon
  

• Optimize query performance, caching, and background job orchestration
  

• Strengthen monitoring, alerting, and recovery processes across all services
  

• Refactor the monolith into modular, event-driven services
  

4. Leadership & Architecture

• Define backend roadmap and technical priorities
  

• Review code and mentor other engineers
  

• Represent backend in investor, ecosystem, or technical partnership conversations
  

What We’re Looking For

• 5 + years backend development (Node.js / TypeScript / NestJS)
  

• Production experience scaling systems on AWS
  

• Strong PostgreSQL + Redis optimization skills
  

• Deep understanding of distributed systems and transaction integrity
  

• Blockchain fluency (Solana preferred; other chains a plus)
  

• Proven ability to architect for high concurrency (video or fintech experience ideal)
  

• Ownership mindset — someone who treats the product like it’s theirs
  

How to Apply

Send:

1. Your resume or portfolio to: [email protected]
   

2. A short breakdown of the most complex backend you’ve built or scaled
   

3. A quick note on your blockchain or large-scale system experience
   

4. (Optional) Link to any open-source work or technical writing
   

Join VALA.

We are building the financial network of culture.

If you can architect systems that keep up with millions of transactions, creators, and live streams, we want you here.