Next.js / Full-Stack Engineer

About the Ayn Rand Institute

The Ayn Rand Institute creates educational and community experiences that promote Ayn Rand’s ideas to a global audience. Our mobile app is a central channel for delivering courses, talks, and community features. We are expanding our team to strengthen and scale this platform.

Key Responsibilities:

Next.js Development 

• Build, optimize, and maintain scalable applications using Next.js
• Work extensively with GraphQL for data fetching and integration.
• Bonus: Experience with Payload CMS or similar headless CMS platforms.
• Integrate external APIs and services, ensuring robust and secure data handling.
• Optimize performance across front-end and back-end (caching, CDNs, lazy loading, and bundling strategies).
• Write clean, modular, and maintainable code in JavaScript/TypeScript.
• Collaborate with designers and product owners to implement responsive, user-friendly interfaces.

Core Architecture & Tools

• Next.js, React, React DOM, Node.js.
• Payload CMS with plugins: db-postgres, richtext-lexical, SEO, search, form-builder, nested-docs, BunnyCDN storage
• PostgreSQL, GraphQL, Sharp, Dotenv, Cross-env
• Tailwind CSS, Ant Design, Radix UI, Motion, Lucide React, SASS, clsx/tailwind-merge
• TypeScript, ESLint, Prettier, Cypress, Vitest, JSDOM
• Google Workspace, WhatsApp, Apple MCP, Figma, Notion, Context7

AI Integration & Workflow Efficiency

• Use advanced AI-powered tools (Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, Bugbot, Cursor, etc.) to speed up coding, debugging, and task management.
• Stay updated on emerging AI technologies that can improve development workflows.

Collaboration & Communication

• Work remotely with a distributed team across time zones.
• Communicate proactively through project management tools, email, and video calls.
• Deliver high-quality work on schedule with proper documentation.
• Be comfortable building prototypes and vertical slices.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Technical Skills

• Strong expertise in Next.js (SSR, SSG, API routes, middleware).
• Solid experience with GraphQL (required).
• Experience with Payload CMS (bonus).
• Proficiency in JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, CSS.
• Familiarity with modern frameworks and runtimes: React, React Native, Node.js, Expo.
• Good understanding of web performance optimization strategies.
• Knowledge of version control (GitLab or GitHub).
• Familiarity with API integrations (REST, GraphQL, HubSpot as a plus).

Soft Skills

• Proactive: Anticipates challenges and addresses them early.
• Resourceful: Finds efficient, creative solutions using available tools.
• Independent: Works autonomously while meeting deadlines and quality standards.

Other Requirements:

• Availability to work remotely in a timezone that aligns with core business hours in the Americas
• Fluent in English (required for communication with the team and users). 
• Reliable internet connection and appropriate setup for remote work.

Compensation:

• Negotiable within the Brazilian market range, based on experience.