Principal Engineer -- Full-Stack TypeScript (Node.js, React, Cloud)

WHO WE ARE

We're Hook, an award-winning creative content agency. With a collaborative, maker-centric team, and an emphasis on production-led design, we make ads, campaigns, and experiences that drive growth for the world's most innovative brands.

Our mission is to integrate creative and production to help grow brands faster. But we believe what's most important are the people who work with us and the experience they have along the way. We want clients to think of us as the best agency they've ever worked with, and we want everyone at Hook to feel like this is the best job they've had yet.

THE ROLE

We're looking for a senior full-stack engineer who lives in TypeScript. You write clean, well-typed, well-tested TypeScript on both sides of the stack - React and Next.js on the front end, Node.js services and APIs on the back end - and you deploy and operate what you build on Google Cloud or AWS.

As a Principal Engineer, you'll own Hook's internal applications and platform end to end: architecture, implementation, testing, deployment, and long-term health. You're self-directed, comfortable owning complex products from first idea through continued development, and you make confident architectural decisions without needing a roadmap handed to you. When a client project needs a strong technical lead, you step in with that same ownership mindset.

OUR STACK

• Language: TypeScript, end to end
• Front end: React, Next.js
• Back end: Node.js, Express (or similar: Fastify, NestJS, Hono), REST and GraphQL APIs
• Cloud: Google Cloud Platform and AWS (serverless, containers, managed databases, queues, storage), plus Vercel
• Data: PostgreSQL / relational databases and document stores (Firestore, MongoDB, or similar)
• Tooling: Docker, CI/CD (GitHub Actions or similar), modern TypeScript tooling (Vite, Vitest/Jest, ESLint, pnpm/npm workspaces)
• AI: LLM APIs and AI-assisted development (Claude Code, Cursor, Copilot)

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Architect, build, and ship production full-stack web applications in TypeScript, from React/Next.js front ends to Node.js services and APIs
• Design and own back-end services, APIs, and integrations with third-party platforms
• Deploy, operate, and monitor applications on Google Cloud or AWS, including infrastructure, CI/CD, task queues, observability, security, and cost
• Own product areas end to end: problem discovery, technical design, implementation, testing, deployment, and ongoing improvement
• Partner with creative, production, and operations teams to understand their workflows and turn them into reliable, well-designed software
• Integrate AI capabilities (LLM APIs, agents, automation) into the applications you build
• Set the technical bar: drive code review, testing standards, documentation, and best practices
• Serve as technical lead on select client web projects and occasionally direct freelance developers
• Evaluate and recommend tools, frameworks, and approaches as Hook's needs evolve

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• 8+ years of professional software engineering experience, with at least 5 years writing production TypeScript/JavaScript as your primary language
• Expert-level TypeScript: advanced types and generics, strict-mode codebases, type-safe API contracts, and a strong grasp of the JavaScript runtime (event loop, async patterns, modules, gotchas)
• Deep Node.js experience: building and maintaining production HTTP APIs and back-end services with Express or a comparable framework, including auth, validation, error handling, background jobs, and performance
• Deep React expertise: component architecture, hooks, state management, data fetching, and performance optimization for complex, highly interactive, multi-user applications, CSS solutions
• Production Next.js experience: App Router, server components, server-side rendering, routing, and caching
• Strong hands-on Google Cloud Platform or AWS experience - you have personally deployed and operated production applications, not just consumed them. For example:
• GCP: Cloud Run, Cloud Functions, Cloud SQL, Firestore, Pub/Sub, Cloud Storage, IAM
• AWS: Lambda, ECS/Fargate, RDS, DynamoDB, SQS/SNS, S3, IAM
• Containers and delivery: Docker for development and production, CI/CD pipelines, and environment/secrets management
• Databases: strong SQL (PostgreSQL or similar) and working knowledge of document databases, including schema design and query performance
• Testing discipline: unit, integration, and end-to-end testing (e.g., Vitest/Jest, Playwright) as a normal part of how you ship
• Software engineering fundamentals: you write secure, reliable, maintainable code and make well-reasoned architectural trade-offs without over-engineering
• AI-assisted development: you use tools like Claude Code, Cursor, or Copilot fluently, while remaining the expert owner of system design and code quality
• Clear communication: you can explain architecture to engineers and the same ideas, plainly, to creatives, producers, and clients
• Ownership and autonomy: you thrive with ambiguity, set your own direction, and see work through to production and beyond

NICE TO HAVE

• Infrastructure as code (Terraform, Pulumi, or AWS CDK)
• Experience building internal tools, workflow automation, or developer/creative productivity platforms
• Familiarity with plugin or extension development for creative tools (e.g., Figma, Adobe UXP) - in TypeScript
• Python or Bash for scripting and automation
• Experience with LLM APIs, AI agents, or AI-powered product features
• Experience working in an agency, studio, or other creatively driven, fast-paced environment
• Open-source contributions

WHAT ELSE

Qualified applicants will include a resume, a statement of interest that lets us learn a little more about you, and code samples - a link to your public GitHub or other examples of your work. Please include TypeScript work (React/Next.js and/or Node.js) where possible. Be prepared to discuss your code in depth as part of the interview process.

At Hook we value what makes everyone different, we look for the best talent no matter the background. We know that great work requires diverse perspectives which is why we strive to create a place of belonging where everyone can express who they are. Come join us!

Hook believes in compensation transparency and equity. We’ve designed a 10-level advancement framework that’s applied consistently across disciplines and departments and aligns to location-based salary ranges. This role is leveled as L7. During the interview process we’ll review your location, skills, experience, and other relevant factors to determine where you fall within our leveling framework and corresponding salary ranges. Please follow this link to learn more.

Please review our Transparent Compensation Philosophy. We are not currently considering candidates in the Tier 4 market band for this role at this time.