We've shipped Node.js backends for clients in the US, UK, and Australia, REST APIs handling millions of requests, real-time platforms running in production, and SaaS architectures still serving paying users years after launch.
Start within 1-2 weeks. No recruitment pipeline, no notice periods.
Senior engineers who have debugged event loop bottlenecks, N+1 query chains, and Celery-style task queue failures in production.
Weekly sprint reports before you ask. You always know what shipped.
In short
RaftLabs provides experienced Node.js developers for hire on flexible part-time, full-time, or dedicated team engagements. The team builds scalable REST and GraphQL APIs, real-time applications, and microservices architectures. Developers are available to start within days at rates from USD 2,400/month.
Recognition
Struggling to find Node.js engineers who have actually shipped production systems beyond CRUD APIs?
Burned by developers who couldn't handle real traffic or disappeared mid-project?
Backend growing too complex for your current team, performance issues, no test coverage, tangled dependencies?
Who we help
Startups
From idea to production backend. We help early-stage teams build Node.js applications that can survive a launch spike, clean data models, documented APIs, and deployment pipelines that don't require a DevOps hire to run.
Enterprise
Modernisation and scale. We work with engineering teams at established companies to upgrade legacy Node.js systems, improve API performance, and add capacity without disrupting production or slowing down your internal team.
Small and Medium Businesses
Operational efficiency without enterprise overhead. We build Node.js backends and automation tools that reduce manual friction and let your team move faster without adding headcount.
Agencies and Tech Partners
Extended development capacity. We embed into your delivery process as a backend team, following your standards, communicating on your channels, and shipping on your timeline. No onboarding overhead.
Services
Custom Application Development
Fast, secure, and modular Node.js applications built to your business logic. We develop SaaS platforms, marketplaces, and internal tools with clean codebases that your team can maintain and extend after handoff.
Real-Time App Development
Chat platforms, live dashboards, and collaborative tools built on Node.js event-driven architecture. We implement WebSocket layers, real-time data pipelines, and push notification systems that hold under load.
Backend Development
Scalable server-side architecture for high-volume I/O. We design the data layer, authentication system, and cloud deployment for Node.js backends that perform whether you have 100 users or 100,000.
API and Microservices
REST and GraphQL APIs designed for consumption by your frontend, mobile apps, or third-party integrations. We build microservices architectures that decompose complexity and support independent deployment across your stack.
Migration to Node.js
Structured migration from PHP, .NET, or Python with minimal production disruption. We audit your current infrastructure, map the migration path, and execute in stages so your business operations continue uninterrupted.
Maintenance and Support
Ongoing performance tuning, security patches, version upgrades, and dependency management after launch. We monitor, fix, and improve so you can stay focused on your product roadmap.
Senior Node.js developers available in days. Fixed cost or monthly retainer. Full source code ownership.
Why us
Production experience, not portfolio depth
Our engineers have shipped Node.js backends handling real traffic, REST APIs, real-time systems, multi-tenant SaaS platforms, and data pipelines. Not tutorial projects.
Flexible engagement models
Part-time for specific modules, full-time for a complete product build, or a dedicated team for an ongoing platform. We match the engagement to your current phase, not a package tier.
Transparent fixed pricing
Monthly rates are agreed upfront. You see exactly what shipped each sprint before you ask. No retainer ambiguity, no billing surprises at month end.
Direct developer access
Daily standups or weekly syncs, your choice. We work in Asana and communicate on Slack. You have direct access to the engineers writing your code, not a project manager buffer.
Proactive problem surfacing
We flag risks before they become delays. Our engineers recognise where performance issues, migration timing errors, and API design decisions compound into problems three sprints later.
Test-driven delivery
Unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end coverage ship with the code. Not as a separate phase that gets cut when the deadline tightens.
What clients say
Three-year average engagement. Founders and operators describing the work in their own words. No marketing varnish.
IrelandWorking with RaftLabs has been amazing. The team is super responsive and quick to address our needs. They built a booking platform that has been a game changer for our team and our guests.
01 / 05
| RaftLabs | In-House | Freelance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time to hire top Node.js developers | 1 day to 2 weeks | 4 to 6 weeks | 1 to 12 weeks |
| Project initiation time | 1 day to 2 weeks | 2 to 10 weeks | 1 to 10 weeks |
| Risk of project failure | Exceptionally low with a 98% success rate | Low | Very High |
| Developers supported by project management | Yes, dedicated PM and Agile processes | Varies | No |
| Exclusive development team | Yes, dedicated team guaranteed | Yes | No |
| Assurance of work quality | Yes, with quality assurance processes | Yes | Varies |
| Advanced development tools and workspace | Yes, enterprise-grade tools | Yes | Varies |
Healthcare App Development
HIPAA-aware EHR integrations, patient portals, and clinical workflow tools for digital health startups and multi-location practices.
Fintech Software Development Company
Payment rails, neobank backends, lending origination, and RegTech compliance systems. Fixed-cost delivery for fintech startups.
Hospitality Software Development Company
Property management systems, direct booking engines, guest apps, and channel management for hotels, resorts, and serviced apartment groups.
Ecommerce Software Development Company
Custom ecommerce software for online retailers, B2B sellers, and marketplace operators, platform development, marketplace, headless commerce, AI personalisation, subscription, and B2B portals.
EdTech Software Development Company
Learning platforms, LMS, AI tutors, and school management systems for ed-startups and institutions scaling past generic tools.
B2B SaaS Development
B2B SaaS products, marketplaces, and creator platforms. Built end to end.
Loyalty Apps
Loyalty is about more than points, it's about building deeper engagement. When customers don't feel connected, retention drops. We've built systems like Aldifest, Instantor, and Energia Rewards that keep users coming back with personalized referrals, rewards, and multilingual experiences. These platforms make user experience simple and drive real business growth.
Media & Communication
We build production-ready media and communication apps: live streaming, on-demand content, social audio networks, and real-time video infrastructure. Delivered on time, built to handle real user loads.
Process
Tell us what you're building, the API surface, the data model, and the scale you need. We'll respond within one business day.
A 30-minute call to map your current stack, understand the project scope, and confirm fit. No sales deck.
A written proposal with team composition, timeline, and fixed cost, before any commitment. Numbers you can take to your stakeholders.
Engineers onboard, first sprint planned. Code being written within the first week of signing.
Pricing
Dedicated senior engineers from $6,000/month (minimum pod $12,000/month).
Senior engineers available in days. Fixed cost or monthly retainer. Full source code ownership.
Node.js excels at high-concurrency I/O workloads: APIs, real-time applications, and event-driven backends. Its non-blocking architecture handles many simultaneous connections without the overhead of thread-per-request models. JavaScript across the full stack reduces context switching for teams that also build frontend.
Node.js is a strong choice for REST and GraphQL APIs, real-time systems (chat, live dashboards, collaborative tools), microservices architectures, and data streaming pipelines. It is less suited to CPU-intensive computation, for that, you'd typically offload to a worker process or a different runtime.
Part-time engagements start at USD 2,400/month (80 hours). Full-time engagements start at USD 4,800/month (160 hours). Dedicated teams start at USD 15,000/month. Project-based work starts at USD 10,000 for MVP scope.
Contact us for a tailored quote based on your specific requirements.
Most engagements start within 1-2 weeks of signing. The discovery call and proposal typically happen within 2-3 business days of your initial contact. We have engineers available for urgent starts.
Yes. We sign NDAs as standard practice for all client engagements. Contact us to get the process started.
We use Slack for day-to-day communication and Asana for project tracking. You have direct access to your developers and a dedicated project coordinator throughout the engagement. Daily standups or weekly syncs are available depending on your preference.
Yes. We build APIs your React, Next.js, Vue, or mobile frontend teams can consume, consistent response structures, proper authentication, versioning, and documentation included. We've worked alongside many in-house frontend teams and agency partners.
