About

Project Overview We are building a world-class Designated Driver & Personal Car Concierge App for New Zealand — similar to Uber but with a unique twist: Our drivers drive the customer’s OWN car, not a rideshare vehicle. The system uses a lead driver + chase driver model (two drivers per job). Users can book night-time designated driver rides and day-time services such as medical transport, airport valet, car-service pickup, family trips, and more. We are seeking a Senior Full-Stack Architect who can lead the technical design and build the core back-end and system infrastructure for this platform. What We’re Building A full ecosystem with: 1. Passenger App (React Native) Pickup/drop-off booking Smart time-slot recommendations Driver tier selection (Standard / Experienced / Premium) Real-time driver tracking Fare calculation (dynamic + experience-based) 2. Driver App (React Native) Lead driver + chase driver pairing Live status updates (engaged / vacant / en route) Navigation + job flow Driver rating system Driver tier progression (gamification) 3. Admin Dashboard (Web) Booking management Driver team management Map tracking Pricing rules Service categories Disputes & customer support panel 4. Core Back-End Infrastructure Real-time location services Maps + Distance Matrix calculations Dynamic fare engine Smart driver assignment Supabase or Firebase back-end Authentication (OTP login) Notification system (SMS/Push) Role-based permissions Your Role You will be the technical brain of the project, responsible for: ✔ Designing full system architecture (Passenger, Driver, Admin, API) ✔ Setting up database schema (Supabase or Firebase preferred) ✔ Creating real-time tracking modules ✔ Building booking + driver assignment logic ✔ Developing pricing algorithms (dynamic tier-based per km + driver start location) ✔ Setting up authentication, security, and API gateway ✔ Integrating Google Maps SDK + Distance Matrix ✔ Creating the foundation for driver rating + tier progression ✔ Working closely with our app developer and UI designer ✔ Providing technical mentorship for long-term development This is NOT a typical mobile app. You MUST have previous experience with real-time apps, logistics, or ride-hailing systems. Required Skills & Experience Must Have (10/10 importance) 5+ years as Senior Architect / Full-Stack Engineer Built at least one real-time app (delivery, taxi, logistics, fleet tracking) Deep expertise in Firebase or Supabase Expert in Node.js / TypeScript Strong mapping experience (Google Maps / Mapbox) Understanding of distance-matrix algorithms Experience building driver/rider matching logic Strong with WebSockets or Supabase real-time REST API design + security Database optimisation Nice To Have: React Native knowledge Payment gateway integration Experience with multi-driver flows (fleet, logistics) Knowledge of AWS / serverless architecture Experience with tier-based or dynamic pricing models Your Deliverables (Phase 1 – 6 to 8 Weeks) 1. Technical Architecture Document (Full Blueprint) Data flow design System components API endpoints Real-time architecture Driver assignment flow Pricing engine logic 2. Database Setup (Supabase or Firebase) Authentication User tables Booking system Driver system Pricing system Notifications Logs 3. Core Backend Implementation OTP login Booking creation flow Driver team management Real-time driver location Driver matching logic Fare calculation API Notification triggers 4. Documentation & Handover API documentation Developer setup instructions Architecture diagrams Post-deployment support What We Value: Clean, structured thinking Ability to design scalable systems Good communication & reliability Experience solving complex real-time problems Ability to mentor junior devs Passion for excellence and premium UX Budget Range NZD $25–$40 per hour for the right senior-level engineer. Open to monthly retainer arrangements for longer-term collaboration. (IMPORTANT) Please include: 1️⃣ A short summary of your experience with real-time or ride-hailing apps 2️⃣ Links/screenshots to apps you’ve built with: GPS live tracking Logistics routing Booking/dispatch systems 3️⃣ Your preferred stack (Supabase or Firebase) 4️⃣ Your availability (hours per week) 5️⃣ Your hourly rate Final Words This is NOT a small, simple app. We are building the first world-class designated driver + car concierge platform in New Zealand. If you have the experience and the passion, you will play a key role in a groundbreaking product. We look forward to working with a top-tier architect.