Lead Python Application Developer - Vice President

Citi; Pune District; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Citi is seeking a highly experienced Senior Python Application Developer with 12+ years of hands-on expertise to design, architect, and deliver scalable, highly available applications in risk and data domains. You will lead architecture, develop robust frameworks, and drive platform engineering for high-throughput computations.

Expect a deep Python skill set, distributed systems knowledge, and strong DevOps practices, with collaboration across Risk, FO, and Production teams in a global context.

Qualifications

• Proven Python development across distributed systems and data-intensive workloads.
• Experience with FastAPI/Django/Flask and RESTful APIs.
• Strong cloud/DevOps mindset: CI/CD, Docker, Kubernetes, testing.

Responsibilities

• Architect, design and implement scalable Python frameworks for high-throughput apps.
• Lead platform engineering for data computation and quantitative calculations.
• Collaborate with risk analytics, FO, DevOps and production teams globally.

Skills

Python

DSA & Systems

FastAPI/Django/Flask

Distributed Systems

SQL & NoSQL

Unix/Linux

Shell scripting

Data Structures & Algorithms

Cloud AWS/IBM

Docker

Kubernetes

CI/CD

Testing (Pytest)

Security (OWASP)

Git

Agile/Scrum

Quantitative computation

Risk domain knowledge

AI/ML exposure

Tools

Jenkins

GitLab CI

GitHub Actions

Bitbucket Pipelines

Docker

Kubernetes

PostgreSQL

MongoDB

Redis

Oracle

SQL Server

Job description

Role Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced, technically proficient, and execution-focused Senior Python Application Developer with 12+ years of hands-on experience to design, architect, and deliver critical, horizontally scalable, highly available, and performant applications. This role demands deep technical expertise in Python, distributed systems, and modern DevOps practices, combined with a strong background in quantitative computation and market risk domains.

Key Responsibilities

1. Architecture, Design & Hands-on Development

• Lead Implementation: Lead the hands-on implementation and architecture of robust Python frameworks to build horizontally scalable, highly available, highly resilient, and performant applications.
• Platform Engineering: Design and develop efficient software platforms for high-throughput data computation, processing, and quantitative calculations.
• Standards & Alignment: Develop solutions adhering to enterprise architectural standards, utilizing in-depth technical and business domain knowledge.
• Database & API Design: Design, develop, and secure high-performance RESTful APIs, integration patterns, and database schemas (relational and NoSQL).

2. Technical Leadership, Governance & Delivery

• SDLC & Code Quality: Enforce industry-standard SDLC best practices and contribute to code quality through rigorous code reviews, automated testing, and continuous integration.
• Project Ownership: Take full ownership of technical initiatives, including planning, forecasting, project tracking, governance, and managing technology budgets at the team level.
• Change Management: Drive continuous improvement, change management, and modern software engineering practices within the development team.
• Independent Execution: Work independently, multi-task, and manage priorities effectively under pressure to meet tight deadlines or unexpected changes in requirements.

3. Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Act as a key liaison and partner with Risk Managers, Risk Analytics, Senior Quants, Front Office (FO), DevOps, and Production Support teams to ensure seamless IT deliveries.
• Global Collaboration: Work effectively in a globally matrixed environment, partnering with virtual teams and external partners across different time zones.
• Executive Communication: Consistently demonstrate clear, concise, and impactful written and verbal communication, ranging from technical discussions within the team to presentations for senior business executives.

Required Technical Qualifications

I. Core Python, DSA & System Development

• Experience: 12+ years of hands-on application development experience, with a primary focus on Python, Data Structures and Algorithms.
• Python Expertise: Expert-level Python 3.x proficiency, with deep knowledge of core concepts, advanced computation libraries, and design patterns (OOP, SOLID).
• Frameworks: Advanced knowledge of Python web and API frameworks (FastAPI, Django, Flask).
• Distributed Systems: Strong understanding of software architecture principles and distributed system design (Microservices, Event-Driven Architecture, caching strategies).
• Database Systems: Extensive experience with relational databases (PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server) and NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Cassandra, Redis), including advanced SQL query writing and optimization.
• Operating Systems: Highly experienced with Unix/Linux-based operating systems, shell scripting, and system-level development.

II. Cloud, DevOps & Testing

• Cloud Platforms: Strong background in cloud platforms AWS or IBM symphony grid.
• Containerization & Orchestration: Hands-on experience with Docker containerization and contributing to Kubernetes orchestration.
• CI/CD Pipelines: Proven exposure to and experience with Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) systems (Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, Bitbucket Pipelines) for automated deployment.
• Testing & TDD: Proficiency in automated testing frameworks (Pytest, unittest) and Test-Driven Development (TDD) methodologies.
• Security: Solid understanding of secure coding practices and application of security principles (OWASP Top 10).
• Version Control: Expertise in Git (Bitbucket, GitHub) for advanced branching, merging, and pull request workflows.

III. Quantitative & Risk Domain

• Quantitative Computation: Multiple years of experience developing quantitative/calc-intensive Python solutions with advanced computation libraries (e.g., NumPy, Pandas, SciPy).
• Risk Methodologies: Sound understanding of and exposure to various Risk Methodologies (e.g., Market Risk, Stress Testing, Value at Risk (VaR), Sensitivities).
• Domain Delivery: Proven track record of delivering Stress Testing and Regulatory Risk projects in the Market Risk domain.
• Mathematical Modeling: Exposure to mathematical modeling and financial insights.

IV. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Integration (Exposure)

• AI/ML Frameworks: Exposure to AI/ML tools and frameworks.
• Development Workflows: Practical experience utilizing AI tools (GitHub Copilot, Devin, Claude, Gemini, GPT) to optimize development workflows.
• Agentic AI: Experience with Agentic AI tools, including writing Agents and Skills, and contributing to Agentic frameworks.
• Generative AI: Understanding and practical application of Generative AI concepts in software development.

Professional & Leadership Skills

• Agile/Scrum: Deep understanding and practical experience working within Agile/Scrum methodologies.
• Analytical Thinking: Strong analytical, logical, systems thinking, and critical analysis skills.
• Design Thinking: Demonstrated design thinking skills to solve complex business and technical problems.
• Ownership & Adaptability: Ability to take complete ownership of various parts of a project, adapt to changing priorities, and perform under pressure.

Preferred / 'Good to Have' Qualifications

• Banking Domain: Prior experience working within the banking/financial services domain, specifically in pricing, valuation, or risk management systems.
• Certifications: Relevant Cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP) or Industry Certifications.
• Financial Certifications: CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) or FRM (Financial Risk Manager) certification is a strong plus.

Job Family Group:

Technology

Job Family:

Applications Development

Time Type:

Full time

Most Relevant Skills

Please see the requirements listed above.

Other Relevant Skills

For complementary skills, please see above and/or contact the recruiter.

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