Backend Platform Engineer: APIs, Microservices & Cloud

Jobtailor

Falls Church (VA)

On-site

USD 110,000 - 170,000

Full time

5 days ago

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Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking a senior backend-focused software engineer to design, build, and maintain scalable APIs and microservices in a cloud-first environment. The role involves migrating legacy components, implementing data transformation pipelines, and integrating with authentication services, databases, and search platforms.

You will work with AWS services, containerization, and AI-enabled development practices in an Agile setting.

Qualifications

BA/BS in Computer Science or Software Engineering. Four years of related work experience may be substituted for the degree requirement.
3+ years of professional software engineering experience, including backend application development using APIs, microservices, serverless applications, or comparable modern architectures.
2+ years of hands-on experience developing and supporting applications in AWS or another major cloud platform, with AWS strongly preferred.
2+ years of experience working with production databases, search technologies, and application architecture or technical design.
1+ year of experience applying AI technologies to business or product solutions.
Strong software development skills using Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, Node.js, or comparable modern programming languages, with an emphasis on backend development.
Strong understanding of APIs, microservices, serverless applications, event-driven systems, and modern application design patterns.
Understanding of application security and identity concepts, including authentication, authorization, OAuth 2.0/OIDC, service-to-service communication, and secure API design.
Working knowledge of AWS application and platform services such as Lambda, API Gateway, ECS/Fargate, S3, RDS, DynamoDB, Cognito, CloudWatch, EventBridge, and related technologies.
Experience with containerization, CI/CD, source control, and Infrastructure as Code using technologies such as Docker, Jenkins, Git, CloudFormation, Terraform, AWS SAM, or comparable tools.
Experience with data ingestion, integration, transformation, and persistence technologies, including Apache NiFi, relational and NoSQL databases, and search platforms.
Strong troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills across application, database, integration, deployment, and cloud layers using logs, metrics, tracing, and debugging tools.
Ability to evaluate existing systems and develop practical approaches for modernization, scalability, reliability, and maintainability.
Ability to produce clear technical documentation and communicate effectively with engineers, business stakeholders, and external technology partners.
Experience using AI-assisted software development practices.
Experience with AI-enabled application capabilities, including semantic or AI-powered search, enrichment workflows, LLM integrations, MCP-based integrations, and data processing pipelines.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain secure backend applications, APIs, microservices, serverless applications, and containerized services.
Analyze and modernize existing applications, frameworks, and services, including planning and executing technology, language, and platform migrations.
Participate in application and solution design by evaluating technical options, identifying trade-offs, documenting decisions, and developing implementation plans.
Design, develop, and support data transformation, integration, and persistence solutions.
Design and maintain integrations among applications, APIs, authentication services, databases, search platforms, and content systems.
Diagnose and resolve pre-deployment and production issues across application code, data, integrations, deployment processes, and cloud environments.
Contribute to CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code, and deployment processes.
Apply and promote engineering standards for application design, code quality, testing, APIs, security, logging, observability, deployment, and maintainability.
Create and maintain architecture documentation, implementation plans, technical standards, runbooks, and troubleshooting guidance.
Collaborate with engineering, product, operations, and external partners in Agile delivery practices, including backlog refinement, estimation, sprint planning, technical design, code reviews, implementation, and knowledge sharing.