Backend Software Architect

Quality Technology Services; Ashburn (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Quality Technology Services in Ashburn, VA, is seeking a Backend Software Architect to provide technical leadership and oversee the translation of requirements into scalable architectures. You will mentor teams, promote reusable patterns, and collaborate with solution architects and product teams to deliver secure, reliable systems.

The role focuses on backend software architecture with emphasis on enterprise standards, security, and maintainability, operating in a fast-paced, global

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years in engineering, technical architecture, or leadership roles.

Responsibilities

• Manage and maintain SharePoint Online sites, libraries, lists and permissions
• Provide deep technical leadership and serve as a technical authority within a defined technology domain
• Translate solution architectures, business requirements, and enterprise standards into detailed technical designs, patterns, and guidance
• Evaluate technical alternatives and tradeoffs balancing security, scalability, reliability, performance, maintainability, cost and delivery
• Establish and promote reusable technical patterns, standards, and engineering practices
• Partner with Solution Architects, engineers, and product teams to resolve complex challenges
• Validate approaches through design reviews, prototypes, reference implementations, and reviews
• Identify architectural risks, debt, and modernization opportunities

Skills

Backend development

Technical leadership

Solution design

Mentoring

Communication

Architectural thinking

Tools

SharePoint Online

Job description

Who we are: As a global leader in digital infrastructure, QTS designs, builds and operates advanced data centers that support strategic AI, cloud and digital transformation initiatives. We are driven by a mission to connect the world for good and our people make it possible. Every single day, the creativity, dedication and genuine care for our communities are what push us forward and make this a truly special place to be.

As the Backend Software Architect, you will provide deep technical leadership within a defined. You will translate business requirements, solution architectures, and enterprise standards into detailed technical architectures, reusable patterns, engineering guidance, and practical implementation approaches. Working closely with Solution Architects, Engineering Leads, and delivery teams, you will evaluate technical alternatives, resolve complex design and implementation challenges, and ensure solutions are secure, scalable, reliable, maintainable, supportable, and aligned with established architectural principles and guardrails.

The Backend Software Architect combines deep domain expertise with practical implementation experience. The role operates close to engineering execution, validating technical decisions through detailed design, prototypes, reference implementations, configuration or code reviews, performance analysis, and other methods appropriate to the technical specialization. The Backend Software Architect also mentors technical teams, reduces unnecessary complexity and technical debt, promotes reuse, and enables teams to make increasingly autonomous technical decisions.

What You Will Do: (Job Responsibilities)

• Manage and maintain SharePoint Online sites, libraries, lists and permissions
• Provide deep technical leadership and serve as a technical authority within a defined technology domain.
• Translate solution architectures, business requirements, and enterprise standards into detailed technical designs, patterns, and practical implementation guidance.
• Evaluate technical alternatives and tradeoffs, balancing security, scalability, reliability, performance, maintainability, cost, and delivery needs.
• Establish and promote reusable technical patterns, standards, reference implementations, and engineering practices that reduce complexity and improve consistency.
• Partner closely with Solution Architects, engineers, and product teams to resolve complex technical challenges and ensure implementations align with the intended architecture.
• Validate technical approaches through design reviews, prototypes, reference implementations, code or configuration reviews, and other methods appropriate to the technical domain.
• Identify and address architectural risks, technical debt, and modernization opportunities within the area of specialization.
• Mentor engineers and technical leads, enabling teams to make increasingly autonomous technical decisions within established architecture standards and guardrails.

What You Will Need to Be Successful: (Required Qualifications, Education, Experience, Certifications)

• Minimum of 8 years demonstrated experience in engineering, technical architecture, platform architecture, or technical leadership within the applicable specialization.
• Deep technical expertise in backend software development.
• Proven experience designing and guiding the implementation of secure, scalable, reliable, maintainable, and supportable production solutions.
• Ability to translate solution-level requirements and architecture into detailed technical designs, standards, patterns, and implementation guidance.
• Practical implementation experience sufficient to evaluate technical feasibility, validate designs, identify risks, and guide engineering teams.
• Experience evaluating technical alternatives and clearly articulating tradeoffs involving cost, complexity, delivery speed, security, performance, scalability, reliability, and maintainability.
• Experience identifying and addressing technical debt, architecture risks, operational concerns, and modernization opportunities.
• Proven ability to influence technical decisions and engineering practices across multiple teams without relying on direct reporting authority.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and technical leads and communicate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Familiarity with enterprise architecture principles, security requirements, operational support considerations, and technology lifecycle management.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, collaboration, and written and verbal communication skills.

Nice to Have: (Preferred Qualifications, Education, Experience, Certifications)

• Experience supporting enterprise-scale technology environments and modernization initiatives.
• Experience creating reference architectures, reusable patterns, technical standards, and architecture decision records.
• Experience operating within formal architecture governance, security review, risk managem