ECS Platform Junior Engineer

Vanguard; Charlotte (NC); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanguard is seeking a Cloud Engineer to advance our Elastic Container Service (ECS) on AWS, supporting thousands of applications across regions. You will leverage Python, Node.js, and Java, develop CloudFormation templates, and ensure scalable, secure deployments while working within a hybrid model.

You will collaborate with architects and cross-functional teams to translate complex needs into robust features, implement CI/CD, and mentor engineers in best practices, security, and operations.

Qualifications

• Experience with AWS cloud services and architecture.
• Proven ability to design and build cross-functional, multi-platform solutions.
• Strong coding background with automated testing and validation.
• Experience deploying and operating cloud-native applications at scale.

Responsibilities

• Work with architects and other IT and business groups to identify technical and functional needs of applications based on priority.
• Design and build solutions for cross-functional, multi-platform internal and client facing applications.
• Translate complex customer needs into optimal feature delivery.
• Write high-quality code with a drive for automated testing and validation.
• Think in terms of architecture and code, evaluating strengths/weaknesses for performance, security, and data integrity.
• Experience with AWS technologies ECS, Docker, Fargate, EC2, Step Functions, CloudWatch, etc.
• Experience with Security stacks such as IAM, Okta OIDC, Auth0, Secrets Manager, etc.
• Understands CI/CD pipelines and operational security practices.
• Experience with deployments and dev ops and API integration via REST and API Gateways.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to engineers on best practices.

Skills

Python

CloudFormation

Node.js

Java

AWS

Docker

Fargate

EC2

Step Functions

CloudWatch

IAM

Okta OIDC

Auth0

CI/CD

API Gateways

REST APIs

Mentoring

Security tooling

Tools

GitHub

IaC pipeline

OTel

Honeycomb

Observability tools

Job description

The Cloud Engineer position for Vanguard’s Elastic Container Service (ECS) AWS platform is an amazing opportunity to further your expertise in all things cloud-native at Vanguard. ECS is one of the main cloud-native compute platforms Vanguard, hosting nearly 2500 applications across multiple geographic regions.

Impact

As a cloud engineer, you will get to work with a variety of cloud native AWS services to develop full stack solutions, that will service global cross functional teams across the Vanguard enterprise. The tech stack requires an engineer very familiar with Python which is primarily used as the development language, followed by Node Js and Java. Expertise developing CloudFormation templates (AWS) is a must, along with familiarity in Splunk and CloudWatch logs and metrics. You must be able to prove you are a self‑motivated learner, building a resilient platform and balancing operational and client support.

What It Takes

• Work with architects and other IT and business groups to identify technical and functional needs of applications based on priority
• Design and build solutions for cross‑functional, multi‑platform internal and client facing applications
• Ability to decipher complex, ambiguous customer needs and translate into optimal feature delivery
• Writing great quality code with a drive for automated testing and validation
• Thinks in terms of architecture as well as code. Able to develop and evaluate solutions for strengths and weaknesses (e.g., complexity, quality, scalability, latency, security, performance, data integrity, etc.) which are key for an enterprise engineer
• Experience working with AWS technologies ECS, Docker, Fargate, EC2, Step functions, CloudWatch, etc.
• Experience with Security stacks such as IAM, Okta OIDC, Auth0, Secrets Manager, etc.
• Understands software engineering best practices (e.g. CI\CD automated pipelines, Operational Excellence, Information Security IAM)
• Experience with deployments and dev ops
• Experience with application integration via APIs/REST, API Gateways (Kong, CA API Gateway, etc.)
• Experience providing technical leadership and mentoring other engineers on best practices

Desired Skills

• Experience in AWS cloud development: Python/CloudFormation/NodeJS/Java/ AWS SDK
• Experience or exposure in build and deploy technologies: GitHub; IaC pipeline and tools; OTel, Honeycomb, and observability tools; Crowdstrike, Wiz, and other security scanning tools; and test frameworks
• Exposure to Agile development concepts

Special Factors

Sponsorship

Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.

About Vanguard

At Vanguard, we don't just have a mission—we're on a mission.

To work for the long‑term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients' lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in‑person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long‑term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.