Lead Python Backend Architect Cloud-Native Systems

Jobtailor; California (MO); On-site; USD 160,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

PayPal is seeking an experienced backend leader to coordinate engineers, define technical direction, and design scalable cloud-native systems using Python, Django, or Flask. You will drive the technical roadmap, mentor engineers, ensure high availability and security, and collaborate across product, infra, and data teams.

The role requires strong distributed systems expertise, experience with microservices/serverless, and familiarity with payments or regulatory environments.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant experience in backend or systems leadership.
• Deep understanding of distributed systems.
• Proficient in Python backend development with Django or Flask.
• Experience designing scalable, high-performance, fault-tolerant systems.
• Experience with microservices and serverless frameworks.
• Strong security practices including encryption and access control.
• Experience with AWS, GCP, or Azure; Agile/Scrum preferred.
• Familiarity with payments, financial systems, or regulatory environments preferred.

Responsibilities

• Act as a project or system leader and coordinate other engineers.
• Determine technical tasks and set clear technical direction.
• Design and architect scalable, cloud-native backend systems using microservices and serverless frameworks.
• Define and drive the technical roadmap in alignment with strategic business goals.
• Architect and develop large-scale backend systems using Python, Django, or Flask.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship.
• Establish engineering standards and uphold code quality, design excellence, and operational rigor.
• Design and implement fault-tolerant, high-availability systems with disaster recovery capabilities.
• Apply secure coding, encryption, and access control practices.
• Collaborate with Product, Infrastructure, Operations, product, design, and data science teams.
• Improve technical frameworks, development processes, and system performance.
• Balance time, quality, complexity, and risk to identify optimal solutions.
• Represent PayPal externally with partners, customers, and industry organizations.

Skills

Python Backend Development

Cloud-Native Architectures

Distributed Systems

Security Best Practices

Agile/Scrum

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Django

Flask

AWS

GCP

Azure

Microservices

Job description

PayPal is seeking an experienced backend leader to coordinate engineers, define technical direction, and design scalable cloud-native systems using Python, Django, or Flask. You will drive the technical roadmap, mentor engineers, ensure high availability and security, and collaborate across product, infra, and data teams.

The role requires strong distributed systems expertise, experience with microservices/serverless, and familiarity with payments or regulatory environments.