Senior II Software Engineer

Akamai Technologies, Inc.; Providence (RI); On-site; USD 146,000 - 264,000; Full time

Job summary

Akamai Technologies, Inc. is seeking a Software Engineer to lead architecture and build high-throughput, low-latency REST APIs powering critical platform infrastructure.

You will mentor engineers and establish API standards across distributed backend services. In this role you will architect, design, and implement backend systems using Python, Flask, and SQLAlchemy; optimize queries; implement authentication, rate limiting, and observability; and collaborate with cross-functional teams to define

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant software engineering experience.
• Strong backend with Python, Flask, SQLAlchemy and relational databases.
• Deep expertise in RESTful architecture, HTTP, API versioning and security.
• Proficiency with Git workflows, CI/CD, cloud platforms, and containers.
• Understanding of distributed systems and event-driven design.
• Familiarity with AI tooling and transformer architectures is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Architect, design, and implement high-performance backend systems.
• Set API standards and drive fault-tolerant design.
• Lead design reviews and mentor engineers.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on API contracts and workflows.
• Ensure security and observability across services.

Skills

Python

Flask

SQLAlchemy

REST APIs

Distributed systems

CI/CD

Git workflows

Cloud platforms

Containerization

Security best practices

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Are you passionate about building high-throughput, low-latency REST APIs that power critical platform infrastructure?

Do you thrive on leading architectural decisions and mentoring engineers to elevate technical standards?

Join our world-class enterprise security team

Akamai empowers developers and organizations globally by providing resilient, high-performing backend infrastructure. Our API Team builds scalable platform services that enable internal partner teams to deploy robust applications seamlessly.

Develop and contribute to full product life-cycle

In this role, you will lead the architecture, design, and implementation of high-performance backend systems. You will collaborate across engineering teams to establish API standards, improve system performance, and drive fault-tolerant system design.

Your responsibilities as a Software Engineer will include the following:

• Architecting, building, and evolving scalable, low‑latency REST APIs and service layers using Python and Flask

• Designing robust schemas and optimizing database queries using SQLAlchemy to maintain high system availability

• Leading technical design reviews, establishing engineering best practices, and mentoring junior and mid-level engineers

• Implementing robust authentication, rate limiting, and observability across distributed backend services

• Designing fault-tolerant backend services that fail gracefully under load using circuit breakers and defensive validation

• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to define clear API contracts, architecture patterns, and integration workflows

Do what you love

To be successful in this role you will:

• Have 10+ years of relevant experience and a Bachelor's degree

• Have experience with core backend development using Python, Flask, SQLAlchemy, and relational databases

• Demonstrate deep expertise in RESTful architecture, HTTP protocols, API versioning, and security best practices

• Possess solid proficiency in Git workflows, CI/CD pipelines, cloud platforms, and containerization technologies

• Have understanding of distributed systems, event-driven architectures, automated testing, and observability tooling

• Be knowledgeable in AI tooling, agentic workflows, transformer architectures, and background processing systems

About us

At Akamai, we make life better for billions of people, trillions of times a day.

Whether you're streaming live events, scrolling social media, watching your favorite series, or managing your savings, we're the engine behind the scenes. We provide the world's most distributed platform from Cloud to Edge to help the giants of the digital world work faster and stay more secure, making the internet a better experience for everyone.

Our focus is simple:

Cloud and Edge:

Running apps closer to users for instant performance.

Security:

Neutralizing threats before they ever reach your data.

Content Delivery

Scaling the world's biggest moments without a glitch.

AI:

Enabling our customers to build, secure, and scale AI apps on the world's most distributed cloud platform.

At Akamai, we don't just support the internet; we power and protect it, because behind every great digital experience is a massive hidden challenge. And we're the ones who solve it. When millions of people hit play or pay, Akamai ensures it just works.

Benefits at Akamai:

We support your health, well-being, finances, and life beyond work. See our benefits. (https://www.akamai.com/careers/working-at-akamai?utm_source=akamai&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=benefits)

FlexBase adapts to your job's needs

Akamai's FlexBase program is yet another way we show our commitment to providing employees with an exceptional workplace experience. It's not about telling employees where to work; it's about supporting employees to do their best work.

We trust our incredible employees to work in ways that suit them best: at home, in an office, or a combination of both.

Connect with us on social and see what life at Akamai is like!

Compensation

Akamai is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. For US based candidates only - the base salary for this position ranges from $146,400 - $263,600/year; a candidate’s salary is determined by various factors including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and location. Compensation for candidates outside the US will vary. The compensation package may also include incentive compensation opportunities in the form of annual bonus or incentives, equity awards and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). Akamai provides industry-leading benefits including healthcare, 401K savings plan, company holidays, vacation (in the form of PTO), sick time, family friendly benefits including parental leave and an employee assistance program including a focus on mental and financial wellness; Eligibility requirements apply.

Equal Employment Opportunity Rights

Akamai Technologies is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer that values the strength that diversity brings to the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, protected veteran status, disability, or other protected group status.