Senior Platform Engineer – Backend, Python & Cloud

ACV Auctions; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Colonial Group in Buffalo, NY is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join our Platform Engineering group, focusing on the VIN Decoder backend. You will work with Python, AWS Postgres, Redis, and GCP BigQuery to build scalable, reliable data systems.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years Python, 5+ years cloud experience (AWS/GCP), Terraform, CI/CD, and strong SQL skills. You will lead design, code reviews, and on‑call support in a fast‑paced global team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field (or equivalent).
• 7+ years of experience programming in Python.
• 5+ years of experience with Cloud platforms (AWS or GCP).
• 5+ years experience with Terraform/Infrastructure as Code.
• 5+ years experience with CI/CD and build tools.
• Experience designing scalable, reliable systems and APIs.
• Strong SQL skills and data modeling experience.
• Experience with in-memory data processing and monitoring tools.
• Excellent communication and collaboration in a fast-paced global team.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the technical vision for multi‑cloud infrastructure and system architecture.
• Develop APIs, services, and background workers using Python, PostgreSQL, and Redis.
• Design scalable, maintainable systems with focus on reliability and performance.
• Integrate third‑party APIs and manage data flows.
• Write and tune complex SQL queries and optimize data schemas.
• Collaborate with engineers to plan feature rollouts and ensure high reliability.
• Lead on-call rotations, incident response, and post‑incident reviews.

Skills

Python development

Software architecture

Communication

SQL

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IT or equivalent

Tools

Terraform

AWS

GCP

PostgreSQL

Redis

BigQuery

Job description

Who we are looking for:

We are looking for an exceptional SeniorSoftwareEngineer to join our Platform Engineering group, focusing on the VIN Decoder platform. The position will focus on backend development, AWS Postgres, GCP BigQuery, Redis, and python development.

The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in software development, database design, multi-cloud environments, and in-memory data technologies. You bring deep technical expertise in software development, demonstrate strong communication and collaboration skills, and embrace a hands-on, problem-solving mindset to tackle ACV’s most challenging data engineering problems. This position is ideal for an engineer that thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and is passionate about solving complex technical challenges.

If you are passionate about solving complex architectural challenges and are equally invested in developing the careers of those around you, this is the perfect opportunity.

What you will do:

• Contribute to the technical vision for your team’s domain, making critical decisions on multi-cloud infrastructure, in-memory technologies, and overall system architecture.

• Develop APIs, services, background workers using python, Postgres database, Redis

• Design and build complex systems that can scale rapidly with little maintenance, with a strong focus on reliability, performance, and operational excellence.

• Design and implement effective service/product interfaces, including third-party API integrations

• Develop and maintain application data models, including writing and tuning complex SQL queries, optimizing indexes and performance, and designing schemas that reliably support application workflows

• Collaborate with software and production engineers to design scalable services, plan feature roll-out, and ensure high reliability and performance of our products.

• Design and develop systems across all major departments including but not limited to; data, enterprise applications, and IT.

• Modify and develop custom software patterns as needed to solve highly complex software problems, and clearly document tradeoffs and long-term maintenance implications.

• Be accountable for the overall performance of products and/or services within a defined area of focus, including diagnosing production issues and driving improvements.

• Conduct code reviews, develop high-quality documentation, and build robust test suites for your products (unit/integration testing), ensuring maintainable and well-covered code.

• Drive operational maturity (observability, incident response, on-call practices, reliability goals) and lead post-incident analysis with preventative action plans.

• Handle multiple competing priorities in an agile, fast-paced environment while maintaining strong engineering discipline and delivery quality.

• Participate in on-call rotation/production support

• You will need to maintain standard Eastern Time (ET) working hours to ensure seamless collaboration with your team and direct reports

• Perform additional duties as assigned.

What you will need:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field (or equivalent work experience)

• Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English.

• 7+ years of experience programming in Python

• 5+ years of experience with Cloud platforms preferably in AWS or GCP

• 5+ years of experience working with Terraform/Infrastructure as Code concepts

• 5+ years work with continuous integration and build tools

• Experience architecting and designing systems from the ground up, including making pragmatic decisions for scalability, reliability, and maintainability.

• Experience with in-memory data processing, database monitoring and diagnostic tools, preferably Data Dog.

• Experience with Domain Driven Design.

• Strong experience integrating 3rd-party APIs, implementing authentication & authorization and developing asynchronous data flows.

• Strong experience developing unit and integration-tests, and setting expectations for test strategy and coverage

• Proficiency in SQL query writing and optimization.

• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a fast paced global team environment.

• Deep practical experience operating within and leading Agile development environments, with a strong understanding of how to run effective sprints and agile ceremonies.

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