Sr Software Engineer I

American Express; Alaska; On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

American Express Company seeks an experienced software architect for Enterprise Architecture. You will design and deliver scalable enterprise-grade software using Java and Python, guiding distributed systems across the tech stack.

You’ll own features end-to-end, mentor engineers, and collaborate with product teams to translate business needs into robust, scalable solutions. The role emphasizes API design, microservices, CI/CD, and cloud-native patterns, with a focus on performance, reliability,

Qualifications

• 6+ years of professional software development experience with Java and Python
• Deep experience with Java ecosystems and frameworks such as Spring, Spring Boot, or equivalent
• Proven experience in full-stack development, including backend services and modern frontend frameworks (e.g., React, Angular)
• Strong experience building RESTful APIs, microservices architectures, and service-to-service integrations
• Solid understanding of distributed systems, concurrency, scalability, and performance optimization
• Hands-on experience with relational databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle) and/or NoSQL databases (Cassandra, DynamoDB, MongoDB)
• Experience with containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code tools (Terraform, CloudFormation)
• Experience with messaging and streaming platforms such as Kafka, RabbitMQ, or JMS
• Practical experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and cloud-native development patterns
• Hands-on experience in test data generation and unit test development and execution
• Preferred: Basic understanding of AI/ML concepts and Generative AI technologies, including LLMs, prompt engineering, and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
• Experience with API design standards, OpenAPI/Swagger, versioning, and contract-driven development
• Hands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines and tools (Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI)
• Proficiency in Agile/Scrum methodologies and modern software development lifecycle practices
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience (advanced degree is a plus)

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deliver scalable software solutions across the full stack using Java and Python
• Lead architecture and implementation of distributed systems for performance and reliability
• Own end-to-end delivery of features from design and deployment to production support
• Mentor junior engineers and drive coding standards, testing, and DevOps practices
• Collaborate with architects, product managers, and cross-functional teams to translate requirements into scalable solutions
• Build and evolve RESTful APIs, microservices, and event-driven systems with backward-compatible contracts
• Champion CI/CD improvements, test automation, and developer productivity
• Identify bottlenecks, debug complex issues, and drive long-term fixes
• Design systems for scalability, resilience, and observability with monitoring and logging
• Contribute to cloud-native adoption including containerization and infra-as-code

Skills

Java

Spring Boot

Python

RESTful APIs

Distributed systems

CI/CD

Agile/Scrum

Backend services

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/Engineering

Advanced degree a plus

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Terraform

CloudFormation

Kafka

MongoDB

DynamoDB

OpenAPI/Swagger

Job description

About Enterprise Architecture:

Enterprise Architecture is an organization within the Chief Technology Office at American Express and it is a key enabler of the company’s technology strategy. The four pillars of Enterprise Architecture include:

1. Architecture as Code: this pillar owns and operates foundational technologies that are leveraged by engineering teams across the enterprise.
2. Architecture as Design: this pillar includes the solution and technical design for transformation programs and business critical projects which need architectural guidance and support.
3. Governance: this pillar is responsible for defining technical standards, and developing innovative tools that automate controls to ensure compliance.
4. Colleague Enablement: this pillar is focused on colleague development, recognition, training, and enterprise outreach.

• Design, develop, and deliver scalable, high-quality software solutions across the full stack, leveraging Java and Python for enterprise-grade platforms and services
• Lead the architecture and implementation of distributed systems, ensuring performance, reliability, and maintainability
• Own end-to-end delivery of features—from design and development to deployment, monitoring, and support in production environments
• Act as a senior member of an Agile team, driving best practices in coding standards, testing, documentation, and continuous delivery
• Mentor and guide junior engineers, providing technical leadership through code reviews, design discussions, and knowledge sharing
• Collaborate closely with architects, product managers, and cross-functional teams to translate business requirements into scalable technical solutions
• Build and evolve RESTful APIs, microservices, and event-driven systems, ensuring strong service contracts and backward compatibility
• Champion engineering excellence by improving CI/CD pipelines, test automation, and developer productivity
• Proactively identify system bottlenecks, debug complex issues, and drive root-cause analysis with long-term fixes
• Design systems for scalability, resilience, and observability, including monitoring, logging, and alerting strategies
• Contribute to cloud-native adoption, including containerization, infrastructure-as-code, and auto-scaling architectures
• Influence technical direction and challenge the status quo by proposing innovative, pragmatic solutions
• Take ownership and accountability for delivering high-impact outcomes aligned with team and organizational goals

• 6+ years of professional software development experience with strong expertise in Java and working knowledge of Python for backend or data-driven applications
• Deep experience with Java ecosystems and frameworks such as Spring, Spring Boot, or equivalent
• Proven experience in full-stack development, including backend services and modern frontend frameworks (e.g., React, Angular, or similar)
• Strong experience building RESTful APIs, microservices architectures, and service-to-service integrations
• Solid understanding of distributed systems, concurrency, scalability, and performance optimization
• Hands-on experience with relational databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle) and/or NoSQL databases (Cassandra, DynamoDB, MongoDB)
• Experience with containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code tools (Terraform, CloudFormation, etc.)
• Experience with messaging and streaming platforms such as Kafka, RabbitMQ, or JMS
• Practical experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and cloud-native development patterns
• Hands-on experience in test data generation and unit test development and execution
• Preferred: Basic understanding of AI/ML concepts and Generative AI technologies, including LLMs, prompt engineering, and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
• Experience with API design standards, OpenAPI/Swagger, versioning, and contract-driven development
• Hands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines and tools (Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, etc.)
• Proficiency in Agile/Scrum methodologies and modern software development lifecycle practices
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience (advanced degree is a plus)

At American Express, our culture is built on a 175-year history of innovation, shared values and Leadership Behaviors, and an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities, and colleagues. From delivering differentiated products to providing world-class customer service, we operate with a strong risk mindset, ensuring we continue to uphold our brand promise of trust, security, and service.

As part of Team Amex, you’ll experience our powerful backing with comprehensive support for your holistic well-being and many opportunities to learn new skills, develop as a leader, and grow your career. Here, your voice and ideas matter, your work makes an impact, and together, you will help us define the future of American Express.