Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking a Backend Engineer to support a nextgeneration federal missionsoftware program focused on modernizing cloudnative operations. This position is based in a hybrid environment with locations including Washington, DC, Arlington, VA, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Denver. The Backend Engineer will design, build, and maintain backend services, APIs, and cloudintegrated capabilities that directly support missioncritical federal operations. This is an excellent opportunity for an engineer who wants to work with modern technologies, contribute to highimpact systems, and grow within a fastmoving, missiondriven environment.
ACTIVE SECRET SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIRED
Primary Responsibilities:
• Develop backend services and APIs using Python in a production environment
• Integrate AWS services including EC2, Lambda, ECS/EKS, S3, RDS, CloudWatch, and Fargate
• Build and maintain GraphQL or REST interfaces for missioncritical applications
• Support AI/LLM integrations with platforms such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and AskSage
• Implement scalable, secure, and costefficient cloud architectures
• Troubleshoot backend issues, optimize performance, and improve system reliability
• Collaborate with frontend engineers, AI engineers, and product teams in an Agile environment
• Contribute to CI/CD pipelines, DevSecOps tooling, and infrastructure automation using Terraform or similar IaC tools
Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field (or equivalent handson experience)
• 3+ years of professional backend or fullstack engineering experience
• Strong proficiency in Python and API development (REST or GraphQL)
• Experience with AWS services (Lambda, ECS/EKS, EC2, S3, RDS, CloudWatch)
• Handson experience with Docker and containerized applications
• Familiarity with Kubernetes deployments (EKS preferred)
• Experience with Terraform or other InfrastructureasCode tools
• Strong Git workflow experience (GitHub/GitLab)
• U.S. Person status and ability to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance
Preferred Experience (Not Required):
• Experience integrating AI/LLM APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic, AskSage)
• Background in cloudnative distributed systems
• Experience in startup or fastpaced engineering environments
• Strong troubleshooting, debugging, and performance optimization skills
Compensation & Benefits:
• Competitive salary range: $120,000 - $180,000 (depending on experience)
• Equity opportunities depending on program
• Comprehensive benefits package including PTO, paid holidays, medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and sick leave
• Hybrid work flexibility depending on location
Keywords:
Keywords:
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