Lead Python Engineer / Technical Architect, Investment Data Platform

About the Position

We are looking for a hands-on Lead Python Engineer / Technical Architect to act as the senior technical member of a small engineering team. The role combines Python development, AWS architecture, technical leadership, and direct collaboration with business stakeholders. The successful candidate will design and implement scalable solutions, modernize existing applications, establish engineering standards, and mentor junior and mid-level developers. The successful candidate will be able to move effectively between business discussions, solution design, architecture, development, code review, and mentoring, applying pragmatic technical leadership and excellent stakeholder communication to transform business-developed applications into robust, scalable, and maintainable engineering solutions. This is not a purely architectural or managerial role. The successful candidate is expected to remain actively involved in solution design, coding, code reviews, and delivery. This is a hybrid position requiring onsite presence at the client’s Chicago office four days per week. The estimated salary range for this position is $130,000 to $150,000 per year.

About the Team

You will work in a small engineering team of approximately four developers.

Responsibilities

• Lead solution architecture and technical design activities
• Design, develop, and maintain production grade Python applications
• Refactor and modernize applications originally developed by business teams
• Design scalable, resilient, secure, and observable AWS native solutions
• Contribute to data architecture and solutions based on modern cloud data platforms (Snowflake preferred)
• Define engineering standards, design patterns, testing practices, and CI/CD processes
• Conduct code reviews and support software quality, maintainability, and security
• Collaborate with business stakeholders and subject matter experts to translate business needs into technical solutions
• Work effectively in an environment with limited Business Analyst support
• Mentor junior and middle level engineers and facilitate knowledge transfer across the team

Requirements

• Strong hands on Python development experience
• Proven experience designing and building production grade applications
• Strong AWS architecture and cloud engineering expertise
• Previous experience as a Technical Lead, Lead Engineer, or hands on Architect
• Experience modernizing or refactoring legacy or business developed applications
• Strong SQL skills
• Knowledge of software architecture and design patterns
• Knowledge of API design and system integration
• Knowledge of automated testing and quality engineering
• Knowledge of CI/CD and version control
• Knowledge of application security, monitoring, and observability
• Experience with modern cloud data platforms (e.g. Snowflake, Redshift, Databricks, BigQuery)
• Experience working with data intensive applications or analytics solutions
• Strong stakeholder communication and requirements analysis skills
• Experience mentoring and supporting junior and middle level engineers
• Ability and willingness to work onsite in Chicago four days per week

Nice to Have

• Experience in Financial Services, particularly Asset Management, Investment Management, or Capital Markets
• Experience with portfolio management, investment analytics, Fixed Income, or ETF solutions
• Hands on Snowflake experience
• Exposure to Aladdin, BNY, or comparable financial platforms and integrations
• Experience modernizing applications developed by business analyst or quantitative teams
• Familiarity with AI enabled software development, agentic workflows, or AI assisted SDLC