Python Software Lead /Architect

Job Title: Python Software Lead /Architect

Location: Houston, Texas – Hybrid

Job Summary:

• Role is primarily hands-on.
  • 80% hands-on development
  • 20% architecture
• Responsibilities include:
  • Owning application development end-to-end
  • Backend-heavy development (Python preferred)
  • Working with cloud infrastructure (Azure or AWS)
  • Collaborating with data engineers and business stakeholders
  • CI/CD, deployment, security, and integration
• Frontend is minimal; backend strength is more important.
• Long-term potential to grow into a Solution Architect role as more projects are approved.

Key Responsibilities

Architecture & Design

• Define end-to-end solution architecture for manufacturing analytics applications (OEE, downtime, throughput, daily production, and inventory).
• Design data models and integration patterns for ingesting data from shop-floor systems (PLC/SCADA/MES/Historians), ERP, and other manufacturing systems.
• Select and design usage of Azure services for data ingestion, processing, storage, APIs, and front-end delivery.
• Ensure solutions are scalable, secure, resilient, and aligned with enterprise architecture and IT standards.

Full Stack Development

• Independently implement backend services, APIs, and microservices using Python (e.g., FastAPI, Flask, Django).
• Develop modern web front-ends (e.g., React, Angular, or Vue) for dashboards, operator views, production reports, and configuration tools.
• Implement OEE calculations, KPI logic, and business rules for production and inventory.
• Build data pipelines to capture, clean, and transform time-series and transactional data from manufacturing systems.

DevOps, CI/CD & Quality

• Design and maintain CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions) for build, test, and deployment of applications and infrastructure.
• Write and maintain unit, integration, and regression tests to ensure code quality and reliability.
• Implement Infrastructure-as-Code (e.g., ARM/Bicep/Terraform) for repeatable, auditable deployments.
• Monitor application performance, reliability, and cost, and drive continuous improvement.

Azure Cloud Engineering

• Evaluate, configure, and utilize Azure components such as:
  • Azure App Service, AKS or Azure Functions
  • Azure SQL Database, Azure PostgreSQL, Cosmos DB
  • Azure Storage, Data Lake
  • Event Hub, IoT Hub, Service Bus
  • Azure Data Factory / Synapse pipelines
  • Azure Monitor / Application Insights / Log Analytics
• Continuously explore new Azure capabilities and recommend improvements to the existing architecture.

Stakeholder Engagement & Delivery

• Work directly with plant and business users to gather requirements, understand pain points, and translate them into technical designs.
• Lead design and code walkthroughs with IT and business stakeholders.
• Coordinate UAT, rollout, and training for new features and applications.
• Provide third-line support, troubleshoot complex production issues, and implement sustainable fixes.

Governance, Security & Compliance

• Ensure solutions follow cybersecurity, networking, and data privacy guidelines.
• Apply role-based access control (RBAC) and secure secret management (e.g., Azure Key Vault).
• Document architecture, data flows, APIs, and operational procedures for IT and business teams.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or related field; or equivalent experience.
• 10 years of professional software development experience, including:
  • Significant hands-on Python development (APIs, services, data processing).
  • Full stack experience (front-end back-end database).
• 3 years designing and delivering solutions on Microsoft Azure.
• Strong experience with:
  • RESTful API design and implementation.
  • Relational databases (SQL) and data modeling.
  • Source control (Git) and modern branching strategies.
  • CI/CD pipelines and automated testing frameworks (pytest, unittest, etc.).
• Proven ability to independently deliver end‑to‑end features: design, code, test, deploy, and support.
• Experience working directly with business stakeholders (preferably in manufacturing/operations).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in manufacturing, process industries, or industrial automation environments.
• Familiarity with OEE, TPM, lean manufacturing concepts, and production KPIs.
• Experience integrating with MES, historians, SCADA, PLCs, or ERP (e.g., SAP) systems.
• Knowledge of event-driven and microservices architectures.
• Experience with:
  • Containerization (Docker) and orchestration (AKS/Kubernetes).
  • Message queues and streaming platforms (Event Hubs, Kafka, Service Bus).
  • Time-series databases or BI tools (Power BI, Grafana).
• Azure certifications (e.g., AZ-204, AZ-305, AZ-400) or equivalent experience.

Key Competencies & Soft Skills

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills; able to break complex problems into practical solutions.
• Ability to operate autonomously and take end-to-end ownership of solutions.
• Clear, concise communication with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong collaboration skills; comfortable working with cross-functional teams across plants and corporate functions.
• Continuous learning mindset; actively explores new Azure and Python capabilities and best practices.
• Structured documentation and attention to deta