Backend Engineer (CLEARED)

Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking a Backend Engineer to support a next‑generation federal mission‑software program focused on modernizing cloud‑native 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 cloud‑integrated capabilities that directly support mission‑critical federal operations. This is an excellent opportunity for an engineer who wants to work with modern technologies, contribute to high‑impact systems, and grow within a fast‑moving, mission‑driven 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 mission‑critical applications
• Support AI/LLM integrations with platforms such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and AskSage
• Implement scalable, secure, and cost‑efficient 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 hands‑on experience)
• 3 years of professional backend or full‑stack engineering experience
• Strong proficiency in Python and API development (REST or GraphQL)
• Experience with AWS services (Lambda, ECS/EKS, EC2, S3, RDS, CloudWatch)
• Hands‑on experience with Docker and containerized applications
• Familiarity with Kubernetes deployments (EKS preferred)
• Experience with Terraform or other Infrastructure‑as‑Code 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 cloud‑native distributed systems
• Experience in startup or fast‑paced 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:

backend engineer, software engineer, python developer, python, graphql, rest api, api development, cloud engineer, aws engineer, amazon web services, lambda, ecs, eks, ec2, s3, rds, cloudwatch, fargate, kubernetes, docker, containers, containerization, terraform, infrastructure as code, iac, devsecops, ci/cd, git, github, gitlab, microservices, distributed systems, cloud native, ai integration, llm, openai, anthropic, asksage, generative ai, llm api, machine learning integration, startup, mission software, federal, government, clearance, us person, security clearance, secret clearance eligible, hybrid, washington dc, arlington va, seattle, san francisco, los angeles, denver, backend, software development, scalable systems, cloud architecture, high availability, performance optimization, python backend, cloud ops, platform engineering, tech startup, space tech, defense tech, modern stack, fastapi, flask, django, async python, asyncio, devops, sre, observability, logging, monitoring, cloud security, iam, vpc, networking, api gateway, serverless, mission critical systems