Lead Backend Software Engineer - Python/Kotlin/AWS

Waltham, MAHybridFull Time$173k - $234k Job Description A rapidly growing technology-driven organization is seeking a Lead Backend Software Engineer to help build and scale mission-critical platforms that support high-volume, real-time production environments. Based in Waltham, MA (Hybrid), this role is ideal for a hands-on technical leader who thrives in fast-paced engineering cultures where production code is deployed and delivered continuously throughout the day. As a Lead Backend Engineer, you will balance technical leadership with active software development, guiding a team while remaining deeply involved in architecture, coding, and delivery. You will play a key role in shaping backend systems, advancing cloud-native infrastructure, and driving adoption of AI-powered development practices and solutions. This position offers the opportunity to influence technical strategy, mentor engineers, and build highly scalable systems leveraging modern cloud technologies and AI-driven innovation. Required Skills & Experience 10+ years of experience in Backend Software Engineering 2+ years of experience leading or managing software engineering teams Expert-level proficiency with Python and modern backend development practices Professional experience with Kotlin in production environments Strong AWS cloud platform experience, including designing and operating distributed systems Experience building and supporting highly available, scalable microservices architectures Hands-on engineering leader who actively contributes production code Experience working in fast-paced environments with frequent production deployments Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure automation, and cloud-native engineering Strong understanding of software design, system architecture, observability, and performance optimization Experience mentoring engineers and driving technical excellence across teams Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience Desired Skills & Experience Experience leading platform engineering, developer experience (DevEx), or infrastructure-focused teams AI/ML experience, including implementing AI-powered tools, workflows, or products Experience with Agentic AI, AI-assisted software development, or SDLC automation Kubernetes (K8s) experience Infrastructure-as-Code experience (Terraform, CloudFormation, or similar) Experience with build tools such as Maven, Gradle, or Nx Familiarity with testing frameworks and modern observability platforms Experience working with globally distributed engineering teams What You Will Be Doing Daily Responsibilities70% Hands-On Development 30% Team Leadership, Architecture, and Strategic Planning Key Responsibilities Lead a team of backend engineers while remaining an active contributor to the codebase Design, build, and scale cloud-native backend services using Python and Kotlin Architect and optimize AWS-based distributed systems Drive delivery of production-ready software in an environment where code is released continuously throughout the day Champion engineering best practices including testing, observability, reliability, and operational excellence Mentor and develop engineers through technical guidance, code reviews, and career coaching Partner with product, platform, and engineering leaders to define technical roadmaps Implement AI-driven capabilities and automate software development lifecycle processes Improve developer productivity through enhanced tooling, automation, and platform capabilities Ensure system reliability, scalability, security, and performance across all services The Offer Base Salary: $173,000 - $234,000Annual performance-based bonus opportunity Hybrid work model in Waltham, MAOpportunity to help shape the future of AI-enabled software engineering and platform development Leadership position with significant technical influence and growth opportunities You will receive the following benefits Medical Insurance Dental Benefits Vision Benefits Paid Time Off (PTO) 401(k) Life Insurance Disability Insurance Parental Leave Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the US on a full-time basis now and in the future.