Jr Architect / Platform Lead

Title: Junior Architect / Platform Lead (Internal Developer Platform) Job Type: Contract-to-Hire Contract Length: TBD Pay Range: $90 - $120/hr Start Date: ASAP Location: Remote (Must work EST timezone) About the Opportunity Our client, a leader in software and technology, is looking for a skilled Junior Architect / Platform Lead (Internal Developer Platform) to join their brand new team. This project involves defining and building a new internal platform that enables non-engineers to create secure, scalable, AI-powered applications (“vibe-coded apps”) for internal business use cases. This is a high-impact role that requires a self-motivated professional who can hit the ground running and deliver results quickly. Key Responsibilities & Deliverables Lead the technical selection and implementation of the self-service tool (e.g., Backstage) that will serve as the foundation of the platform. Design the end-to-end platform architecture (portal, CI/CD, and runtime), ensuring components integrate cleanly and scale. Define architecture patterns, security baselines, and governance models for apps, including establishing authentication and authorization patterns (SSO, RBAC). Guide safe usage patterns for AI/LLM-enabled applications, specifically focusing on data handling and access controls. Partner closely with engineers to review implementation and translate policies and risk concerns into clear, enforceable technical standards. Required Skills & Experience Strong system design skills, with the ability to think across identity, infrastructure, data, and application layers. Experience with cloud platforms and CI/CD pipelines, including knowledge of how systems are deployed and operated. Solid understanding of authentication, authorization, and common application security patterns. Ability to translate policies and risk concerns into clear, enforceable technical standards. Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and manage your own time effectively to meet project goals. Strong communication skills to provide clear and concise status updates to the project team. Highly Valued Qualifications (Nice to Have) Experience with internal developer platforms (Backstage, Port, etc.). Familiarity with OWASP or NIST security frameworks and how they map to real systems. Exposure to GitOps, SBOMs, or software supply chain security concepts. Experience with AI/LLM applications or governance considerations. #J-18808-Ljbffr