Job Description
We are looking for a Lead Architect who is a true hands-on engineer—someone who designs solutions and writes production code daily. You will lead architecture and delivery across a cloud-native platform built on Java + Spring, .NET 8/10, Python (Django/Flask microservices), SQL, React, Node.js + Socket.IO, and Microsoft Azure (ADO/App Service/Container Apps/Functions/Service Bus/Key Vault/Blob/Monitor/App Insights/APIM).
This role requires cross-stack ownership and the ability to guide teams while staying hands-on—coding, reviewing PRs, mentoring offshore engineers, driving PoCs to production, and ensuring security + reliability.
- Lead by coding (daily): Deliver features and fixes in Java/Spring, Python services, and .NET with strong unit/integration test coverage.
- Build & evolve Python microservices: Work across Python 3.12/3.13, Django 5.x and Flask 3.x services, including API design, background processing patterns, and Azure integrations.
- Architect cloud-native services: Build scalable microservices and event-driven workflows on Azure (App Service/Container Apps, Functions).
- Implement async messaging patterns: Use Azure Service Bus (queues/topics/subscriptions), retries, DLQs, idempotency, and resiliency best practices.
- Build real-time capabilities: Develop and scale Node.js + Socket.IO/WebSockets services (secure connections, rooms/namespaces, multi-instance scaling patterns).
- Own secure integrations: Implement enterprise-grade security using Azure Key Vault, Managed Identity (MSI), certificates, and Azure AD/Entra ID auth patterns (OAuth2/OIDC/JWT).
- Drive data reliability: Build and optimize SQL Server schemas, queries, and deployment scripts (safe, idempotent, CI/CD friendly).
- Operational excellence: Instrument services with Application Insights/Azure Monitor + OpenTelemetry, build health checks, and support production incidents and root-cause fixes.
- Mentor and set standards: Run strong PR reviews, enforce engineering standards, and mentor offshore engineers through pairing, reviews, and technical guidance.
Qualifications
- 10+ years in software engineering with recent, demonstrable hands-on delivery
- Must be strong across Java/Spring + React + Python (not just oversight—actual coding)
- Proven success leading teams without stepping away from coding
- A quality-first mindset: testing, security, observability, performance, and reliability
Must-Have Skills (Non-Negotiable)
1) Backend (Java)
- Java 21 + Spring Boot 3.x (REST APIs, Spring Security, Spring Data, production microservices)
- API design, middleware, performance mindset; service reliability
- Strong automated testing: JUnit 5 + Mockito (Java) and modern .NET testing patterns
2) Python
- 2+ years hands-on Python building production services (within overall 10+ years experience)
- Framework experience with Django (5.x) and/or Flask (3.x); ability to design and maintain REST APIs
- Testing culture: pytest (and related patterns like coverage and mocking
- Comfort debugging distributed systems and Azure SDK integrations in Python (identity, storage, telemetry)
3) Web / UI
- React (TypeScript/JavaScript, modern patterns, debugging and performance awareness)
4) Real-Time / Integration
- Node.js + Express and Socket.IO/EventsHub/WebSockets (real-time messaging, connection security, scalability)
5) Data
- SQL Server (T SQL, query optimization, transactions, deployment scripts, reliability and performance)
6) Azure (Hands-On)
- Strong hands-on Azure delivery with:
App Service/Container Apps, Azure Functions, Service Bus, Blob Storage, Key Vault, Managed Identity, Application Insights, Azure Monitor/OpenTelemetry, and APIM
Nice-to-Have (Adds Strong Value)
- .NET 8/10 (API design, middleware, performance mindset; service reliability)
- Redis / Azure Redis Cache (including scaling Socket.IO with Redis adapters)
- Cosmos DB (Mongo API) / MongoDB familiarity
- AI/document workflows exposure: Azure AI Search, Azure OpenAI, Form Recognizer/OCR, an