ABOUT THIS ROLE

We're looking for full-stack software engineers who build production applications - APIs, frontends, data pipelines, and more - and deploy them natively on AWS. You'll join a team of engineers that design and ship both cloud-native software and deploy cloud solutions for a diverse portfolio of clients.

Engagements range from greenfield application builds to modernizing legacy systems, so you'll need to adapt quickly, stay current with cloud technology trends, and be comfortable moving between infrastructure, backend, frontend, and data work as the project demands.

The ideal candidate is a strong full-stack or backend software engineer who is also comfortable owning the AWS infrastructure their code runs on, with a working fluency across at least two of three domains: frontend development, API/backend development, and data engineering.

This is a consulting role as much as an engineering one. Senior engineers at Protagona operate as trusted technical advisors to client stakeholders - leading architecture conversations, translating business goals into technical direction, mentoring the engineers around them, and representing our engineering standards in every client interaction.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Application & API Development (core)

• Build and deploy APIs using serverless and containerized patterns (Lambda, API Gateway, ECS/EKS, Fargate)
• Develop backend services in Python or TypeScript/Node.js, including authentication, integration with third-party systems, and event-driven workflows
• Contribute to frontend applications (React or similar), collaborating with designers and client stakeholders to ship user-facing features
• Troubleshoot issues across the full request path - from browser to load balancer to service to database

Data

• Design and build data pipelines (batch and streaming) using services such as Glue, Kinesis, EMR, and Lambda
• Model, store, and query data across relational and analytical platforms (RDS/PostgreSQL, Redshift, Athena, S3 data lakes)
• Support cloud data migrations and on-prem-to-cloud conversions

Cloud & Infrastructure

• Design, deploy, and configure modular cloud-based systems in AWS to meet client business requirements
• Automate provisioning and configuration using infrastructure-as-code and CI/CD pipelines
• Apply cloud security best practices across every layer of an engagement - network, application, and data
• Identify opportunities for performance, reliability, and cost improvements in client AWS environments
• Advise clients on the design and implementation of modern AWS architectures

Consulting & Client Delivery

• Serve as a trusted technical advisor to client stakeholders, leading client-facing architecture and design conversations
• Translate ambiguous business requirements into well-scoped technical solutions, and defend trade-offs to technical and non-technical audiences
• Guide clients through modernization decisions - build vs. buy, migration sequencing, and platform choices - in business-relevant terms
• Contribute to engagement planning, estimation, and status reporting alongside Engagement Managers and Delivery Leads
• Set the bar for engineering quality in client settings, and surface opportunities where Protagona can add further value beyond the current scope

DESIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

Must Haves

• 2+ years building production software (APIs, services, frontend applications, or data pipelines)
• Strong proficiency in Python or TypeScript/JavaScript
• Strong experience with the technologies covered in at least 2 of the below categories:
  1. Frontend: React, Vue, Next.js, Vite, Tailwind CSS (or equivalent)
  2. Backend: REST API design, FastAPI, OAuth (or equivalent)
  3. Data: PostgreSQL, pandas, PySpark, SQLAlchemy (or equivalent)
• SQL fundamentals and comfort with at least one database platform
• CI/CD: GitLab, GitHub Actions, CircleCI, or others
• Write tested, maintainable code and participate in code review and technical design discussions with your team
• Working knowledge of Infrastructure-as-Code: Terraform, CloudFormation, CDK, or others
• Experience with Agile Development Methodology and the Software Development Lifecycle
• Experience with serverless or containerized deployment patterns (Lambda, ECS/EKS, Fargate)
• Understanding of basic cloud security principles
• Clear written and verbal communication, and comfort presenting your work and technical decisions to client stakeholders

What Makes You Stand Out

• 4+ years of engineering experience, with a track record of technical ownership of architecture and design decisions on client-facing or cross-functional projects
• Leads architecture and design decisions: translates ambiguous business requirements into well-scoped technical solutions, and defends trade-offs to technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Builds trusted advisor relationships with client stakeholders - proactively surfacing risks, options, and recommendations rather than waiting to be asked
• Prior consulting or professional services experience, with a track record of building credibility and lasting relationships with external clients
• Depth in at least two full-stack domains (frontend, API/backend, data) and the ability to unblock teammates in the third
• Hands-on AWS experience deploying and operating production software
• Mature CI/CD design and configuration management experience
• Mentors mid-level engineers through code review, pairing, and design feedback
• Drives cost-optimization and reliability initiatives across engagements, not just within a single project

Nice to Haves

• AWS certification (Solutions Architect Associate/Professional, DevOps Engineer, or Data specialty)
• Experience with GraphQL, WebSockets, or real-time application patterns
• Experience with Databricks, Snowflake, or Spark at scale
• Machine learning or GenAI integration experience (Bedrock, SageMaker, vector databases)