Software Engineer -Backend Developer

Strategic Staffing Solutions is currently looking for a Software Engineer, W-2 contract opportunity.

This is a W-2 contract opportunity, and candidates must be able to work on our W-2 only. NO C2C or 1099.

Locations:
Charlotte, NC
• Type: W-2 Contract (NO C2C)
•

Schedule:

Hybrid – 3 days in office

Our client is seeking an experienced Backend Developer to accelerate the development and deployment of applications in an emerging digital organization. You will be responsible for designing and implementing cloud infrastructure using Terraform and developing serverless APIs in Python FastAPI that power form generation, data persistence, and enterprise‑scale deployments.

• Infrastructure & Dev Ops (Terraform)
  • Design and implement AWS infrastructure using Terraform, including Lambda functions, API Gateway (REST endpoints and custom authorize rs), RDS PostgreSQL and DynamoDB, VPC, security groups, and private endpoints, S3 buckets, Cloud Front, and ALB configuration, as well as Cloud Watch monitoring, logging, and alarms.
  • Establish Infrastructure-as-Code best practices with Terraform Cloud, state management, and modules.
  • Implement security hardening through least‑privilege IAM, encryption, and secret management.
  • Optimize infrastructure for cost, performance, and reliability.
  • Support CI/CD pipeline for automated deployments.
• Backend API Development (Python FastAPI)
  • Develop async FastAPI services for form generation, validation, submission, and data persistence; user and project management endpoints; and integration with AWS services such as Bedrock LLM, S3, DynamoDB, and RDS.
  • Design and optimize database schemas, including PostgreSQL and JSONB queries.
  • Implement comprehensive error handling, logging, and observability.
  • Write and maintain pytest test suites with 80%+ coverage.
  • Follow SOLID principles and clean code best practices.
• Collaboration & Delivery
  • Work closely with full‑stack engineers and Dev Ops teams.
  • Participate in code reviews and architectural discussions.
  • Document infrastructure, APIs, and deployment procedures.
  • Troubleshoot production issues and optimize performance.
  • Deliver modular, reusable code aligned with project standards.

• Infrastructure & Cloud
  • 5+ years of AWS experience (Lambda, API Gateway, RDS, DynamoDB, VPC).
  • 3+ years of Terraform / Infrastructure‑as‑Code expertise.
  • Strong understanding of AWS security, networking, and cost optimization.
  • Experience with API Gateway custom authorize rs and VPC endpoint configuration.
  • Familiarity with Lambda cold‑start optimization and Layer management.
  • Proven ability to design and document infrastructure architecture.
• Backend Development
  • 5+ years of Python development experience.
  • 3+ years with FastAPI, Django, or similar async Python frameworks.
  • Expertise in relational databases (PostgreSQL) and JSONB queries.
  • Experience with async/await patterns and error handling.
  • Strong understanding of REST API design principles.
  • Proficiency with SQL Alchemy ORM and database optimization.
• General Skills
  • Excellent debugging and troubleshooting abilities.
  • Experience with git workflows, pull requests, and CI/CD.
  • Ability to work independently and deliver production‑ready code.
  • Strong communication and documentation skills.
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent professional experience.

• Experience with AWS Bedrock or other LLM platforms.
• Familiarity with Azure AD/MSAL for authentication.
• Knowledge of DynamoDB and document‑based data models.
• Experience with serverless architecture patterns.
• Contributions to open‑source projects.
• Experience with Cypress or similar testing frameworks.
• AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification or equivalent.
• Exposure to Angular/Type Script (not required, but helpful for API design).