Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking a Back-End Engineer to develop scalable, secure, and high-performance software for ground satellite operations. You don’t need to be a space expert—think of satellites as flying servers you connect to every 90 minutes. This role focuses on building Python microservices deployed to cloud and on-prem environments, optimizing for cost, performance, and reliability. You’ll collaborate with cross-functional teams including satellite operators and software engineers to deliver robust backend solutions that support thousands of satellite connections. This position will be located in Southern California (preferred), Washington D.C., Arvada, CO, or Seattle, WA (preferred). Candidates must hold an active Secret Clearance.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE BACK-END ENGINEER INCLUDE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field.
• 4+ years of professional experience in backend development, DevOps, or related roles.
• Active Secret Clearance or previously held clearance preferred.
• Proficiency in Python and Java or C++.
• Experience with Kubernetes and container orchestration.
• Familiarity with AWS services: Lambda, ECS, EKS, CloudWatch, S3, EFS/EBS, EC2, RDS.
• Strong understanding of serverless architecture and containerized applications.
• Experience designing and debugging APIs and distributed systems.
• Knowledge of NoSQL and relational databases.
• CI/CD pipeline development with GitHub or GitLab.
• Version control using Git and GitLab or similar
• Strong troubleshooting and technical analysis skills.
• Independent self-starter with excellent time management.
• High standards for software quality, maintainability, and performance.
• Effective communicator across backend, frontend, and product teams.

• Develop Python-based microservices for satellite operations software.
• Deploy and maintain containerized applications in Kubernetes environments.
• Work with AWS services to build scalable and secure cloud-native solutions.
• Design and troubleshoot APIs, distributed databases, caching systems, and event-driven architectures.
• Automate tasks and build CI/CD pipelines using GitHub or GitLab.
• Collaborate with frontend engineers and product managers to deliver integrated solutions.
• Troubleshoot issues and optimize backend systems for performance and resilience.