This role is expected to operate at a senior engineer level with hands on coding, influencing architecture, mentoring junior engineers, and driving system reliability for mission-critical investment platforms.
Core ResponsibilitiesBackend & Platform Engineering- Design and build scalable backend services and APIs supporting portfolio construction, optimization, trading, and analytics workflows
- Develop high-performance, production-grade systems using Java and/or Python with strong focus on reliability and maintainability
- Architect and implement microservices and event-driven systems to support high-volume, latency-sensitive workloads
- Ensure application performance, scalability, resiliency, and cost efficiency across distributed systems
- Integrate internal and third-party systems, ensuring seamless interoperability and data consistency
Technical Leadership & System Design- Provide senior-level system design, architecture guidance, and technical direction across backend and platform components
- Lead design and code reviews, ensuring alignment with engineering standards and architectural principles
- Evaluate and recommend technology solutions, design patterns, and implementation approaches
- Anticipate system and platform risks; proactively design solutions to prevent production issues
- Mentor engineers and elevate technical execution across the team
Investment Systems & Domain Alignment- Develop a deep understanding of investment management workflows, including portfolios, trading lifecycle, and data pipelines
- Design systems that support front, middle, and back office functions while maintaining strong controls and auditability
- Translate business requirements into scalable technical solutions aligned with investment processes
- Ensure systems meet accuracy, consistency, and regulatory expectations for financial applications
Cloud & Engineering Practices- Build and operate cloud-native services on AWS using containerized architectures and Kubernetes
- Drive adoption of CI/CD, automated testing, and infrastructure-as-code practices
- Improve observability, monitoring, and operational readiness across platform components
- Contribute to architectural evolution toward scalable, cloud-native systems
SDLC & Operational Excellence- Ensure the viability and quality of investment systems deliverables through rigorous testing and validation
- Lead and participate in design, code, and test inspections across the SDLC
- Support production systems, including incident response, root cause analysis, and remediation
- Ensure compliance with Information Technology and Information Security policies
- Promote continuous improvement in engineering practices, standards, and system reliability
Additional Responsibilities- Develop and maintain deep knowledge of Vanguard's platform ecosystem and integration points
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to deliver high-impact capabilities
- Participate in special initiatives supporting the growth and scalability of the VPI platform
Qualifications- Minimum of 8+ years of experience, including significant experience building investment, wealth management, or financial systems
- Strong backend engineering expertise in Java and/or Python
- Deep understanding of investment domain concepts including portfolios, trading workflows, market data, and investment analytics
- Proven experience designing and building scalable distributed systems and APIs
- Experience with microservices architectures, messaging systems, and asynchronous processing patterns
- Strong experience with cloud-native platforms, particularly AWS
- Experience with containerization and orchestration (Kubernetes preferred)
- Demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership and influence system design decisions
- Strong problem-solving and production support experience in high-availability environments
EducationUndergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience
Special FactorsSponsorshipVanguard is offering visa sponsorship for this position.
Salary Range:$100,000.00 - $180,000.00
