Lead Python Engineer / Technical Architect, Investment Platform

ClientOur client, a leading global investment management organization, is modernizing a portfolio of business-critical investment analytics and portfolio management applications. This is a greenfield-focused initiative offering significant influence over solution architecture, technology choices, and engineering practices. The scope includes:Portfolio management and investment analyticsFixed income ETFs and capital markets solutionsIntegrations with external platforms such as BNY and AladdinModernization of applications originally developed by business teams.Position overviewWe are looking for a hands-on Lead Python Engineer / Technical Architect to act as the senior technical member of a small engineering team. The role combines Python development, AWS architecture, technical leadership, and direct collaboration with business stakeholders. The successful candidate will design and implement scalable solutions, modernize existing applications, establish engineering standards, and mentor junior and mid-level developers.The successful candidate will be able to move effectively between business discussions, solution design, architecture, development, code review, and mentoring, applying pragmatic technical leadership and excellent stakeholder communication to transform business-developed applications into robust, scalable, and maintainable engineering solutions. This is not a purely architectural or managerial role. The successful candidate is expected to remain actively involved in solution design, coding, code reviews, and delivery. This is a hybrid position requiring onsite presence at the client's Chicago office four days per week.ResponsibilitiesLead solution architecture and technical design activitiesDesign develop and maintain production grade Python applicationsRefactor and modernize applications originally developed by business teamsDesign scalable resilient secure and observable AWS native solutionsContribute to data architecture and solutions based on Snowflake and modern data platformsDefine engineering standards design patterns testing practices and CI/CD processesConduct code reviews and support software quality maintainability and securityCollaborate with business stakeholders and subject matter experts to translate business needs into technical solutionsWork effectively in an environment with limited Business Analyst supportMentor junior and middle level engineers and facilitate knowledge transfer across the teamRequirementsStrong hands on Python development experienceProven experience designing and building production grade applicationsStrong AWS architecture and cloud engineering expertisePrevious experience as a Technical Lead Lead Engineer or hands on ArchitectExperience modernizing or refactoring legacy or business developed applicationsKnowledge of software architecture and design patternsKnowledge of API design and system integrationKnowledge of automated testing and quality engineeringKnowledge of CI/CD and version controlKnowledge of application security monitoring and observabilityExperience with Snowflake or comparable modern data platformsExperience working with data intensive applications or analytics solutionsStrong stakeholder communication and requirements analysis skillsExperience mentoring and supporting junior and middle level engineersAbility and willingness to work onsite in Chicago four days per weekNice to haveExperience in Financial Services particularly in Asset Management Investment Management or Capital MarketsExperience with portfolio management investment analytics Fixed Income or ETF solutionsExposure to Aladdin BNY or comparable financial platforms and integrationsExperience modernizing applications developed by business analyst or quantitative teamsFamiliarity with AI enabled software development agentic workflows or AI assisted SDLC