Back-End Developer (Python/API)

Software Guidance & Assistance, Inc. (SGA) is searching for a mid-level Back-End Developer (Python/API). Flexible hiring structure, open to direct-hire assignment OR contract-to-perm assignment with one of our premier AI and Financial Technology clients. Must be local to NYC or Miami

The successful candidate will join a small, highly collaborative engineering team responsible for designing and building a cloud-native Portfolio Management System for a hedge fund from the ground up. This is a dedicated role supporting a single client, working directly with the client’s engineering leads while collaborating with the firm’s engineering team through code reviews and shared development practices. The immediate focus is Bloomberg connectivity and the Python back-end that market data flows through.

This role is ideal for a hands-on engineer who enjoys startup environments, greenfield development, and solving complex backend engineering challenges involving APIs, real-time market data, and scalable cloud architectures. The initial MVP is targeted for delivery by year-end.

This is neither a junior nor senior/principal level role. Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain backend services using Python and FastAPI.
• Build scalable REST APIs supporting cloud-native financial applications.
• Develop backend services and APIs from the ground up for a greenfield Portfolio Management System.
• Integrate with Bloomberg and other third-party market data providers to support real-time market data ingestion.
• Develop real-time backend services utilizing WebSockets and event-driven architectures.
• Design scalable backend solutions capable of supporting high-volume market data and growing user populations.
• Implement API throttling, rate limiting, caching, retry logic, and fault-tolerant data ingestion.
• Design, develop, and optimize PostgreSQL databases and SQL data models; work with Snowflake as the cloud data warehouse where applicable.
• Optimize application performance, cloud resource utilization, and overall system scalability.
• Deploy and support applications within Microsoft Azure.
• Collaborate daily with the client’s engineering leads during U.S. East Coast business hours to design, troubleshoot, and deliver new functionality.
• Coordinate with the firm’s engineering team through code reviews, merge requests, and shared development standards.
• Participate in architecture discussions and contribute to the overall technical direction of the platform.
• Troubleshoot production issues and continuously improve application reliability, scalability, and performance.

Required Skills

• 5+ years of backend software development experience.
• Strong Python programming skills.
• Experience developing REST APIs using FastAPI or similar Python frameworks.
• Hands-on Bloomberg API integration experience.
• Strong understanding of backend application architecture and distributed systems.
• Experience integrating external APIs.
• Strong SQL and PostgreSQL experience.
• Experience designing real-time applications utilizing WebSockets, streaming technologies, or event-driven architectures.
• Experience implementing API throttling, caching, rate limiting, retry logic, and performance optimization.
• Cloud development experience utilizing Microsoft Azure, AWS, or GCP.
• Experience using Git and modern CI/CD practices.
• Ability to consistently work U.S. East Coast business hours while collaborating live with engineering teams.
• Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently within a collaborative, fast-paced startup environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related technical discipline (or equivalent experience).

Preferred Skills

• Experience with Snowflake cloud data warehouse.
• Experience with OpenBB, DataBento, Polygon, DXFeed, Yahoo Finance, or similar financial market data providers.
• Capital Markets, Trading Systems, Hedge Fund, or Financial Services experience.
• JavaScript development experience.
• Docker and containerization.
• SQLAlchemy or comparable ORM frameworks.
• Experience building AI-enabled or LLM-powered applications.
• Startup or early-stage company experience.
• Experience designing highly scalable, low-latency distributed systems.
• Experience participating in collaborative code review and peer development environments.

SGA is a technology and resource solutions provider driven to stand out. We …