Careers

Supporting the innovators who will secure our future

Senior Backend Platform Engineer, Distributed Systems

Code Metal

Code Metal

Software Engineering
Boston, MA, USA
Posted on May 9, 2025

Help redefine how the DoD makes multi-billion-dollar force-design decisions. In this role, you'll fuse physics-driven simulation, interactive computing, and verified AI code-generation to create next-generation wargaming platforms. If building ultra-low-latency APIs, taming high-volume geospatial data, and leading with clean, production-ready Python gets you fired up, let’s talk.

What you’ll do

  • Own the service layer—design, build, and scale FastAPI micro-services and lightning-fast ZeroMQ messaging pipelines running in Kubernetes and bare-metal clusters.
  • Wrangle data at speed & scale—shape and query multi-TB Postgres/PostGIS datasets, orchestrate Redis for sub-millisecond state, and keep everything rock-solid under bursty load.
  • Glue the stack together—expose crisp, well-versioned REST & WebSocket endpoints for the frontend crew and simulation kernel.
  • Ship continuously—automate CI/CD, observability, and security hardening to DoD standards; push to prod with confidence.
  • Lead by doing—drive code reviews, mentor teammates, and set the standard for test coverage and documentation.

Why Code Metal?

  • Mission with impact: your APIs become the nervous system of digital battlefields influencing multi-billion-dollar defense acquisitions.
  • Velocity: tight-knit teams, weekly releases, zero bureaucratic drag.
  • Ownership: no passengers—every engineer ships code that matters.

Must-have credentials

  • 4+ years building production backends in modern Python, with deep FastAPI (or equivalent async framework) experience.
  • Proven expertise in ZeroMQ, NATS, Kafka, or similar high-throughput messaging systems.
  • Hands-on with Postgres/PostGIS and Redis in performance-critical workloads.
  • Cloud-native chops—Docker, Kubernetes, and one major provider (AWS, GCP, Azure, or GovCloud).
  • Active Secret clearance or eligibility to obtain one.

Bonus points

  • C++ or Rust skills for bridging high-performance simulation modules.
  • Hardened services for FedRAMP / STIG compliance.
  • Observability mindset—Prometheus, Grafana, OpenTelemetry.
  • TS/SCI clearance.
  • Health care plan with 100% premium coverage, including medical, dental, and vision.
  • 401k with 5% matching.
  • Paid Time Off (Uncapped Vacation, plus Sick & Public Holidays).
  • Flexible hybrid work arrangement.
  • Relocation assistance for qualifying employees.