Role:-Principal Software Architect
Location:-Ashburn, VA-
Duration:-6 Months Contract to Hire Role
Tech Stack- Backend, AWS, Java/Python, Microservices, AI Agentic Tools, like Claude code/Codex
Hands-On Architecture & Engineering (~60%)
1 Design and implement scalable AWS architectures
2 Build reference implementations and POCs
3 Contribute to production code and review PRs
4 Define API standards (REST/GraphQL)
5 Drive event-driven architectures using EventBridge, SNS, and SQS
6 Work on both greenfield systems and legacy modernization
Event-Driven Architecture (Explicit Expectations
1 Design fan-out patterns using SNS/EventBridge for decoupled systems
2 Implement asynchronous workflows using SQS and event orchestration
3 Define clear event contracts and versioning strategies
4 Balance eventual consistency vs strong consistency based on business needs
5 Apply event-driven patterns pragmatically (avoid over-engineering/event overuse)
Architecture Leadership
1 Lead design reviews and technical deep dives
2 Establish and enforce architecture standards
3 Own ADRs and decision-making discipline
4 Align teams on scalable, consistent patterns
5 Partner with DevOps and engineering leadership
Security & Platform Architecture
1 Design identity and access patterns (Entra ID, Okta)
2 Implement IAM and JWT-based authorization
3 Drive zero-trust architecture principles
4 Ensure compliance with federal/regulatory requirements
AI-Driven Engineering
1 Use Claude Code and OpenAI Codex in daily engineering work
2 Define AI-assisted development standards
3 Improve debugging, automation, and code generation with AI
4 Drive measurable productivity gains across teams
Communication & Alignment
1 Present to engineering and business stakeholders
2 Create high-quality documentation and architecture artifacts
3 Bridge technical decisions with business outcomes
Required Qualifications
8+ years engineering experience
Strong AWS and backend experience
Microservices and event-driven systems
Security architecture knowledge
Strong debugging and system design skills
Preferred Qualifications
1 AWS Solutions Architect certification
2 DDD and hexagonal architecture (pragmatic use)