Python Engineer (Mid Level)

About the role

Paychex is looking for a mid-level Python engineer to deliver backend features on AWS serverless and build and maintain GraphQL APIs that power its HCM platform. The role also covers distributed, event-driven services, data models and storage, and collaboration on AI-powered features.

Key responsibilities

• Deliver end-to-end backend features with Python on AWS serverless (Lambda, API Gateway, SQS/SNS, EventBridge, Step Functions)
• Design, build and maintain clean, well-documented GraphQL APIs, with attention to performance and security
• Build scalable, resilient distributed and event-driven services, including integrations with third-party systems, idempotency, retries and failure recovery
• Design and optimize data models and storage (e.g. DynamoDB, PostgreSQL/Aurora, S3), focusing on data integrity, query performance and cost efficiency
• Collaborate on AI-powered features and intelligent automation, verifying AI-assisted work rigorously
• Integrate with and improve the automated CI/CD pipeline (CircleCI, GitHub Actions) and infrastructure as code (Terraform, AWS CDK or CloudFormation)
• Contribute to backend standards for security, observability and reliability, and take part in design and code reviews

Required profile

• 3+ years of backend development experience, focused on Python and AWS serverless
• Experience designing and building GraphQL and/or REST APIs
• Experience with distributed, event-driven systems and third-party integrations is a plus
• Strong testing and clean-coding mindset (BDD, TDD, SOLID)
• Understanding of application security best practices (authentication/authorization, IAM, secrets management, data protection)
• Experience contributing to product delivery, including planning, epics and cross-functional collaboration
• Experience using AI-powered tools

Required skills

• Python and AWS serverless
• GraphQL and/or REST APIs
• Relational and NoSQL databases, data modeling and performance tuning
• Familiarity with CircleCI, GitHub Actions, infrastructure as code and observability tools such as Datadog

What we offer

• A flexible work philosophy
• Company-paid private health insurance and life and disability insurance
• Paid leave for illness, birth parents, non-birth parents, elder caregivers, marriage, adoption and bereavement
• Inclusive and accessible Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Christmas and Easter bonuses
• Learning platform with lessons in English