Backend Engineer (Big Data & AWS)

Title: Backend Engineer (Big Data & AWS) Location : Rockville, MD ,  McLean, VA, New York, NY or Jersey City, NJ Target Start Date : ASAP Type: contract Pay Rate: DOE We are seeking a Backend Engineer who brings strong ownership, technical depth, and a passion for building scalable, data-driven systems. This individual will play a key role in designing and delivering backend services that power high-performance applications and analytics platforms. This role requires someone who can operate across distributed systems, contribute to architectural decisions, and collaborate closely with cross-functional partners to deliver impactful solutions. Responsibilities • Design, develop, and maintain scalable backend services and APIs supporting data-intensive applications • Build and optimize distributed systems leveraging big data technologies such as Spark, Hive, and Presto • Develop high-performance APIs that enable interactive access to large-scale datasets • Partner with product, data, and engineering teams to translate business requirements into technical solutions • Contribute to system design, architecture discussions, and engineering best practices • Ensure reliability, scalability, and performance of services deployed in AWS environments • Participate in Agile development processes, including sprint planning, code reviews, and continuous improvement • Support CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure-as-code practices for efficient and repeatable deployments • Stay current with emerging technologies and contribute to innovation across the engineering organization Required Qualifications • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field • 5 years of software engineering experience, with a focus on backend development • Strong programming experience in one or more of the following: Java, Python, or TypeScript • 3 years of experience working with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop ecosystem, Presto/Trino) • 3 years of experience building and consuming RESTful APIs • Strong SQL skills with experience working across large, complex datasets • Hands-on experience with AWS services such as S3, EMR, Lambda, ECS, or similar • Experience with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, or similar) • Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code tools (e.g., CloudFormation, Terraform) Preferred Qualifications • Experience building data platforms or data-driven applications at scale • Exposure to streaming technologies (e.g., Kafka) • Experience with containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes/EKS) • Familiarity with data lake architectures and query engines (e.g., Athena, Trino) • Experience supporting production systems, including monitoring and performance tuning What Sets You Apart • Strong problem-solving skills and ability to navigate ambiguity • Ownership mindset with a focus on delivering high-quality outcomes • Ability to communicate effectively across technical and non-technical stakeholders • Passion for continuous learning and improving engineering practices Welcome to ConsultNet, a premier national provider of technology talent and solutions. Our expertise spans across project services, contract-to-hire, direct search, and managed services onshore, nearshore, and hybrid. For over 25 years, we have connected thousands of consultants with meaningful roles through a personal, communication-driven approach, partnering with a diverse client base to build high-performing teams and create lasting impact. Our comprehensive service offerings cover a wide range of technology and engineering positions across key markets nationwide. Learn more at www.consultnet.com . We champion equality and inclusivity, proudly supporting an Equal Opportunity Employer policy. We welcome applicants regardless of Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, National Origin, Age, Genetic Information, Disability, Protected Veteran Status, or any other status protected by law.