Python Developer - W2 Contract

Dice is the leading career destination for tech experts at every stage of their careers. Our client, CogniSoft Technologies, is seeking the following. Apply via Dice today! Job Title: Python Developer Location: San Francisco, CA (3 Days Onsite - Hybrid) – Open for relocation with 100% surety Duration: 24+ Months (with possible extension) Job Description: • Senior Software Engineer – Python / PySpark (Mainframe Modernization) Team Objective • The team is responsible for modernizing a core mainframe-based financial application by rewriting it onto a distributed platform. • This application serves as the front door for financial data, acting as the system of record (SLR) and feeding downstream general ledger systems. • The platform is embedded within Corporate Accounting and plays a critical role in enterprise financial reporting and controls. Role Summary: • Client is seeking a Senior Software Engineer with deep backend expertise to join a Scrum-based delivery team modernizing a mission-critical financial system. • This role is heavily backend-focused, with strong emphasis on Python and PySpark, while also contributing to frontend development using React and Angular as needed. • This candidate will serve as a technical SME, guiding a team that is actively upskilling from mainframe technologies into modern Python-based platforms. • While this is not a people-lead role, the position requires strong mentorship, technical guidance, and exceptional communication skills. • The engineer will work closely with Product Owners, Lines of Business, and Operations teams, and must be comfortable presenting technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences. Key Responsibilities: • Design, develop, and modernize backend services to replace legacy mainframe functionality on a distributed platform • Build and maintain data ingestion, validation, and transformation pipelines using Python and PySpark • Develop and support APIs using FastAPI and/or Flask • Collaborate within a Scrum team, partnering closely with Product Owners, LOB stakeholders, and Operations • Act as a Python SME, mentoring engineers transitioning from mainframe technologies • Contribute to frontend development using React and Angular when required • Ensure data accuracy and integrity for financial feeds flowing into general ledger systems • Participate in technical design discussions, code reviews, and architecture decisions • Communicate effectively through documentation, presentations, and stakeholder discussions • Support CI/CD pipelines and cloud-native deployments using containerized platforms Required Qualifications: • 7 plus years of relevant professional software engineering experience • Strong expertise in Python, with production experience using PySpark • Backend experience with FastAPI and/or Flask • Frontend experience with React and/or Angular • Experience with SQL Server and/or Exadata • Hands-on experience with Kafka or other streaming platforms • Experience working in Agile / Scrum delivery models • Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills • Ability to guide and mentor other engineers as a senior technical contributor Preferred / Nice-to-Have Skills: • Agentic AI frameworks: LangGraph, LangChain, A2A • Programming Languages: Java, Scala, SQL, HiveQL • Big Data Technologies: Hadoop, Spark, HDFS, Hive, Cloudera, Hortonworks • Cloud Platforms: AWS (Glue, Lambda, Redshift, S3, CloudWatch) • ETL / ELT Tools: AWS Glue, PySpark, Databricks • Data Integration & Migration: Hadoop ecosystems, Kafka, real-time streaming, data lakes • Data Modeling: dimensional models, structured and unstructured data processing • CI/CD & Automation: GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, Jenkins, Git, Autosys, Airflow • Containerization and Orchestration: Kubernetes Required Skills: • Full Stack Python • FrontEnd: React/Angular • Backend: FastAPI / Flask • Data layer: SQLServer/Exadata • Streaming: Kafka • Agentic AI: LangGraph, LangChain, A2A (Good to Have) • CI/CD: (GitHub Actions / Azure DevOps), Kubernates Industry Background (Preferred): • Experience in financial institutions or enterprise accounting environments is highly desirable • Familiarity with financial data flows, general ledger concepts, and accounting terminology is a plus, though strong technical expertise is the primary requirement Ideal Candidate Profile: • Senior-level individual contributor with strong backend engineering depth • Comfortable serving as an SME and mentor without formal people-management responsibilities • Confident presenter with the ability to explain complex systems clearly • Adaptable, collaborative, and effective in cross-functional environments In this contingent resource assignment, candidates may: • Consult on complex initiatives with broad impact and large-scale planning for Software Engineering. • Review and analyze complex multi-faceted, larger scale or longer-term Software Engineering challenges that require in-depth evaluation of multiple factors including intangibles or unprecedented factors. • Contribute to the resolution of complex and multi-faceted situations requiring solid understanding of the function, policies, procedures, and compliance requirements that meet deliverables. • Strategically collaborate and consult with client personnel. Required Qualifications: • 5 plus years of Software Engineering experience, or equivalent demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work or consulting experience, training, military experience, education.