Software Architect - Back-End Serverless (U.S. Remote - Occasional Office Visits

Overview

About Unison:Unison’s products power the business of government to work smoother and smarter, making critical federal processes and acquisitions simpler and more effective. Trusted by over 200,000 federal employees and government contractors, our AI-infused software and deep domain expertise help contract shops, cost engineers, 1102s, program managers, and budgeting professionals cut through friction, keep compliance airtight, and sharpen decisions. Our federal focus brings efficiency, transparency, and clarity to complex data, regulations, and workflows, empowering agencies and executives to spend more minutes on mission and achieve strategic objectives. Unison is how federal business gets done. Role Overview: We are seeking an experienced Software Architect to lead the design and evolution of highly scalable, secure, and resilient AWS serverless platforms. This role is ideal for a senior technologist who thrives at the intersection of architecture, hands-on implementation, and technical leadership, and who brings a strong point of view on cloud-native design tradeoffs. You will act as an architectural steward for our backend systems, ensuring they align with the AWS Well-Architected Framework across operational excellence, security, reliability, performance efficiency, and cost optimization.

Responsibilities

• Own and evolve the backend architecture for serverless, event-driven systems built on AWS Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, and EventBridge.
• Define and enforce architectural standards, reference patterns, and best practices aligned with AWS Well-Architected principles.
• Lead architectural reviews, design discussions, and trade-off analyses across teams.
• Serve as a technical authority and mentor for senior and mid-level engineers.
• Design and oversee GraphQL API architectures using TypeScript, with a focus on schema governance, versioning, and long-term maintainability.
• Guide data modeling strategies, including DynamoDB single-table design, access patterns, and scalability considerations.
• Establish resilient, observable, and fault-tolerant systems with clear SLOs and recovery strategies.
• Drive Infrastructure as Code practices using AWS CDK, enabling repeatable, auditable environments.
• Embed monitoring, logging, alerting, and automated remediation into system designs.
• Lead root cause analysis for complex production incidents and drive systemic fixes.
• Partner with DevOps and product stakeholders to improve deployment safety, release velocity, and operational maturity.
• Architect systems with defense-in-depth security, least-privilege access, and compliance-aware designs.
• Continuously assess and improve system performance, scalability, and cost efficiency.
• Ensure designs are aligned with regulatory and compliance requirements where applicable (e.g., FedRAMP).
• Work cross-functionally with product, frontend, and platform teams to translate business requirements into durable technical solutions.
• Influence roadmap decisions by clearly articulating technical risks, constraints, and long-term implications.
• Contribute to engineering culture through thoughtful code reviews, architectural documentation, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional experience in backend or platform engineering, with architect-level responsibility for production systems.
• Deep expertise in TypeScript and modern backend application design.
• Strong hands-on experience with AWS serverless architectures (Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, EventBridge).
• Proven experience designing and governing GraphQL APIs at scale.
• Advanced understanding of distributed systems, data modeling, and event-driven architectures.
• Extensive experience with Infrastructure as Code (AWS CDK preferred).
• Demonstrated ability to diagnose and resolve complex system failures through structured root cause analysis.
• Strong familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, version control strategies, and automated testing practices.
• Experience operating in Agile environments with cross-functional teams.

What We’re Looking For:

• Someone who is detail-oriented and comfortable taking ownership of features from design to deployment.
• A developer who enjoys solving complex architecture challenges in a cloud-first environment.
• A collaborative team member who values quality, reliability, and maintainable code.
• A team member that reflects our foundational behaviors: Client service, flexibility, respect, stewardship, commitment, initiative, and teamwork.

Compensation: Base Salary: $150,000-250,000Final compensation will depend on factors such as geographic location, experience, and qualifications. In-Person Interview:Our hiring process requires one in-person meeting, typically the final interview. Travel and accommodations will be provided. Remote Work:Though predominantly remote, infrequent office visits will be required annually. All travel costs for these visits will be covered by Unison. Why Join Unison: Unison has pioneered the creation of innovative software for federal agencies, program offices, and government contractors worldwide. We believe that there is power in moving in unison. Our culture and values reflect this belief and are central to achieving our mission of powering the business of government. Rather than chasing short-lived tech trends, Unison delivers proven software that simplifies the complexities of federal business. Our technology combines innovative thinking with precise federal know-how, addressing critical details others overlook. Designed with purpose and engineered to endure, our software provides consistent performance, allowing federal agencies and contractors to stay focused on their missions. Unison provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability status, age, genetics, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Apply tot his job Apply To this Job