Staff/Senior Software Engineer (Python/PHP)

Ontrac Solutions is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Staff/Senior Software Engineer to support critical customer engagement focused on application and platform modernization. The role involves leading modernization efforts, breaking down monolithic architectures into container-based services on GCP, and working closely with engineering managers and customer stakeholders to ensure project success.

Responsibilities:

• Lead application and platform modernization across internal network-automation services, breaking monoliths into container-based services on GCP
• Drive language and library upgrades (Python 3.11+, PHP 8.4.x, OpenSSL), own design and reviews, and mentor junior developers
• Build and extend metrics paths as the platform moves from a legacy metrics system to Chronosphere, Prometheus, and Grafana
• Partner on the migration from Splunk to Splunk Cloud or alternative solutions
• Collaborate with product engineers on OS and package shifts (RHEL7 to EL8/9, proprietary packaging to RPM) and cloud migrations, owning feature delivery in support of the broader digital transformation
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product managers, designers, and other engineering teams, to define requirements and drive technical solutions
• Drive the adoption of best practices for software development, including testing, code reviews, and continuous integration and delivery
• Troubleshoot and debug complex issues across the distributed system, identifying root causes and implementing effective solutions

Requirements:

• 10+ years of backend software development
• Recent, hands-on Python (3.11+) AND PHP (8.x)
• A real example of deconstructing a monolith into container-based services, ideally on Google Cloud
• OpenSSL / secure communication implementation experience
• Testing discipline: unit, integration, and acceptance tests on production systems
• A degree in computer science or a related field
• 10+ years of relevant work experience in software development, focused on backend development, specifically with Python experience
• 8+ years of strong expertise developing applications using Python (3.11+) and PHP (8.4.x)
• Extensive Python experience, with the ability to understand an existing complex codebase and lead development efforts
• Extensive experience deconstructing monolithic architectures into container-based services to enhance scalability and maintainability
• Experience working with cloud platforms, specifically Google Cloud
• Technical proficiency with OpenSSL and implementing secure communication protocols across distributed platforms
• Exposure to metrics and monitoring tools such as Chronosphere, Prometheus, and Grafana
• Familiarity with logging solutions, specifically transitioning from Splunk to Splunk Cloud
• Exposure to OS/package management, including RHEL7 to EL8/9 shifts and migrations from proprietary package management to RPM
• Strong proficiency writing unit, integration, and acceptance tests
• Previous experience with internal network-automation services and platforms
• Experience mentoring mid-level engineers to reduce single points of failure (SPOFs)
• Experience partnering with Principal Engineers on large-scale cloud migrations