DevOps Engineer (Python Focused)

Join an established technology services company as a DevOps / Infrastructure Automation Engineer in a contract-to-hire role with strong intent to convert to full-time employment. This remote position (U.S.-based, CST or EST preferred) focuses on supporting and evolving a complex infrastructure templating and automation platform for legacy enterprise infrastructure running primarily on AWS EC2-based environments. You'll work on a highly technical, hands-on role automating infrastructure provisioning, maintaining and enhancing a complex Python-based templating engine, and generating Terraform configurations programmatically. This position supports hybrid legacy and modern AWS environments with an ongoing long-term migration toward modernized platforms. Contract compensation ranges from $100 to $140 per hour, with conversion salary ranging from $100,000 to $160,000 base.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a strong Python developer who understands infrastructure to make significant impact on a critical automation platform. Unlike typical DevOps roles that involve occasional scripting, this position requires substantial Python programming experience maintaining complex production codebases. You'll work with a small, tight-knit team (currently two engineers in Dallas) as a key contributor evolving a homegrown automation platform that has grown significantly in complexity over time. The role offers deep technical challenges, from generating Terraform configurations programmatically to automating AWS infrastructure provisioning and data center buildouts. You'll have the autonomy to take initiative and operate with minimal oversight while improving automation in environments that are partially manual today. The contract-to-hire structure provides opportunity to evaluate the role while offering a clear path to full-time employment with competitive base salary. Working on legacy enterprise systems while supporting modernization efforts provides valuable experience with both established infrastructure and emerging technologies. The remote flexibility combined with preference for CST or EST time zones enables work-life balance while maintaining team collaboration. With opportunities to participate in architecture and automation improvement initiatives, you'll influence the technical direction of critical infrastructure systems.
Required Skills & Experience

• 4+ years of experience working with AWS infrastructure
• Strong hands-on experience with AWS including EC2, networking, load balancers, and IP addressing
• Strong hands-on experience with Terraform
• Infrastructure automation experience in real-world production environments
• Strong Python programming background with experience maintaining non-trivial production codebase
• Ability to write clean, structured, maintainable Python code
• Comfortable reviewing and modifying complex existing systems
• Experience writing substantial code, not just small scripts
• Solid understanding of networking fundamentals including load balancers and IP addressing
• Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills
• Ability to read, understand, and enhance large, complex internal codebases
• Comfortable leveraging AI tools like Copilot but able to explain and defend design decisions
• Able to understand and refactor code written by others
• Self-directed with ability to take initiative and operate with minimal oversight
• (no sponsorship available)
• Located in CST or EST time zones (MST considered case by case)
• Available for occasional 8:00 AM EST meetings
• Available for some evening meetings due to international team collaboration

Desired Skills & Experience

• Experience working in hybrid legacy and modernization environments
• Experience supporting enterprise-scale infrastructure
• Familiarity with long-running platform migrations
• Experience in partially automated data center buildouts
• Background supporting EC2-based legacy enterprise systems
• Experience with complex infrastructure templating systems
• Strong software engineering principles and practices
• Experience with code reviews and collaborative development
• Understanding of infrastructure as code best practices

What You Will Be Doing
Tech Breakdown

• 40% Python Development (building and maintaining templating engine, automation systems)
• 30% Terraform and Infrastructure Automation (generating configurations, provisioning)
• 20% AWS Infrastructure Management (EC2, networking, load balancers, modernization)
• 10% Collaboration and Architecture (cross-functional work, improvement initiatives)

Daily Responsibilities

• 60% Hands-On Development (writing Python code, maintaining automation platform)
• 25% Infrastructure Automation (Terraform generation, AWS provisioning, buildouts)
• 15% Collaboration and Planning (team coordination, architecture discussions, code reviews)