Python Technical SME

Position: Python Technical SME
Location: San Jose, CA

The Python Technical SME is the ultimate technical escalation point and hands-on "Strike Team" lead for the Python language pod. This is a heavy Backend Coding and Refactoring role focused on resolving complex dynamic language failures, strict version incompatibilities, and critical API breaking changes across large-scale Python codebases. The SME intervenes when automated migration scripts fail, ensuring application stability during major dependency and runtime upgrades.

Core Responsibilities
    Hands-On Hardcore Refactoring: Resolve subtle runtime type errors, dynamic import issues, and breaking changes introduced by major library version bumps across large Python codebases.
    Resolving Dependency Conflicts: Deeply analyze hierarchical pyproject.toml, requirements.txt, and setup configurations to resolve transitive dependency deadlocks.
    Custom Patching Management: Debug and merge historical custom overrides and patches to align with clean upstream package releases.
    Architectural Conversions: Execute multi-version layout migrations and structure clean boundaries for shared internal Python libraries.
    C-Extension & FFI Auditing: Manage and refactor complex Python-to-C/C++ bindings, addressing memory management and interpreter overhead during upgrades.

Mandatory Backend Coding & Refactoring Skills
 
Backend Coding (Python): Advanced refactoring, asynchronous programming, and typing systems in Python 3.x.
Package Arch/Dependencies: Untangling virtual environments, pip dependency resolvers, and package graphs.
Advanced Tooling Pipeline: Hands-on scripting, automated syntax transforms, and AST manipulation tools.    
Build Systems (Blaze/Bazel/Pip): Deep understanding of package packaging, wheel distributions, and module visibility.    
C-Extensions / FFI: Bridging compiled languages (e.g., C/C++ extensions to Python).