Python/React developer

**About The Opportunity** Software Development Engineer – Americas Operations in Austin, TX **Job Summary** We're seeking an experienced Senior Full Stack Developer to join our Supply Chain \& Operations technology team as a contractor. This is a high\-impact role focused on rapid application development for business\-critical systems that power Apple's global supply chain, logistics, and operational excellence. You'll work embedded within a dynamic, hybrid team of internal engineers and external contractors, collaborating closely with business stakeholders, UX designers, and technical leads to deliver full\-stack solutions that solve real operational challenges. This role requires someone who goes beyond just writing code—you'll need to understand user needs, contribute to requirements analysis, and bring strong product thinking to ensure we're building the right solutions. Characteristics of a Success Profile * Product\-minded engineer who empathizes with end users and their core tasks * Self\-starter with natural curiosity and drive to understand business context * Quality\-focused with disciplined approach to testing, code review, and maintainability * Collaborative mindset open to constructive feedback and paired programming * Strong communicator in English, able to articulate technical concepts clearly * Proven expertise utilizing new technologies in the AI space along the SDLC Core Responsibilities * Design and develop full\-stack web applications using React/TypeScript (frontend) and Python/FastAPI (backend) that solve operational challenges across supply chain, logistics, and planning systems * Build and optimize solutions for large\-scale relational datasets using MySQL or PostgreSQL, ensuring query performance and data integrity * Deploy and maintain containerized applications on Kubernetes, implementing infrastructure updates, connectivity improvements, and cloud platform enhancements * Collaborate with UX designers and business stakeholders to translate user needs and operational requirements into well\-architected technical solutions that deliver real value * Integrate with third\-party systems, external APIs, workflow platforms, and enterprise services (IAM, authentication, etc.) while maintaining security and privacy standards * Implement DevSecOps practices across the development lifecycle with emphasis on security by design, automated testing, and quality gates * Support and maintain production systems, including triaging and resolving bugs, implementing enhancements, and performing planned infrastructure upgrades * Participate in collaborative code reviews via pull requests, both providing and receiving constructive feedback to maintain high code quality and team knowledge sharing * Leverage AI\-powered development tools (IDE\-based agents for code generation) to enhance productivity and code quality, along the SDLC * Write clean, easy to understand, maintainable code following proven design principles and architectural best practices **Key Qualifications** * 5\+ years of professional full\-stack development experience * Excellent English communication skills (written and verbal) \- critical for remote collaboration * Proven capabilities in backend development, focusing on Python with FastAPI including RESTful API design and asynchronous programming patterns * Advanced proficiency in React and TypeScript for modern frontend development, Single Page Applications (SPA), including state management, performance optimization, and accessible UI design * Deep expertise in relational databases (MySQL or PostgreSQL), including query optimization, data modeling, and performance tuning for large\-scale datasets * Strong experience with Docker containerization and deploying/managing applications on Kubernetes (K8s) * Disciplined approach to code quality and testing (unit, integration, end\-to\-end) with experience in Git workflows and pull request reviews * Security\-first mindset with knowledge of common vulnerabilities, mitigations, and enterprise authentication patterns (OAuth, IAM, Secrets mgmt) * Experience with CI/CD pipelines and automated deployment workflows in cloud environments **Preferred Education And Additional Qualifications** * Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, or related technical field preferred * Expertise in other web languages and frameworks such as Vue.js, PHP/Symfony **About The Team** You'll join an established, collaborative team that combines internal Apple engineers with experienced external contractors. Our team operates with: * Paired development model: You'll work in tandem with an internal developer who provides business context and domain expertise * High standards for quality: We use pull requests for all code reviews, automated testing, and rigorous quality gates * Agile delivery: Work is organized into focused work packages with clear deliverables * Continuous learning: We value curiosity, encourage experimentation, and share knowledge openly * Inclusive culture: We welcome diverse perspectives and foster an environment where everyone can do their best work