Software Engineer 5 - Python Platform

Netflix Netflix · Big Tech · Warsaw, Poland · Engineering

Netflix is seeking a Software Engineer 5 to build and define the foundational platform for Python at Netflix, evolving it into a fully managed, curated "Paved Path" for engineers. This role involves designing and promoting internal Python libraries, improving the Python development experience by integrating best practices and new technologies, and collaborating with engineers to provide an opinionated software development lifecycle. The engineer will also handle large-scale code refactoring and participate in support rotations. While the role focuses on the Python platform, it mentions applying Generative AI tools to improve workflows and has nice-to-have experience in ML and Data Engineering.

What you'd actually do

  1. Design and promote internal Python libraries that address common challenges faced by Netflix's Python engineers. Refine the foundational Python capabilities and ensure they operate seamlessly for internal customers.
  2. Understand and improve Python development experience by bringing in best practices and the latest technologies into runtime management, dependency resolution/management, testing, delivery, monitoring, and operation.
  3. Work backward from Python engineers to understand their needs and wants, and collaborate with partner teams to provide an opinionated, batteries-included software development lifecycle for Python engineers.
  4. Safely apply massive code refactoring changes to thousands of git repositories for migration and upgrade needs.
  5. Participate in the team’s support and on-call rotations.

Skills

Required

  • Extensive experience with authoring Python libraries that will be used across multiple environments, such as batch jobs, data streaming, training, and web services.
  • Deep understanding of common software engineering challenges, such as observability, security, configuration, caching, and IPC.
  • Deep expertise in the internal mechanics of Python, spanning the python execution model, high-scale dependency resolution, and the Python build/packaging ecosystem, demonstrating knowledge well beyond basic usage.
  • Expert on mainstream Python web frameworks (e.g. FastAPI, Flask)
  • Apply Generative AI tools with strong judgment and adaptability to continuously improve workflows and drive significant business impact.
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate cross-functionally with other Platform teams.
  • Able to comfortably navigate the ambiguity of a wide range of customer and partner needs, working to create the best products for the business priorities.
  • Wearing different hats as needed for the team, including project and product management.
  • Demonstrate a pragmatic balance between adopting modern best practices and taking a conservative, risk-aware approach to change.

Nice to have

  • Experience with Machine Learning (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn)
  • Experience with Data Engineering (e.g., Jupyter Notebooks, Spark, pandas, numpy)
  • Working knowledge of Conda

What the JD emphasized

  • extensive experience with authoring Python libraries that will be used across multiple environments, such as batch jobs, data streaming, training, and web services
  • Deep expertise in the internal mechanics of Python, spanning the python execution model, high-scale dependency resolution, and the Python build/packaging ecosystem, demonstrating knowledge well beyond basic usage.