Platform Architect, Personalized Indexing Technology

Vanguard•Malvern, PA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Vanguard is seeking a Platform Architect to join the Personalized Indexing Technology (VPI) team. This role involves leading the definition and evolution of application and platform architecture, driving key architectural decisions for cloud-native systems on AWS, and acting as a hands-on individual contributor. The architect will design and build solutions, develop cloud-native services, write production-quality code primarily in Java and Python, and contribute to data engineering and platform integration efforts. Responsibilities also include designing and implementing scalable infrastructure, building and operating microservices architectures, partnering with teams on CI/CD and observability, and resolving production issues. The role involves collaboration with other technology and product teams, and participation in build vs. buy evaluations. The architect will also contribute to special initiatives and continuous improvement of engineering practices.

Requirements

Strong engineering background with experience building investment platforms, financial systems, or large‑scale distributed systems.
8 years experience with Computer science or related degree.
Demonstrated experience as a hands‑on architect or senior engineer delivering production systems.
Proficiency in Java and Python.
Experience designing and building cloud‑native architectures on AWS.
Solid understanding of microservices architectures, including messaging, caching, and asynchronous processing.
Experience with Kubernetes and container‑based platforms.
Working knowledge of data engineering concepts and data‑intensive systems.
Ability to operate effectively as an independent contributor while collaborating across teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience with direct indexing, portfolio management, tax‑loss harvesting, or investment operations platforms.
Familiarity with high‑volume, high‑availability financial systems.
Experience modernizing legacy platforms into cloud‑native architectures.
Strong understanding of operational concerns such as resiliency, monitoring, security, and cost optimization.

Responsibilities

Lead the definition and evolution of application and platform architecture aligned with VPI business strategy, product roadmaps, and Vanguard technology standards.
Drive key architectural decisions for cloud‑native systems, balancing scalability, resiliency, security, and cost.
Develop and review architecture and design documentation for new capabilities and platform enhancements.
Partner closely with product owners, engineering teams, and business stakeholders to ensure solutions meet functional and non‑functional requirements.
Act as a hands‑on individual contributor, designing and building solutions across the VPI platform.
Develop cloud‑native services on AWS, including microservices, APIs, and supporting infrastructure.
Write production‑quality code primarily in Java and Python, with a strong focus on maintainability and performance.
Contribute to data engineering and platform integration efforts supporting investment workflows, analytics, and operational processes.
Help modernize and evolve existing systems while maintaining stability of critical production workloads.
Design and implement scalable infrastructure using AWS, including containerized workloads and Kubernetes.
Build and operate microservices architectures leveraging messaging, caching, and asynchronous processing patterns.
Partner with teams on infrastructure automation, CI/CD pipelines, observability, and operational excellence.
Identify and resolve moderately complex production and platform issues, assessing risks and driving pragmatic solutions.
Consult with other technology and product teams across Vanguard to ensure alignment and reuse where appropriate.
Lead and participate in build vs. buy evaluations, including assessment of vendors, tools, and platforms.
Provide technical guidance during vendor onboarding, integrations, and proof‑of‑concept efforts.
Participate in special initiatives supporting the growth and scalability of the VPI business.
Contribute to continuous improvement of engineering practices, standards, and platform reliability.