Backend Software Engineer (Python / Polars)

About Us

Stronghold Investment Management (“Stronghold,” “SIM,” or “the Firm”) is a technology-driven, vertically integrated investment manager focused on real-assets and related private markets. Stronghold seeks to deliver best-in-class risk-adjusted returns through an investment framework that features comparatively rapid transaction velocity, deep technical expertise, creative financial structuring, and objective and algorithmic decision making.

Stronghold was founded by Ryan Turner in 2016 and has deployed over $1.6 billion in capital across 10+ investment vehicles. 

Ultimately, Stronghold intends to apply its technology-intensive investment approach to a variety of specialist real assets verticals, including:

• Oil & Gas
• Renewables
• Specialty Real Estate (commercial, datacenters, marinas)
• Telecommunications and Technology Infrastructure
• Billboards and Fixtures
• Mining & other commodities
• Utilities
• Secondaries

Backend Software Engineer (Python / Polars)

Location: Dallas, TX

We’re looking for a backend-focused Software Engineer who’s fluent in Python and comfortable working in data-intensive systems. The ideal person has built APIs and backend services that move, process, and serve complex datasets — ideally in environments like Financial Services, Real Assets, or Fintech.

This role sits at the intersection of software engineering and data infrastructure: you’ll be designing performant systems that handle large data workloads with speed and precision, leveraging Python and Polars alongside our broader tech stack of Ruby on Rails, Kafka, Elasticsearch, PostgreSQL, Redis, and Azure.

What You’Ll Do

• Build and maintain backend services and APIs that power critical internal and external applications.
• Use Polars and other modern Python data libraries (e.g., PyArrow, NumPy) to optimize data transformations and analytics workloads.
• Partner closely with senior engineers, data teams, and product stakeholders to translate business logic into scalable, maintainable code.
• Contribute to architecture discussions and help define how data flows through our platform.
• Review code thoughtfully and continuously refine development practices for clarity, reliability, and performance.
• Support our move toward more cloud-native, data-driven systems within Azure.

What You Bring

• 5+ years of backend development experience (Python required; Ruby is a plus).
• Proven experience working with data-oriented Python frameworks — ideally Polars, but Pandas or similar experience is fine with a willingness to adopt Polars.
• Solid understanding of API design, distributed systems, and service-to-service communication.
• Proficiency in relational databases (PostgreSQL, SQL Server) and exposure to NoSQL tools (Redis, Elasticsearch, MongoDB).
• Familiarity with Kafka or other message queues.
• Working knowledge of cloud environments (Azure preferred) and CI/CD pipelines.
• Strong fundamentals in algorithms, data structures, and system design.

Who You Are

• Curious, resourceful, and self-directed — someone who can take a technical problem and run with it.
• Analytical with a bias toward action — you understand the “why” behind what you build.
• Attentive to detail, with clean coding habits and a pragmatic approach to testing and debugging.
• Comfortable working in a collaborative environment where clear communication and accountability matter.
• Genuinely interested in learning and experimenting with newer tools like Polars to improve performance and developer efficiency.

Why Work With Stronghold?

At Stronghold, we strive to create a workplace that is not only rewarding but also satisfying. We believe our employees are the driving force behind our success, and we are committed to providing them with an environment where they can thrive and reach their full potential. When you choose to work with us, you'll be joining a team of highly talented professionals who are passionate about what they do and dedicated to bringing technology expertise to our domain. We value innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to excellence, and we provide our employees with the resources and support they need to succeed. If you're looking for a challenging and fulfilling career, we invite you to apply.

Benefits

• Market-competitive compensation
• Fully paid benefits (Medical, Dental and Vision)
• HSA
• 401k + Match
• Company sponsored LTD, STD, life insurance and AD&D
• Generous PTO policy
• 20 company recognized holidays 
• Class A offices in prime locations
• Parental Leave

Equal Opportunity Employer

Stronghold Investment Management is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in creating a diverse and inclusive workforce, where individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can thrive. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. We encourage applicants from underrepresented groups to apply and embrace the unique contributions they can bring to our organization.