Software Developer II

Job Summary :

The Full Stack Software Developer (Level II) will be responsible for the end-to-end development, enhancement, and maintenance of robust and scalable web applications and software systems. This role requires a strong understanding of both front-end and back-end technologies, enabling the independent design, coding, testing, and deployment of complex features and functionalities. The developer will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, mentor junior developers, and contribute significantly to architectural decisions and the continuous improvement of our development practices.

Work in advanced software technologies, a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment developing truly innovative software solutions for federal and commercial customers. This position develops cutting-edge solutions in the following focus areas:

- Enterprise Web Development

- Cloud-Native Design, Kubernetes-Orchestrated Microservices, Containerization (Docker), and Infrastructure as Code (Helm, Terraform)

- Automation of Deployment Pipelines and CI/CD Workflows in GCP and Hybrid Environments

- Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Natural language Processing (NLP)

- Big Data and Data at Scale

- High Performance and Distributed Computing Architectures

- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Essential Job Functions :

- Front-End Development:

Strong proficiency in HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript.

- Expertise in at least one modern front-end framework/library (e.g., React, Angular, Vue.js), including state management and software architecture.

- In-depth understanding of responsive and adaptive web design principles and their implementation.

- Proficiency with front-end build tools (e.g., Webpack, Vite).

- Solid understanding of user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) principles, and the ability to translate design mockups into functional, intuitive interfaces.

- Back-End Development:

Strong proficiency in at least one server-side programming language and its associated framework(s) (e.g., Node.js with Express.js, Python with Django/Flask, Java).

- Expertise in designing, developing, and consuming RESTful APIs.

- Solid understanding of server-side architecture patterns (e.g., MVC, microservices).

- Experience with authentication and authorization mechanisms (e.g., OAuth, JWT).

- Database Management:

Proficient in designing, implementing, and optimizing schemas for relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and/or NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Redis).

- Strong SQL querying skills and/or experience with relevant NoSQL query languages.

- Understanding of database schema design and performance optimization techniques.

- Development Tools & Methodologies:

Expertise with version control systems, specifically Git, including branching, merging, and pull request workflows.

- Experience with Agile development methodologies (e.g., Scrum).

- Familiarity with Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines (e.g., GitHub Actions, Cloud Build, Cloud Deploy, etc.).

- Experience with containerization technologies (e.g., Docker) and understanding of container orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes) concepts.

- Understanding of the software development lifecycle (SDLC).

- Cloud and AI Integration:

Practical understanding of cloud-based AI platforms (e.g., Google Cloud Vertex AI) to integrate AI capabilities into applications.

- Experience interacting with Large Language Model (LLM) APIs (e.g., OpenAI, Gemini) to implement features like natural language processing or automated content generation.

- Familiarity with prompt engineering techniques to optimize the performance and accuracy of AI-driven features.

- System Design & Architecture:

Ability to contribute to the design of scalable, maintainable, and performant web applications.

- Understanding of common software design patterns and architectural principles.

- Basic awareness/familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., Google Cloud Platform, AWS, Azure) and their relevant services for web application deployment and scaling.

- Problem-Solving & Debugging:

Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to diagnose and resolve complex issues across the entire stack.

- Proficiency in using debugging tools and techniques.

- Security:

Basic understanding of web security best practices (e.g., secure coding practices).

- Awareness of common attack vectors and mitigation strategies.

Other Job Functions :

- Knowledge Sharing:

Actively participate in code reviews, offering constructive feedback and ensuring adherence to coding standards and architectural principles.

- Contribute to internal knowledge sharing initiatives, documentation, and technical presentations to foster team growth.

- Process Improvement and Innovation:

Identify and propose improvements to existing development processes, tools, and methodologies.

- Research and evaluate new technologies, frameworks, and tools to enhance productivity, scalability, and application performance.

- Contribute to the continuous improvement of the team's CI/CD pipelines and deployment strategies.

- Collaboration and Cross-Functional Support:

Collaborate effectively with product managers, UX/UI designers, QA engineers, and other stakeholders to translate requirements into technical specifications and ensure successful project delivery.

- Provide technical support and troubleshooting for production issues as needed.

- Assist in defining technical requirements and breaking down complex features into manageable tasks.

- Quality Assurance and Testing:

Participate in informal and formal testing to ensure code quality.

- Assist QA engineers in understanding complex features and reproducing bugs.

- System Monitoring and Performance:

Participate in monitoring application performance, identifying bottlenecks, and suggesting optimizations.

- Contribute to logging and error reporting strategies to ensure robust system observability.

- Ad-Hoc Tasks:

Undertake other duties as assigned to support the overall goals of the development team and organization.

Required Skills :

- Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities.

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

- Ability to work effectively in a team environment.

- Eagerness to learn new technologies and adapt to evolving best practices.

- Attention to detail and commitment to writing clean, maintainable code.

- Demonstrated ability to contribute within a team setting while being an effective self-starter able to manage daily activities to achieve long-term goals.

Pursuant to a government contract, this position requires U.S. citizenship status.

Required Education :

- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Web Development, Management Information Systems, or a related technical field. Equivalent practical experience and/or completion of a reputable coding bootcamp may be considered.

Required Experience :

- 3+ years of progressive professional experience in full-stack web application development.

- Proven experience in designing, developing, and deploying scalable and robust web applications across the entire stack.

- Demonstrated experience working with and contributing to large, complex codebases.

- Experience participating in code reviews, providing constructive feedback, and adhering to coding standards.

- Solid understanding and practical experience with Agile development methodologies (e.g., Scrum).

- Experience with relational and/or NoSQL database design, optimization, and management.

Preferred Experience :

- Experience with specific cloud platforms (e.g., Google Cloud Platform, AWS, Azure) and their relevant services.

- Familiarity with containerization technologies (e.g., Docker) and orchestration platforms (e.g., Kubernetes).

- Experience implementing and maintaining CI/CD pipelines.

- Knowledge of performance optimization techniques for web applications (e.g., caching, lazy loading, code splitting).

- Experience with search technologies (e.g., Elasticsearch, Solr).

- Familiarity with DevOps principles and practices.

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