Software Developer II- job post

Job Description

Charleston, WV

Full job description

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.