Principal Software Engineer

Location: Woodlawn, MD (Onsite – 5 days/week)
Clearance Requirement: Must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Principal Software Engineer to lead the design and development of enterprise-grade, cloud-native applications. This role requires deep expertise in Java and modern front-end technologies, along with strong leadership capabilities to guide technical teams and influence architectural decisions.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience building scalable microservices, implementing modern UI frameworks, and driving DevOps best practices within Agile environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop enterprise applications using Twelve-Factor App methodology
• Architect and implement scalable, high-throughput, low-latency systems
• Develop and deploy microservices using Java, Spring Boot, and RESTful architecture
• Build modern Single Page Applications (SPA) using Angular, React, and modern JavaScript (ES13+)
• Develop responsive, Section 508-compliant web applications
• Implement SOAP and RESTful Web Services, including security standards (OAuth2/JWT, WS-Security)
• Develop enterprise Java Batch applications (JSR 352) and schedule jobs
• Design and implement data access layers using JPA/Spring Data with DB2 and PostgreSQL
• Integrate applications with Kafka-based event-driven architectures
• Develop automated unit and integration tests using JUnit, Mockito, and Cucumber (BDD)
• Lead CI/CD implementation using Jenkins, Git, Bitbucket, Maven, SonarQube, and related tools
• Deploy and manage cloud-native applications on AWS and OpenShift
• Conduct architecture reviews, produce UML/design documentation, and provide technical leadership
• Mentor junior and mid-level developers
• Participate in Agile ceremonies and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or related field
• 10+ years of experience in Java/JEE development
• Strong hands-on experience with:
• Java, Spring Boot, Spring Framework (IoC, MVC, Security, Transactions, Batch)
• Angular and/or React
• REST and SOAP Web Services
• Microservices architecture
• Kafka event-driven systems
• Experience designing high-performance, scalable cloud applications
• Experience with AWS and container platforms such as OpenShift or Docker
• Strong knowledge of DevOps practices and CI/CD pipelines
• Experience with automated testing (JUnit, TDD, BDD, Cucumber)
• Experience working in Agile environments
• Experience as a hands-on Technical Lead
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Public Trust

Desired Qualifications

• Deep expertise in Kafka configuration, performance tuning, and real-time streaming
• Experience integrating AI capabilities into enterprise architectures
• Experience implementing Section 508 compliance standards
• Experience writing technical white papers and architecture documentation
• Prior experience supporting government IT projects
• Experience with low-code platforms (ServiceNow, Pega, Microsoft Power Platform)
• Strong knowledge of security vulnerabilities and secure coding practices
• Experience with performance tuning and optimization in cloud environments

What We’re Looking For

• Strong architectural mindset with ability to design enterprise solutions
• Proven leadership and mentoring experience
• Excellent communication and documentation skills
• Passion for modern software engineering and emerging technologies