Backend Software Engineer — Secure Mission Systems

Rackner

United States

Hybrid

USD 110,000 - 170,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company match up to 6%

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Paid time off and holidays

Remote-work support and home-office设备

Fitness and wellness reimbursement

Weekly pay schedule

Job summary

Rackner seeks a backend software engineer to build secure backend services that support mission-planning and decision-support capabilities for a Department of Defense customer.

You will take hands-on ownership of APIs, data flows, and automated testing, working with distributed systems and secure container platforms.

Qualifications

Four years of professional software development experience.
Bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field.
Hands-on experience building backend services, APIs, or distributed applications.
Experience with Python, C#, or a comparable backend language.
Understanding of API design, data flows, error handling, automated testing, and source control.
Familiarity with secure software-development lifecycle practices.
Ability to clearly explain the systems you built, decisions you made, and how you tested and delivered.

Responsibilities

Design, build, test, and integrate secure backend services and APIs using Python and/or C#.
Develop REST services with FastAPI and support service-to-service communication via gRPC.
Build reliable asynchronous workflows using Celery, RabbitMQ, or similar tools.
Develop relational and geospatial data solutions with PostgreSQL and PostGIS.
Containerize and deploy services through OpenShift or Kubernetes.
Write unit and integration tests to strengthen quality and delivery confidence.
Operate within GitLab-based development and CI/CD workflows.
Investigate defects, security findings, failed integrations, and service issues.
Participate in code reviews, technical reviews, and remediation efforts.
Produce clear software designs, workflow descriptions, and technical documentation.
Collaborate with frontend, AI/ML, cybersecurity, DevSecOps, and customer engineering teams.

Skills

Backend development

APIs

Python

Distributed systems

RESTful services

CI/CD

Security practices

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field

Tools

FastAPI

gRPC

Celery

RabbitMQ

PostgreSQL

PostGIS

OpenShift

Kubernetes

GitLab CI/CD

Job description

Location: Mainly remote, with onsite sprint planning in Laurel, Maryland, approximately every six weeks

Clearance: U.S. citizenship and an active final DoD Secret clearance required

Anticipated Start: November 2026

This opportunity is contingent upon contract award and final customer approval.

Build Secure Software for a High-Impact Defense Mission

Join Rackner to build secure backend services that support mission-planning and decision-support capabilities for a Department of Defense customer.

You will take hands-on ownership of APIs, service integrations, data flows, and automated testing—not simply complete isolated development tickets. The role offers exposure to distributed systems, geospatial data, secure container platforms, and backend services supporting AI-enabled capabilities.

What You Will Do

Design, build, test, and integrate secure backend services and APIs using Python and/or C#.
Develop REST services with FastAPI and support service-to-service communication through technologies such as gRPC.
Build reliable asynchronous workflows using Celery, RabbitMQ, or comparable messaging tools.
Develop and integrate relational and geospatial data solutions using PostgreSQL and PostGIS.
Containerize and deploy services through OpenShift or Kubernetes.
Write unit and integration tests that strengthen software quality and delivery confidence.
Work within GitLab-based development and CI/CD workflows.
Investigate defects, security findings, failed integrations, and service issues.
Participate in code reviews, technical reviews, and vulnerability-remediation efforts.
Produce clear software designs, workflow descriptions, and technical documentation.
Collaborate with frontend, AI/ML, cybersecurity, DevSecOps, and customer engineering teams.

What You Bring

At least four years of professional software-development experience.
A bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field.
Hands-on experience building backend services, APIs, or distributed applications.
Experience with Python, C#, or a comparable backend language.
Understanding of API design, data flows, error handling, automated testing, and source control.
Familiarity with secure software-development lifecycle practices.
Ability to clearly explain the systems you personally built, the decisions you made, and how your work was tested and delivered.

Experience That Will Help You Stand Out

FastAPI or another Python web framework.
RabbitMQ, Celery, gRPC, or similar messaging and service-integration tools.
PostgreSQL, PostGIS, geospatial data, or mapping applications.
OpenShift, Kubernetes, GitLab CI/CD, or secure container delivery.
Defense, mission-planning, decision-support, or other regulated software environments.
Integration of backend services with LLM, retrieval-augmented generation, or other AI-enabled components.

You do not need to be the deepest expert in every technology listed. Strong backend fundamentals, credible hands-on experience, and the ability to learn within a secure delivery environment matter most.

Why Rackner

At Rackner, you will build technology that supports critical defense and public-sector missions.

This role offers broader ownership across backend engineering, secure delivery, distributed services, automated testing, and collaboration with software, AI/ML, cloud, and cybersecurity teams.

Rackner has delivered more than $30 million in recent federal awards. We are looking for an engineer who can help turn complex mission needs into secure, dependable software.

Benefits & Professional Growth