Full Stack Developer

VTG Defense; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

VTG Defense seeks a Full Stack Software Engineer to design, develop, and maintain modern web apps and AI-enabled capabilities. You will build LLM-powered features, RAG pipelines, and Elasticsearch search interfaces in an Agile setting.

You will collaborate with security and operations teams, deliver RESTful APIs with Node.js/Express, and implement responsive React UIs, with deployments on AWS.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI with Polygraph is required.
• Experience in Lean Agile software development.
• Experience translating requirements into technical designs.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, modify, test, and maintain scalable applications.
• Develop and integrate LLM-powered capabilities (RAG, semantic search).
• Implement Elasticsearch-based search and information retrieval solutions.
• Build data pipelines for hybrid search (BM25 and vector).
• Develop SPAs with React, HTML5, CSS3, and modern JS.
• Create RESTful APIs with Node.js and Express.js.
• Collaborate with security, engineering, and operations teams.
• Participate in CI/CD using Git, Jenkins, and Nexus.

Skills

Security Clearance

Lean Agile

LLM Apps

Elasticsearch

React

Node.js

REST APIs

AWS

CI/CD

Tools

Git

Jenkins

Nexus

Job description

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Full Stack Software Engineer to design, develop, integrate, and maintain modern web applications and AI-enabled capabilities.

This role will support the development of scalable LLM-powered solutions, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) pipelines, Elasticsearch search capabilities, RESTful APIs, and React-based user interfaces within an Agile development environment.

What will you do?

• Design, develop, modify, test, and maintain scalable software applications and systems.


• Develop and integrate LLM-powered capabilities, including Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) solutions.


• Design and implement scalable search and information retrieval solutions using Elasticsearch.


• Build data pipelines supporting hybrid search, including BM25 and vector-based retrieval.


• Develop workflows for data ingestion, document chunking, embeddings, indexing, and vector retrieval.


• Design and develop responsive Single Page Applications (SPAs) using React, HTML5, CSS3, and modern JavaScript.


• Design and develop backend services and RESTful APIs using Node.js and Express.js or comparable technologies.


• Design system interfaces, integration points, data flows, and data exchange workflows.


• Translate customer and system requirements into actionable technical designs and software solutions.


• Perform unit testing, participate in code reviews, troubleshoot application issues, and maintain software quality.


• Support web and server technologies, including Apache Tomcat, Node.js, Web Services, and SSL/TLS.


• Develop and maintain solutions within approved cloud environments, including AWS.


• Participate in Lean Agile ceremonies, including scrums, sprint planning, backlog grooming, and other development activities.


• Collaborate with security, engineering, operations, testing, and other technical teams.


• Coordinate with stakeholders to resolve technical issues, clarify requirements, identify resource needs, and support project execution.


• Utilize Git, Jenkins, and Nexus to support source control, CI/CD, build, and deployment activities.


• Track vendor software roadmaps, releases, patches, and version updates.


• Develop and maintain appropriate technical and system documentation.

Do you have what it takes?

• Active TS/SCI with Polygraph


• Demonstrated experience working within a Lean Agile software development environment.


• Experience translating customer and system requirements into detailed technical and design specifications.


• Strong experience designing system interfaces, integration points, data flows, and data exchange workflows.


• Hands-on experience building or integrating LLM-based applications, including:
  
  
  
  • Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
  
  
  • Semantic search
  
  
  • AI-assisted information retrieval
  
  
  
  


• Experience designing and implementing hybrid search pipelines combining BM25 and vector search.


• Experience with data ingestion, document chunking, embeddings, vector retrieval, and RAG workflows.


• Strong experience with Elasticsearch, including index design and optimization, query development, relevance tuning, and cluster scaling.


• Hands-on front-end development experience using:
  
  
  
  • React, including Hooks
  
  
  • HTML5
  
  
  • CSS3
  
  
  • JavaScript
  
  
  
  


• Hands-on backend development experience designing and developing RESTful APIs using Node.js and Express.js or comparable backend technologies.


• Experience troubleshooting web protocols and server technologies, including Apache Tomcat, Node.js, Web Services, and SSL/TLS configurations.


• Experience with modern JavaScript testing frameworks such as Jest or Karma.


• Experience with DevOps and software development tools including Git, Jenkins, and Nexus.


• Experience developing or supporting applications within cloud environments such as AWS.


• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and collaboration skills.