Library Support Backend Developer

Illumen Group, Inc.; Stafford (VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Illumen Group, Inc. seeks a Library Support Backend Developer to support USDA ARS and the National Agricultural Library. You will build and enhance backend services, MQTT-like workflows, microservices, and the PubAg API with AI-enabled data extraction.

This role emphasizes secure, accessible, and scalable library workflow systems and ongoing collaboration with cross-functional teams. Candidates should have substantial Python/Django experience, REST/GraphQL APIs, and strong SQL knowledge.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years of professional software development experience
• Experience with Python, Django, and REST/GraphQL APIs
• Proficiency with Linux command line and SQL databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL)
• Experience with open-source tools and containerization (Docker)
• Familiarity with 508 and WCAG accessibility requirements
• Ability to collaborate with analysts and project coordinators
• Knowledge of PubAg API and AI-related extraction is a plus
• Experience with secure coding and AWS/Azure is beneficial

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the NAL Library Support System and related microservices
• Enhance the PubAg API endpoint AI consumption and metadata ingestion pipelines
• Ensure security, compliance, and deployment procedures per ARS/Audits
• Collaborate in scrums and maintain GitHub issues and documentation
• Create estimates for project requirements and document changes and deployment steps
• Provide O&M for library workflows and related microservices

Skills

Python

Django

REST APIs

GraphQL

Linux CLI

SQL (MySQL/ PostgreSQL)

AI experience

Git

HTML/CSS

WCAG/508 compliance

GitHub

Tools

Git

Docker

GitHub

Job description

Description

Illumen Group is seeking a Library Support Backend Developer to support the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Office of the Chief Information Officer in delivering application development support for the National Agricultural Library (NAL).

The NAL Library Support System is a complex workflow that prepares publisher, provider, and USDA-authored scientific articles and other materials for ingest into the NAL Library Services platform, using microservices, APIs, Python, Django, workflow engines, and associated COTS or open source software.

In this role you will provide application software development for the NAL Library Support System and its associated microservices, including enhancing the NAL publisher data ingest pipeline and integrating additional provider and other sources of metadata and full-text scientific publications. The role includes enhancing the PubAg API for AI consumption and applying AI, where feasible, to develop and test code for features and enhancements.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide development to enhance automated workflow processing by implementing new features and enhancing additional features
• Develop and maintain updates for system architecture diagrams, API interfaces, and other data models
• Provide development to enhance PubAg API endpoint AI consumption
• Provide O&M for associated microservices, library workflows, and the PubAg API
• Leverage AI, where feasible, to develop and test code for features and enhancements
• Participate in scrums and project meetings as needed for specific projects
• Check all code into the USDA GitHub enterprise repositories at least weekly and keep GitHub issues up to date
• Participate in creating estimates for implementation of project requirements
• Analyze, mitigate, and document security risks and vulnerabilities detected by the Cyber Support Team
• Document changes, implementations, and deployment procedures as defined in the ARS Azure ATO
• Follow USDA and federal government digital playbooks, and ensure Section 508 compliance for all ICT deliverables
• Follow established procedures for change control and configuration management, and respond to tickets as assigned by NAL staff
• Build applications that are maintainable long term, and identify potential cost savings to reduce NAL hosting and support cost

Requirements

• Minimum of 6 years of professional experience developing substantial applications using database technologies (SQL Server, MySQL), Python, Django, GraphQL and REST APIs, and Linux CLI
• AI experience in extracting structured information from diverse scientific publications
• Expert knowledge of, and practical experience with, modern web development standards
• Experience modernizing and performing technology refreshes for legacy systems
• Minimum of 2 years of experience working with open-source tools
• Proficiency with version control systems (e.g., git)
• Experience with containerization technologies (e.g., Docker)
• Ability to collaborate effectively with systems analysts and project coordinators to evaluate and define application migration paths
• Experience with relational databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL)
• Experience with version control systems (git/GitHub)
• Experience working in Linux, including the command line and included utilities and applications
• Expert knowledge of HTML, XHTML, and CSS standards, with practical experience
• Knowledge and experience with U.S. Web Design Standards and the USDA Digital Strategy Playbook
• Minimum of two years practical experience in Section 508 conformance, testing, and remediation of ICT deliverables
• Practical experience ensuring ICT deliverables meet WCAG 2.x AA or greater
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently
• Excellent customer service skills
• Must be able to obtain approval for USDA facility access
• Preferred: Experience and familiarity with REE ARS/NAL cloud systems and applications