Programmer Engineer, III

Sabre Systems Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 139,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Sabre Systems Inc. seeks an experienced Programmer Engineer III to support NIWC-Pacific in San Diego, CA.

You will design, implement, and maintain secure software pipelines across classified domains, integrating modern DevSecOps practices with containerized architectures for naval deployments. The role covers Agile methodologies, microservices, event-driven and serverless patterns, plus securing software across DoD environments.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum five (5) years of demonstrated software development using Agile frameworks.
• Minimum two (2) years applying DevSecOps in regulated DoD environments.
• Minimum two (2) years building resilient software for challenging environments.
• Coding in Python, Java, C, Go, or C++.
• Experience in Denied, Disrupted, Intermittent, and Limited-bandwidth environments.
• Hands-on with Navy PaaS platforms (ACS, CHE) and DoD PaaS environments.
• Experience configuring automated security gates and remediation workflows.
• DoD Top Secret/SCI clearance (current and in-scope).

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain secure software delivery pipelines across multiple domains.
• Work with Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe) in a DoD context.
• Develop microservices, event-driven, and serverless architectures.
• Manage Git workflows, PR reviews, and CI/CD practices.
• Deploy to Kubernetes, AWS/Azure/GCP, and on-prem virtualization.
• Integrate security tooling (SAST, DAST, SCA, container scanners) into pipelines.
• Ensure compliance with RMF, STIGs, and CDS requirements.
• Collaborate across Navy platforms and cross-domain solutions.

Skills

Python

Java

C

Go

C++

Agile methodologies

DevSecOps

Cross-domain integration

Education

Master’s degree in engineering

Tools

Kubernetes

AWS

Azure

GCP

VMware

CI/CD pipelines

Job description

Responsibilities

Sabre Systems is seeking an experienced Programmer Engineer, III to support critical naval software delivery operations for our customer, the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC‑PAC), located in San Diego, California. The selected candidate will play a vital role in supporting the Application Arsenal (AA), NIWC‑PAC's enterprise-class software delivery platform that provides mission‑critical capabilities to naval forces worldwide. The Application Arsenal serves as the Department of the Navy's premier enterprise distribution, update, and installation service for software deployed at the tactical edge. This sophisticated platform enables seamless Over-The-Air (OTA) software delivery from development environments to operational edge systems across diverse and challenging operational contexts. Current deployment targets include:

• Agile Core Services (ACS) - Navy's containerized application platform
• USMC Common Hosting Environment (CHE) - Marine Corps enterprise hosting infrastructure
• Overmatch Production Environment (OPE) - Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) ecosystem
• Five Eyes (FVEY) Partner Systems - Allied nation interoperable platforms
• Autonomous Vehicles - Unmanned systems across multiple domains
• Future Platforms - Additional systems projected for integration

The selected candidate will be responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining secure software delivery pipelines that operate across multiple classification domains and challenging operational environments. This role requires deep technical expertise in modern DevSecOps practices, containerized architectures, and defense-specific platform integration.

Key Responsibilities

• Hands-on experience working within modern Agile methodologies, including:
  • Scrum - Sprint-based development, user story refinement, sprint planning, daily standups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives
  • Kanban - Continuous flow delivery, work-in-progress management, and cycle time optimization
  • Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) - Program Increment planning, Agile Release Trains, and enterprise-scale coordination
• Proven experience implementing contemporary software architecture patterns, including:
  • Microservices Architecture - Designing and developing loosely coupled, independently deployable services
  • Event-Driven Architecture - Implementing asynchronous messaging patterns and event streaming
  • Serverless Architecture - Building and deploying function-as-a-service (FaaS) applications
• Proficiency with Git-based version control workflows, including:
  • GitFlow - Feature branching, release management, and hotfix workflows
  • Trunk-Based Development - Short-lived feature branches and continuous integration practices
  • Pull request reviews, merge conflict resolution, and collaborative development practices
• Active participation in the complete software delivery lifecycle, encompassing:
  • Software Design - Translating requirements into technical designs and implementation plans
  • Software Development - Writing clean, maintainable, and well-documented code
  • Automated Testing - Implementing unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end test automation
• Production Deployment - Deploying applications to production environments including:
  • Kubernetes clusters (container orchestration)
  • Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP, or equivalent)
  • Virtualized environments (VMware, Hyper‑V, or equivalent)
• Experience working within highly regulated DoD enterprise DevSecOps platforms, such as:
  • Overmatch Software Armory (OSA) - Navy's enterprise DevSecOps platform
  • Platform One - DoD's enterprise DevSecOps platform (formerly known as Cloud One)
  • Equivalent DoD Enterprise Environments - Other accredited government software factories and delivery platforms
• Demonstrated ability to:
  • Configure security gates that enforce policy compliance before production promotion
  • Implement automated vulnerability remediation workflows
  • Integrate security scanning results into development feedback loops
  • Maintain compliance with DoD cybersecurity requirements (RMF, STIGs, etc.)

Qualifications

Requirements:

• A master’s degree in an engineering discipline from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum five (5) years of demonstrated experience in software development utilizing Agile frameworks to design, develop, and deliver software capabilities to production environments.
• Minimum two (2) years of demonstrated experience applying DevSecOps principles in highly regulated government or DoD‑mandated environments.
• Minimum Two (2) years of demonstrated experience coding, integrating, and maintaining resilient software architectures designed for challenging operational environments.
• Demonstrated coding experience in at least one of the following programming languages:
  • Python
  • Java
  • C
  • Go
  • C++
• Proven experience developing software for Denied, Disrupted, Intermittent, and Limited‑bandwidth (DDIL) environments, including:
  • Offline‑First Architecture - Designing applications that function without continuous network connectivity
  • Data Synchronization - Implementing conflict resolution and eventual consistency patterns
  • Bandwidth Optimization - Minimizing data transfer requirements and implementing efficient compression
  • Resilience Patterns - Circuit breakers, retry logic, graceful degradation, and fault tolerance
• Hands‑on experience with afloat and ashore Platform as a Service environment, including:
  • Navy's Agile Core Services (ACS) - Containerized application platform for naval systems
  • USMC's Common Hosting Environment (CHE) - Marine Corps enterprise hosting infrastructure
  • Equivalent DoD PaaS Platforms - Other military service or joint PaaS environments
• Demonstrated experience in integrating software securely with Cross‑Domain Solutions, including:
  • CDS Architecture Understanding - Knowledge of guard technologies, data diodes, and cross-domain transfer mechanisms
  • Secure Data Transfer - Implementing compliant data exchange between security domains (Unclassified, Secret, Top Secret)
  • Security Labeling - Proper handling of classification markings and metadata
  • Compliance Requirements - Adherence to NSA-approved CDS implementation guidelines and accreditation requirements
• Hands‑on experience configuring and integrating automated security testing tools as quality gates within Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, including:
  • SAST (Static Application Security Testing) - Source code analysis tools (e.g., SonarQube, Checkmarx, Fortify)
  • DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) - Runtime vulnerability scanning (e.g., OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite)
  • SCA (Software Composition Analysis) - Dependency and open-source vulnerability scanning (e.g., Snyk, Black Duck, Dependency‑Track)
  • Container Scanners - Container image vulnerability assessment (e.g., Trivy, Anchore, Clair, Prisma Cloud)
• Active DoD Top Secret/SCI clearance required (must be current and in-scope)

Location

• San Diego, California
• On-site support for Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC‑PAC)

Compensation Statement

At Sabre Systems, LLC, compensation is based on factors such as location, qualifications, experience, and contract‑specific requirements; however, final compensation will be determined by individual qualifications and applicable contract terms. The general salary range for this position is as follows: $138,965.00 - $200,000.00

Refer & Earn: Employee Referral Bonus Eligibility

• A Level 3 Employee Referral Bonus applies to this requisition for qualifying referrals. At Sabre Systems, we value great talent and encourage our employees to refer exceptional candidates. If you have any questions about the referral policy or this position, please contact the Recruiting team.

Sabre Overview

Sabre Systems, LLC, has been providing innovative technological solutions and services for Department of Defense, Federal Civilian, and commercial customers for more than 35 years. We support the ever‑evolving areas of advanced communication technologies, cyber, systems and software engineering, and digital transformation.

With over three decades in business, Sabre Systems, LLC remains committed to our small business values and a people‑first philosophy. We foster a welcoming, inclusive culture that values diverse perspectives and encourages open communication. Our collaborative environment supports continuous learning and professional growth at all levels. We prioritize the health, well‑being, and success of our employees, offering comprehensive, evolving benefits designed to meet their diverse needs. Join us and be part of a thriving, people‑driven culture.

We respect the unique perspectives that a diverse workforce of minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans brings not only to our company, but also to our customers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability or genetic information.

EEO Minorities/Females/Disability/Veterans; VEVRAA Federal Contractor

Beware of employment scams

Sabre Systems will never request payment, extend offers without an interview, or contact you from an email that doesn’t end in @sabresystems.com.