Python/Django Developer (NLM)

Virtual Technologies Group; Bethesda (MD); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Quotient, Inc. is seeking a mid-level Python/Django developer for the National Library of Medicine. You will work on production Django and PostgreSQL applications, embedded with federal staff and contractors in Bethesda, MD, 3–5 days per week, and obtain a Public Trust background investigation.

You will collaborate across projects, write efficient ORM queries, perform migrations, and contribute to code quality and reliability in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional software development experience.
• Hands-on experience building and maintaining real Django applications, including models, views, ORM queries, migrations and tests.
• Comfortable writing PostgreSQL SQL, reading query plans and making schema changes safely.
• Solid object-oriented design and common design patterns; ability to write code that processes complex data structures.
• Strong debugging skills; can trace a problem through an unfamiliar codebase to its cause.
• Fluent with Git branching, rebasing and squashing in a shared repository.

Responsibilities

• Application support: fix bugs, deliver enhancements and handle production issues in NLM's Django applications.
• Performance and reliability: find and fix slow queries, inefficient code and fragile areas; improve tests and monitoring so problems surface early.
• Database work: write and tune PostgreSQL queries, migrations and data changes safely.
• Leave it better: improve code, tests and documentation beyond the ticket when it reduces risk or future effort.
• Cross-project support: pick up work on other NLM projects and learn new codebases quickly.
• Front end as needed: make changes in Angular, Vue or React when a feature requires it.
• Team collaboration: work within the federal and contractor team's processes, communicate risk clearly, and back ideas with evidence.

Skills

3+ years of experience

Django

Python

Git workflows

debugging

Strong SQL

MeSH knowledge (nice to have)

Fast learner

Tools

PostgreSQL

Angular/Vue/React

Docker

AWS

REST APIs

Job description

Job Title: Python/Django Developer
Company:Quotient, INC. (A VTG Company)
Location: Hybrid Bethesda, MD 3–5 days per week
Contingency: Public Trust Security Clearance (Ability to obtain and Maintain)
Position Type:Full-Time
Employee Type: FTE

Company Overview

Quotient, Inc. is a leading provider of customized information technology solutions, specializing in systems integration, full-stack software development, cybersecurity, project management, and operational support. We serve a diverse range of clients, including federal agencies, defense, civilian communities, and commercial customers across the United States. As a subsidiary of Virtual Technologies Group (VTG), Quotient continues to uphold its reputation as one of the most innovative, respected, and ethical providers of technology solutions. We are dedicated to providing growth and opportunity for our team while delivering exceptional value to our clients. Position Summary We are recruiting a mid-level Python/Django developer for the National Library of Medicine (NLM). The developer will work on production Django and PostgreSQL applications, including MeSH, where reliability and performance matter. You will be embedded in a small team of federal staff and contractors, moving between projects as priorities shift. The ideal candidate is a self-directed, rising developer who learns established codebases quickly, improves fast, and takes calculated risks with care for production. The role requires working on-site in Bethesda, MD 3–5 days per week and obtaining a Public Trust background investigation.

Day-to-Day Duties and Responsibilities

• Application support: fix bugs, deliver enhancements and handle production issues in NLM's Django applications.
• Performance and reliability: find and fix slow queries, inefficient code and fragile areas; improve tests and monitoring so problems surface early.
• Database work: write and tune PostgreSQL queries, migrations and data changes safely.
• Leave it better: improve code, tests and documentation beyond the ticket when it reduces risk or future effort.
• Cross-project support: pick up work on other NLM projects and learn new codebases quickly.
• Front end as needed: make changes in Angular, Vue or React when a feature requires it.
• Team collaboration: work within the federal and contractor team's processes, communicate risk clearly, and back ideas with evidence.

Minimum Qualifications

• Able to work on-site in Bethesda, MD 3–5 days per week.
• Able to obtain a Public Trust background investigation.
• 3+ years of professional software development experience.
• Hands-on experience building and maintaining real Django applications, including models, views, ORM queries, migrations and tests.
• Comfortable writing PostgreSQL SQL, reading query plans and making schema changes safely.
• Solid object-oriented design and common design patterns; ability to write code that processes complex, nested data structures.
• Strong debugging skills; can trace a problem through an unfamiliar codebase to its cause.
• Fluent with Git branching, rebasing and squashing in a shared repository.
• Evidence of learning beyond the job, such as personal projects, a home lab, or open-source work.
• Good judgment about production changes, including testing, review, and rollback plans.
• Works well on a mixed federal and contractor team and explains tradeoffs plainly.

Preferred Qualifications

• Front end experience with Angular, Vue or React; TypeScript and JavaScript; Node, Express and npm.
• Functional and event-driven programming (promises, streaming, reactive programming).
• Experience with search and document stores such as Elasticsearch and MongoDB.
• Experience with data pipelines, ETL and handling varied file formats.
• PostgreSQL performance tuning (indexing, query optimization, large datasets).
• Testing and CI practice (pytest, coverage, automated pipelines).
• REST API design and maintenance.
• Linux, shell scripting, Docker and basic deployment.
• AWS or a comparable cloud platform.
• NumPy, Keras or other data-science libraries.
• Familiarity with Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), other medical terminologies, linked data, controlled vocabularies, or library and biomedical data.
• Federal or government work, or long-lived production systems.
• A public GitHub profile, technical blog or project portfolio.

EEO Statement

Quotient, Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.