Senior Applications Developer

UIC Arctic Response Services, LLC; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Bowhead seeks a Senior Application Developer to lead cloud-native modernization efforts for DoD systems in the Arlington, VA area. You will drive architectural design, provide technical leadership, and mentor teams while ensuring secure, scalable solutions.

The role emphasizes modern DevOps practices, service mesh, microservices, and compliance with DoD directives. This position requires the ability to interface with government stakeholders and lead technical discussions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field; 10 years of progressive software development experience may substitute for degree
• Minimum 8+ years of software development experience with significant cloud applications
• Expert-level proficiency in multiple programming languages (C++ / Java) and development frameworks

Responsibilities

• Lead architectural design and development of cloud-native apps for DoD modernization
• Mentor junior/mid developers and set coding standards
• Implement scalable, secure cloud architectures and CI/CD pipelines
• Lead incident response and security controls throughout the SDLC
• Coordinate with government stakeholders and cross-functional teams

Skills

C++

Java

Cloud-native development

Leadership

Mentoring

DevOps

CI/CD

Security

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/SE/IT

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Terraform

CloudFormation

Kubernetes

Docker

Job description

Overview

SENIOR APPLICATION DEVELOPER (NAUT):

Bowhead seeks a Senior Application Developer to support our customer on the Nautical contract in the Arlington, VA area. This position serves as a technical leader in the modernization of legacy DoD systems, providing advanced expertise in cloud-native development, architecture design, and team leadership.

This position is located near a metro station and a travel stipend may be provided if necessary.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architectural design and development of complex cloud-native applications and systems for DoD modernization initiatives
• Drive technical decision-making for legacy application migration strategies and modernization approaches
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior and mid-level developers on best practices and advanced techniques
• Design and implement scalable, secure, and resilient cloud architectures using industry best practices
• Lead code reviews and establish coding standards, development processes, and quality assurance procedures
• Collaborate with system architects and technical leads to define overall system architecture and integration strategies
• Implement advanced DevOps practices including infrastructure as code, automated deployment pipelines, and monitoring solutions
• Design and develop complex microservices architectures with proper service mesh implementation
• Lead performance optimization efforts for cloud applications including load testing and capacity planning
• Coordinate with government stakeholders to understand requirements and ensure technical solutions meet mission needs
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies, frameworks, and tools to improve development efficiency and system performance
• Lead incident response efforts for production issues and implement preventive measures
• Design and implement comprehensive security controls throughout the application development lifecycle
• Participate in technical reviews, design sessions, and architectural decision meetings
• Manage technical debt and legacy system dependencies during migration projects
• Develop and maintain technical documentation including architecture diagrams, design documents, and operational procedures
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams including security, operations, and quality assurance
• Lead proof-of-concept development and technical feasibility studies
• Ensure compliance with DOD Directive 8140 and applicable cybersecurity frameworks
• Interface with the customer and external stakeholders in working groups, technical exchange meetings, and other forums
• Chair/co-chair meetings and working groups on behalf of government representatives as directed
• Resolve technical problems, allocate resources, and monitor development team performance to meet contract requirements
• Provide daily technical leadership and guidance to development team members
• Provide planned replacement information at least 15 calendar days prior to replacement
• Provide information within 24 hours of an unplanned replacement
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Information Systems, or related technical field from an ABET accredited or CAE designated institution; Master's degree preferred. Ten (10) years of progressive experience in software development with significant cloud application experience may be substituted in lieu of degree
• Minimum of 8+ years of progressive experience in software development with significant cloud application experience
• Expert-level proficiency in multiple programming languages and development frameworks (C++ / Java)
• Extensive experience with cloud platforms and advanced cloud services (compute, storage, networking, security)
• Deep understanding of distributed systems, microservices architecture, and cloud-native design patterns
• Proven leadership experience mentoring technical teams and managing complex development projects
• Advanced knowledge of containerization, orchestration, and service mesh technologies
• Experience with infrastructure as code tools (Terraform, CloudFormation, ARM templates)
• Strong understanding of DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing strategies
• Expertise in application security, secure coding practices, and compliance frameworks
• Excellent communication skills with ability to present complex technical concepts to various audiences

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Required: IAT Level III certification (one of the following): CISSP, CASP+, CCNP Security, CISA, CISSP (or Associate), GCIH, GCFA, or CSSLPDesired: Multiple cloud platform certifications at professional level (AWS Solutions Architect Professional, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, or Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect), Kubernetes CKA/CKAD, Docker Certified Associate, specialized security certifications

Physical Demands:

• Must be able to lift 25 pounds on occasion.
• Must be able to stand and walk for prolonged period amounts of time.
• Must be able to twist, bend, and squat periodically.

Target salary range is between $165,000 - $230,000 commensurate with experience.

Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Bowhead considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and business considerations when extending an offer.

SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to maintain a security clearance at the Top Secret level with SCI eligibility and maintain SAP eligibility. Due to work requirements, this position will not entertain work from home capabilities. US Citizenship is a requirement for this contract.

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