Senior CNO Software Developer

MANTECH; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

MANTECH is seeking a senior software developer specialized in CNO to advance mission-critical capabilities in Columbia, MD. You will design, develop, and secure resilient software, collaborating with cross-functional teams to meet high-stakes national security objectives.

Ideal candidates bring 8+ years in cyber software engineering, expert-level C/C++/Go/Java/Python skills, and proven leadership of technical initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or a related technical field.
• 8+ years of cyber software engineering or related roles; Master’s may substitute for 2 years.
• 3+ years leading technical initiatives or Tech Lead across multiple projects.
• Expert-level experience programming in C, C++, Go, Java, or Python.

Responsibilities

• Champion engineering best practices and security standards across the enterprise.
• Oversee architecture design for scalability and security across core infrastructure.
• Mentor engineers through code reviews and architecture reviews to elevate capabilities.
• Translate mission requirements into actionable technical designs for development teams.

Skills

C

C++

Go

Java

Python

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or related field

Master’s degree substituted for 2 years experience

Tools

Git/GitLab

CI/CD

Docker

Ansible

Vagrant

vSphere/ESXi

Linux

Windows

Networking

Job description

MANTECH seeks a highly technical and mission-focused Senior CNO Software Developer to join our team in Columbia, MD.

In this role, you will develop advanced CNO capabilities that directly support national security. You’ll work in a collaborative environment focused on solving complex technical challenges in support of our customer’s most critical missions.

Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To

Strategic Engineering Leadership & Governance

• Champion and enforce engineering best practices and security standards across the enterprise. Direct the implementation of standardized validation frameworks, secure coding methodologies, and GitLab CI/CD pipelines to minimize technical debt and maximize operational efficacy. Exercise final technical decision-making authority to scale capabilities across simultaneous software development projects.

Architecture, Innovation & Modernization

• Oversee complex system architecture design, ensuring scalability and security across core infrastructure and tool suites. Lead the design of high-fidelity analysis engines, automated software validation frameworks, and automated infrastructure using IaC (Ansible, Vagrant) and containerization (Docker) to modernize mission-critical platforms.

Technical Mentorship & Excellence

• Foster a culture of technical excellence by mentoring engineers at all levels. Drive continuous professional development through targeted code review leadership, architecture design reviews, and cross-project knowledge-sharing initiatives to elevate the collective technical capabilities and process improvements of the development team.

Mission Alignment & Stakeholder Liaison

• Act as the primary technical advisor to government and internal stakeholders, translating complex operational mission requirements into actionable technical designs. Ensure strict alignment between project goals, delivery timelines, and risk profiles, leveraging experience as a lead developer to bridge the gap between technical execution and strategic mission objectives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or a related technical field (e.g., Information Systems, Network Engineering) from an accredited college or university.
• 8+ years of technical work experience in cyber software engineering or specialized technical roles. A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline may be substituted for 2 years of experience.
• 3+ years of experience leading technical initiatives, engineering workflows, or serving as a Tech Lead across multiple simultaneous software development projects.
• Expert-level experience programming in C, C++, Go, Java, or Python.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency with Software Version Control (Git/GitLab) and the architecture of automated testing and continuous integration (CI/CD) pipelines tailored for restricted software development environments.
• Advanced experience with containerization (Docker) and infrastructure-as-code (IaC) frameworks (e.g., Ansible, Vagrant).
• Hands-on experience with enterprise virtualization technologies (vSphere/ESXi) and automated software validation frameworks.
• Deep technical understanding of low-level platform internals (e.g., Linux, Windows, Android), socket-level programming, and network traffic analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to explain complex technical requirements, systems architecture, and operational mission risk profiles to development teams and non-technical leadership alike.
• Experience with industry-standard reverse engineering tools and binary analysis methodologies.
• Experience designing and maintaining distributed data systems and automated analysis pipelines.
• Strong understanding of CNO environments and offensive capability development.
• Proficiency with enterprise agile workflow management and documentation tools.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills.
• Advanced certifications in project management, software engineering, or technical security domains.

Clearance Requirements

• Active and current TS/SCI, polygraph eligible

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time