Senior Software Developer I - Full Stack

Kardow; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 130,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work from anywhere.

Competitive salary range ($130,000 - $

200,000+) based on role requirements

Comprehensive medical, dental, vision,

life, and disability insurance.

Up to 20+ days of PTO annually.

401(k) retirement savings plan.

FSA/HSA and commuter benefit options.

Professional development opportunities

Company-provided technology and access

Additional bonus based on performance.

Job summary

BLEN is seeking a Senior Software Developer to lead full-stack JavaScript solutions, guiding projects from conception to implementation. You will shape development strategy, mentor engineers, and ensure high performance, scalable systems that meet client needs.

You will collaborate with management, product, and design teams to adopt AI-powered workflows, while maintaining strong API ecosystems and robust cloud-native architectures.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 7+ years of software engineering experience.
• 5+ years of professional JavaScript/TypeScript development across the full stack.
• Strong experience with React (or Next.js) for building modern, responsive front-end applications.
• Proficiency with Node.js and server-side JavaScript frameworks (Express, Fastify, or similar).
• Experience designing and consuming RESTful APIs and/or GraphQL.
• Familiarity with relational and/or NoSQL databases (PostgreSQL, MongoDB, etc.).
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to debug complex issues across the full stack.
• Proficiency in version control systems (Git) and modern CI/CD workflows.
• Prior government contracting experience.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP).
• Hands-on experience integrating AI/ML services or LLM APIs into production apps.
• Familiarity with AI patterns such as RAG, prompt engineering, or agentic workflows.
• Knowledge of DevOps tools (Docker, Terraform, GitHub Actions).
• Experience with Agile methodologies.
• Familiarity with accessibility standards (Section 508 / WCAG).
• Ability to obtain a Public Trust Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and strategy across the full stack.
• Guide cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact, full-stack JavaScript solutions.
• Contribute to development strategy with a focus on modern architectures (React, Next.js, Node.js, TypeScript).
• Maintain high-level understanding of cloud-native services, AI/ML integrations, and API ecosystems.
• Lead iterative, outcome-driven development and responsible AI adoption.
• Mentor junior engineers and build strong stakeholder relationships.
• Participate in technical interviews and promote continuous learning on AI and engineering topics.
• Present designs and proposals to clients and stakeholders.
• Drive improvements in software engineering processes and AI-assisted development tools.

Skills

JavaScript/TypeScript

React/Next.js

Node.js

RESTful APIs/GraphQL

AI/ML integrations

Leadership

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related

Tools

Docker

Terraform

GitHub Actions

Job description

About BLEN

BLENers are passionate about using technology to solve real-world problems. For over 20 years, we've been helping government agencies and businesses transform their digital experience. We bring fresh perspectives to every project, from modernizing legacy systems to building cloud-native applications to experimenting with technology that’s just around the corner. We value building long and enduring partnerships to solve complex challenges by putting humans at the center of all the experiences. Our team thrives on turning tricky problems into solutions that are practical, accessible and performant.

About this position

Senior Software Developers at BLEN play a crucial role in creating robust and efficient digital solutions. They combine extensive knowledge of both front-end and back-end technologies, leadership skills, and strategic thinking to guide projects from conception to implementation. Our engineering team makes key technical decisions, communicates clearly with all stakeholders, and leverages cutting-edge technologies to deliver high-quality solutions. They ensure our products meet client needs, align with business goals, and maintain high standards of performance and scalability.

What we would like from you

• Technical Leadership and Strategy
• Collaborate with management, product, and design teams to shape development vision and strategy, including the adoption of AI-powered tools and workflows
• Guide cross-functional teams in delivering high-impact, full-stack JavaScript solutions aligned with client goals
• Contribute to the implementation of the program's development strategy with a focus on modern architectures (React, Next.js, Node.js, TypeScript)
• Maintain a high-level understanding of adjacent technical areas including cloud-native services, AI/ML integrations, and API ecosystems for effective system integration
• Software Development and Problem-Solving
• Demonstrate expertise, accountability, and ownership of contributions across the full stack, from responsive front-end interfaces to scalable back-end services
• Leverage deep knowledge of the JavaScript/TypeScript ecosystem to lead iterative, outcome-driven development
• Design and integrate RESTful APIs, GraphQL endpoints, and emerging AI-assisted features such as LLM-powered workflows, intelligent document processing, or retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)
• Diagnose and effectively resolve issues with owned systems, using incidents to inform educational opportunities and system improvements
• Make critical decisions to keep projects on track and aligned with evolving client needs, including evaluating when and how to leverage AI/ML capabilities responsibly
• Team Development and Mentoring
• Actively mentor and assist more junior engineers in developing their skills across modern JavaScript frameworks and AI-augmented development practices
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Participate in technical interviews with new candidates
• Foster a culture of continuous learning around emerging technologies including generative AI, prompt engineering, and agentic architectures
• Communication and Stakeholder Engagement
• Effectively communicate technical issues and developments with team members and clients, translating complex AI and engineering concepts into clear, actionable language
• Present design documents, system diagrams, and technical proposals to clients, stakeholders, partners, and other engineers
• Serve as the discipline's primary technical lead when working with stakeholders
• Process Improvement and Innovation
• Drive improvements in software engineering processes and practices, including adoption of AI-assisted development tools (Copilot, Claude, automated testing)
• Propose and evaluate multiple approaches to technical and process problems, leveraging data-driven insights where possible
• Champion best practices in modern JavaScript development, cloud architecture, CI/CD pipelines, and responsible AI integration
• May lead small, less critical, or temporary team structures and projects

Basic qualifications

• Essential Requirements
• Bachelor's degree and 7+ years of software engineering experience
• 5+ years of professional JavaScript/TypeScript development across the full stack
• Strong experience with React (or Next.js) for building modern, responsive front-end applications
• Proficiency with Node.js and server-side JavaScript frameworks (Express, Fastify, or similar)
• Experience designing and consuming RESTful APIs and/or GraphQL
• Familiarity with relational and/or NoSQL databases (PostgreSQL, MongoDB, etc.)
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to debug complex issues across the full stack
• Proficiency in version control systems (Git) and modern CI/CD workflows
• Preferred Skills and Experience
• Prior government contracting experience
• Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, or GCP)
• Hands-on experience integrating AI/ML services or LLM APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Azure AI) into production applications
• Familiarity with AI-related patterns such as retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), prompt engineering, or agentic workflows
• Knowledge of DevOps practices and tools (Docker, Terraform, GitHub Actions)
• Experience with Agile development methodologies
• Familiarity with accessibility standards (Section 508 / WCAG) in government contexts
• Ability to obtain a Public Trust Clearance

Requirement

• Must be a US Citizen or legal resident and able to work domestically
• Must be able to attain low-level security clearance
• Must work from the United States

Perks

• Work from anywhere.
• The chance to work on high-visibility projects and make a significant impact.
• Competitive salary range ($130,000 - $200,000+) based on role requirements and your experience and impact.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• Up to 20+ days of PTO annually.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan.
• FSA/HSA and commuter benefit options.
• Professional development opportunities, certifications, and continuous learning support.
• Company-provided technology and access to productivity and AI tools.
• Additional bonus based on performance.

Get to know us

• We are a small, creative and highly technical team.
• Our heroes are the scrappy folks that dare to dream and do great things. We love people that care more about doing the right thing than taking a shortcut.
• We believe in finishing projects and floor our clients by how much we cared about their project.
• We believe in integrity and because we're small, we are very selective of our partners and clients.
• We do not use phrases like 'human resource' because you are NOT a resource. You are a team member and we will treat you like one.

What you should expect from us

• We will treat you fairly.
• We give you space to grow both personally and professionally.
• We will hear your ideas even when we disagree – especially when we disagree.
• We will be equitable with our success and be honest with our challenges.
• We will always tell you the truth. Even when the truth is difficult.

What to Expect in Our Hiring ProcessOur hiring process typically consists of 3 interview stages, after an initial screening. For engineering roles, the process may include additional technical assessments depending on the position's requirements. We aim to make the process straightforward and respectful of your time.

$115,000 - $135,000 a year

The salary range represents the compensation we expect to offer candidates who can perform the core responsibilities with minimal additional training. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as skill set, level of experience, and scope of responsibility. Our recruitment team is available to discuss your specific salary requirements and to provide more information about how we determine compensation. We are committed to fair and transparent pay practices and encourage open dialogue about our compensation structure throughout the application process. We look forward to learning more about your qualifications and how they align with our framework.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c).

We participate in E-Verify. Upon hire, we will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. Due to the nature of our work with the federal government, all roles at BLEN are required to work from the contiguous United States.