Software Developer IV

General Atomics and Affiliated Companies; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

GA-Intelligence is seeking Senior Backend Software Engineers to help build the next generation of global situational awareness and battle orchestration capabilities. You'll collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and deliver scalable backend services that meet mission-critical needs.

You'll lead design and implementation, mentor engineers, and drive architectural direction across distributed systems, with emphasis on performance, reliability, and security in DoD/IC contexts.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science or related field with progressive software development experience.
• Deep expertise in Java and/or other backend languages (e.g., Scala, Go).
• Demonstrated technical leadership in cross-functional engineering efforts.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience working with customers or stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, implementation, and delivery of high-impact backend software solutions.
• Guide long-term planning and influence roadmaps for backend services and system architecture.
• Coordinate deployments across distributed environments, including secure DoD/IC networks.
• Mentor engineers and promote best practices across the full development lifecycle.

Skills

Java

Scala

Go

Technical leadership

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Master's degree in related field

PhD

Tools

Kafka

NiFi

GeoMesa

AWS

Job description

General Atomics Integrated Intelligence Inc. (GA-Intelligence)develops cutting-edge software solutions that transform raw data into actionable intelligence. We specialize in real-time global situational awareness and battle management, processing petabytes of data from hundreds of sources across air, land, and sea. Our systems—including the widely usedTHRESHERandDRAGONSPELLplatforms-support tens of thousands of users at all levels of the DoD and Intelligence Community and enable critical decision-making for national security missions.

We processhundreds of observations per minute, operating at the scale of global sensor networks and battlefield telemetry. Our backend architecture leverages technologies likeKafka,AWS,NiFi, andGeoMesa-the latter of which we designed and open-sourced to deliver high-throughput, mission-resilient systems that turn streaming data into real-time intelligence.
Why GA-Intelligence?

At GA-Intelligence, we're not chasing hype or building throwaway demos-we're solving complex, mission-critical problems that matter. Unlike younger firms chasing the next funding round, we've spent decades earning the trust of our users and delivering systems they rely on every day. And unlike traditional defense contractors, we're nimble, privately held, and able to make long-term decisions in the best interest of our customers and our country-not quarterly earnings reports.

Our users love our software. Our customers come back because we deliver. And our engineers stay because they get to work on real problems, with real impact, alongside people who care.

If you're looking for a place where engineering excellence meets enduring mission, GA-I3 is where you belong.

What You'll Do

We are seekingBackend Software Engineers to help build the next generation of global situational awareness and battle orchestration capabilities. You'll collaborate with cross-functional teams—including UI/UX engineers, mission engineers, data scientists, and product owners—to design and deliver software that is performant, scalable, and tailored to complex user needs.

Whether you're integrating multi-source data, optimizing backend services, or shaping how insights reach the end user, your work will directly support operational missions that have real-world impact.

What We Believe

These values weren't crafted in a branding session- they were observed and articulated after 35 years of building software that matters. They reflect how we work, what we value in each other, and the kind of impact we want to have. At GA-Intelligence, they aren't aspirational- they're how we operate.

• Solving Meaningful Challenges- Building mission-driven technology that makes a difference

• Collaborative Culture- Working as a team to push boundaries and innovate

• Technical Excellence- Encouraging continuous learning, curiosity, and efficiency

• Idea Meritocracy- Valuing ideas based on impact, not hierarchy

If these principles resonate with you-not just in theory, but in daily practice-you'll find yourself at home here.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Senior engineers at GA-Intelligence are technical leaders who drive strategy, architecture, and delivery across complex projects. You'll guide teams in designing scalable systems, ensure high engineering standards, and play a key role in shaping long-term technical direction. In addition to building and maintaining critical backend infrastructure, you'll serve as a mentor, decision-maker, and trusted voice both within the team and with external stakeholders.

• Lead development activities
  • Lead the successful design, implementation, and delivery of high-impact backend software solutions
  • Guide long-term planning efforts and influence technical roadmaps for backend services and system architecture so they align with organizational goals, operational requirements, and product strategy
• Collaborate externally
  • Represent GA-I3 as a senior technical point of contact for customers, partners, and other engineering teams
  • Coordinate software deployments and upgrades across distributed environments, including DoD and IC networks
  • Evaluate and implement cross-platform deployment strategies, ensuring compliance with integration and security standards
  • Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders on high-visibility technical initiatives that span multiple teams and domains
• Engineer performant solutions
  • Contribute to system-wide performance tuning and reliability improvements, identifying architectural risks and proposing mitigation strategies
• Build the team
  • Develop mentoring structures and contribute to onboarding, skill development, and growth paths for less experienced engineers
  • Mentor mid-level and junior engineers, fostering a culture of continuous learning, ownership, and technical excellence
  • Provide technical leadership across the full development lifecycle, including design reviews, coding standards, and testing practices

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in computer science, information systems or related discipline and progressive software development experience as follows; six or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, four or more years of experience with a masters degree, or two or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent experience in lieu of education.
• Deep expertise in Java and/or other backend languages (e.g., Scala, Go)
• Demonstrated technical leadership in cross-functional engineering efforts
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience working directly with customers or stakeholders

PREFERRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Proven experience architecting and scaling distributed systems
• Deep expertise in backend architecture, distributed systems, and service design
• Experience with performance tuning and high-availability system design
• Familiarity with Kafka, NiFi, GeoMesa, AWS, or other cloud-native technologies
• Experience leading incident response, root cause analysis, and operational improvements
• Ability to interface directly with customers and senior stakeholders
• Experience working in the DoD or Intelligence Community