Software Engineer II (Java Focus)

Torch.AI; Leawood, McLean (KS, VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Torch.AI is seeking a backend engineer to design, build, and maintain scalable services at the HQ in Leawood, KS. You’ll work on Python or Java stack and own REST APIs for mission-critical systems.

You’ll collaborate with DevOps, security, and platform teams to deliver production-ready services, with a focus on reliability, scalability, and performance. This role requires security awareness and the ability to own feature delivery end-to-end.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in CS, Engineering or related field.
• 3–6 years of backend development experience.
• Strong proficiency in Python or Java and REST APIs.
• Experience with REST, CI/CD, containers, cloud, and databases.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain backend services using Python (FastAPI/Flask) and/or Java (Spring Boot, Micronaut).
• Develop and maintain RESTful APIs and service integration layers for mission-critical systems.
• Own feature delivery from development through deployment and monitoring.
• Design relational and NoSQL schemas for scalable workloads.
• Contribute to CI/CD pipelines and automated testing, ensure reliability.

Skills

Backend development

Python or Java

REST APIs

CI/CD pipelines

Docker

Git workflows

AWS cloud

SQL/NoSQL databases

Team collaboration

Security fundamentals

Education

B.S./M.S. in CS/Engineering

Tools

FastAPI

Flask

Spring Boot

Micronaut

SQL

NoSQL

Docker

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: HQ - LEAWOOD, KS 66211.

Position Type: Full-Time - Clearance Eligible.

The world’s most consequential systems need the world’s best builders.

A new era is taking shape. AI is no longer confined to models or interfaces. It is becoming the foundation of how decisions are made across governments, industries, and real-world environments. What matters now is not just access to capability, but how it is applied, controlled, and sustained over time.

Torch.AI builds a government-owned reasoning infrastructure which creates a Reasoning Layer to enable machine reasoning at scale, in environments where it is hardest to achieve and least tolerant of failure. This is not incremental software. It is long‑term infrastructure designed to endure, integrate, and evolve alongside the systems it supports.

Not another dashboard. Not another workflow app. Not another black‑box model glued to a PowerPoint.

The Reasoning Layer is a modular architecture where data is connected, governed, transformed, represented, fused, reasoned over, and delivered into mission applications and operational workflows. It does not replace systems of record. It enables them to function better together.

The Reasoning Layer is comprised of: ORCUS (ingestion, orchestration, governance), NEXUS (semantic representation, vectorization), HALO (graph‑based fusion and reasoning) and various product and capability components deployed for specific customer use cases.

We are seeking candidates who approach problems creatively, are comfortable operating without full clarity, and take responsibility for outcomes, not just implementation.

If you’re driven to strengthen U.S. defense readiness and protect national interests, Torch.AI offers meaningful impact at national scale.

What Makes Torch.AI Different

Torch.AI was founded on a simple operational insight: better use of data leads to better decisions. As data volumes increased across commercial, enterprise, and national security environments, the limiting factor was not collection, storage, or user interface design. The missing layer was machine understanding. And an infrastructure that could operate and reason between layers, preserve context, reconcile meaning, and make data useful for decisions in real time.

We believe the government must own its data and decision environment. In mission and operational environments, the layer where data becomes context, context informs models, models support decisions, and decisions shape action cannot be controlled entirely by private technology vendors.

Ownership does not mean the government must build every component itself. It means the government maintains stewardship and authority over the mission and operational layer. Commercial software, models, and services can contribute to the environment, but they should not capture the mission.

We are craftsmen. We build with intention. We ship with discipline.

You’ll collaborate with engineers, data experts, veterans, and mission practitioners. You’ll own meaningful work, move quickly, and see your systems deployed in production, often within weeks.

We are fast‑paced, entrepreneurial, and mission‑driven. Every day is a new puzzle.

The Type of Candidates Who Thrive

People who do well here tend to approach problems similarly.

• They are comfortable operating without full clarity.
• They pay attention to what actually happens, not just what was intended.
• They are willing to be wrong, adjust quickly, and improve based on real feedback.
• They take responsibility for outcomes, not just implementation.

This is not a good fit for someone who needs tightly defined problems or prefers distance from how their work is used.

Security Clearance

Some roles require an active Secret, Top Secret, or Top Secret/SCI clearance. Where required, candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain the appropriate clearance level.

U.S. citizenship is required for all positions. Torch.AI does not sponsor employment visas.

If you do not currently hold a clearance but are eligible, sponsorship may be available depending on role and mission requirements.

Work Location

Most roles are based at our headquarters in Leawood, KS. Some hybrid/remote positions across the Arlington, VA, Washington, DC, and Maryland (DMV) region are available. Limited travel (<10%) may be required for some roles.

Compensation, Benefits, Incentives

We offer competitive, performance‑aligned compensation tied to technical depth, clearance level, and mission impact.

Total Rewards Include:

• Competitive base salary
• Quarterly performance bonuses
• Equity participation within the first 12 months
• Unlimited PTO + 11 paid company holidays
• Professional development in a high-growth, mission‑driven environment
• Weekly in-office catering at HQ

Benefits:

• 401(k) plan (no current employer match, but under consideration)
• PPO, HSA, and TRICARE Supplement medical options
• Above‑market HSA contributions
• HSA, FSA, and Dependent Care FSA options
• Dental and vision plans above national averages
• Employer‑paid life insurance (1× salary)
• Employer‑paid Short‑Term and Long‑Term Disability
• Voluntary Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity coverage
• Up to $300/month in tax‑advantaged commuter benefits

Torch.AI is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer committed to building a team that reflects the mission we serve.

Qualifications

What You’ll Do

• Design, build, and maintain backend services using Python (FastAPI/Flask) and/or Java (Spring Boot, Micronaut).
• Develop and maintain RESTful APIs and service integration layers supporting mission‑critical systems.
• Own feature‑level delivery across development, testing, deployment, monitoring, and iterative improvement.
• Design and optimize relational and NoSQL database schemas to support scalable workloads.
• Troubleshoot system issues across development and staging environments and contribute to root‑cause analysis.
• Contribute to CI/CD pipelines, containerized deployments, and automated testing workflows.
• Participate in architecture discussions and drive improvements in reliability, scalability, and performance.
• Collaborate with DevOps, security, and platform teams to deliver secure, production‑ready services.
• Document technical decisions, API specifications, and service behavior.
• Support junior engineers through code reviews and knowledge sharing.

Core Skills & Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
• 3–6 years of professional backend development experience.
• Strong proficiency in either Python or Java (experience in both is a plus).
• Experience building backend services using frameworks such as FastAPI, Flask, Spring Boot, or Micronaut.
• Strong understanding of REST API design and serialization formats (JSON, etc.).
• Experience working with SQL and NoSQL databases and optimizing query performance.
• Familiarity with cloud environments (AWS preferred) and containerization (Docker).
• Experience with Git workflows, CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing practices.
• Ability to independently own feature delivery while collaborating across cross‑functional teams.
• Strong communication skills and engineering discipline.

Additional Valuable Experience

• Experience with Kafka or event‑driven / streaming architectures.