Software Engineer (Java, OpenFGA)

Agile Defense; Arlington (VA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Agile Defense is seeking a Software Engineer (Java, OpenFGA) to build distributed backend services and durable APIs for a modern Hub‑and‑Spoke architecture. You will contribute to the OpenFGA wrapper service, write clean, maintainable code, and design microservices that integrate with cloud-native platforms.

Responsibilities include API development, OpenFGA data model enhancements, testing, debugging, and CI/CD improvements. Onsite twice weekly in Rosslyn, VA, with a Secret clearance to start.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• 5+ years of experience.
• Hands-on experience with Java and Spring Boot; RESTful APIs; AWS.

Responsibilities

• Implement API endpoints and business logic for wrapper service.
• Develop features for OpenFGA data model management.
• Write unit tests and integration tests.
• Debug and resolve software defects.
• Assist with documentation and code examples.
• Participate in code reviews and team ceremonies.
• Support onboarding team with technical questions.
• Contribute to CI/CD pipeline improvements.

Skills

Java & Spring Boot

RESTful APIs

AWS

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Django

NATS

Kafka

Redis

ClickHouse

OpenTelemetry

OpenRouter

LiteLLM

Job description

At Agile Defense we know that action defines the outcome and new challenges require new solutions. That’s why we always look to the future and embrace change with an unmovable spirit and the courage to build for what comes next.

Our vision is to bring adaptive innovation to support our nation's most important missions through the seamless integration of advanced technologies, elite minds, and unparalleled agility—leveraging a foundation of speed, flexibility, and ingenuity to strengthen and protect our nation’s vital interests.

Requisition #: 1843

Job Title: Software Engineer (Java, OpenFGA)

Location: Hybrid, Rosslyn, VA

Clearance Level: Secret, Must Have Clearance to Start

At Agile Defense we know that action defines the outcome and new challenges require new solutions. That’s why we always look to the future and embrace change with an unmovable spirit and the courage to build for what comes next.

Our vision is to bring adaptive innovation to support our nation's most important missions through the seamless integration of advanced technologies, elite minds, and unparalleled agility—leveraging a foundation of speed, flexibility, and ingenuity to strengthen and protect our nation’s vital interests.

Requisition #: 1843

Job Title: Software Engineer (Java, OpenFGA)

Location: Hybrid, Rosslyn, VA

Clearance Level: Secret, Must Have Clearance to Start

Job Description

In this role, you will build distributed backend services and durable APIs that support a modern Hub‑and‑Spoke architecture. Your work will play a key role in advancing operational AI, enabling mission systems, enterprise governance, agentic AI, and scalable delivery.

Software Engineer (Java, OpenFGA)

Contribute to the development of the OpenFGA wrapper service and supporting tools, writing clean, maintainable code under guidance of senior engineers.

Design, develop, and maintain backend microservices and distributed systems to support enterprise AI operations. You will be responsible for building and maintaining microservices that integrate seamlessly with cloud-native platforms, ensuring continuous monitoring and high reliability across all operational workflows. Build and optimize APIs and event-driven architectures for scalable and reliable data flow.

Responsibilities

• Implement API endpoints and business logic for wrapper service
• Develop features for OpenFGA data model management
• Write unit tests and integration tests
• Debug and resolve software defects
• Assist with documentation and code examples
• Participate in code reviews and team ceremonies
• Support onboarding team with technical questions
• Contribute to CI/CD pipeline improvements

Education Background

• High School Diploma or equivalent(GED) required

Years of Experience: 5 + years

Required Skills

• Hands‑on experience with Java and Spring Boot
• Background designing and implementing RESTful APIs
• Proficiency with core AWS services

Preferred Skills

• Experience in a fast‑paced and mission‑focused environment, requiring you to collaborate closely with teams specializing in AI, DevSecOps, data engineering, platform engineering, and cybersecurity
• Familiarity with frameworks and tools like Django, NATS, Kafka, Redis, ClickHouse, OpenTelemetry, OpenRouter, and LiteLLM will be highly advantageous as you design and implement scalable, observable, and secure solutions
• Experience with any of the following technologies: Django, NATS, Kafka, Redis, ClickHouse, OpenTelemetry, OpenRouter, and LiteLLM

Working Conditions

Onsite twice a week in Rosslyn, VA

Our Core Values

Employees of Agile Defense are our number one priority, and the importance we place on our culture here is fundamental. Our culture is alive and evolving, but it always stays true to its roots. Here, you are valued as a family member, and we believe that we can accomplish great things together. Agile Defense has been highly successful in the past few years due to our employees and the culture we create together.

What makes us Agile? We call it the 6Hs, the values that define our culture and guide everything we do. Together, these values infuse vibrancy, integrity, and a tireless work ethic into advancing the most important national security and critical civilian missions. It's how we show up every day. It's who we are.

• Happy - Be Infectious. Happiness multiplies and creates a positive and connected environment where motivation and satisfaction have an outsized effect on everything we do.
• Helpful - Be Supportive. Being helpful is the foundation of teamwork, resulting in a supportive atmosphere where collaboration flourishes, and collective success is celebrated.
• Honest - Be Trustworthy. Honesty serves as our compass, ensuring transparent communication and ethical conduct, essential to who we are and the complex domains we support.
• Humble - Be Grounded. Success is not achieved alone, humility ensures a culture of mutual respect, encouraging open communication, and a willingness to learn from one another and take on any task.
• Hungry - Be Eager. Our hunger for excellence drives an insatiable appetite for innovation and continuous improvement, propelling us forward in the face of new and unprecedented challenges.
• Hustle - Be Driven. Hustle is reflected in our relentless work ethic, where we are each committed to going above and beyond to advance the mission and achieve success.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.