Software Engineer Level 5

Base-2 Solutions; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Flexible work schedules

Job summary

Base-2 Solutions is seeking a Principal Software Engineer in Washington, DC, on-site, with a Top Secret/SCI with CI Polygraph clearance. The role focuses on backend development, data engineering, and API work, leveraging Python, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, and high-speed integrations in mission-critical environments.

The position requires strong backend experience, database design, and scalable system development, with daily collaboration across multi-disciplinary teams and strict security controls.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated backend development experience
• Experience with data engineering and API development
• Proficiency in Python and FastAPI
• Experience designing and managing PostgreSQL databases
• Proficiency in Elasticsearch
• Experience building high-performance API connections between systems

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and enhance complex software systems for mission-critical environments
• Provide input on software design, data flows, and system requirements
• Design, implement, and integrate software applications and APIs
• Follow standards and repeatable processes in development and production
• Mitigate risks, control costs, and manage large-scale software projects
• Review and test components for adherence to design requirements and document results

Skills

Python

FastAPI

PostgreSQL

Elasticsearch

API development

Backend developer

Data engineering

Security clearance TS/SCI

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS or related field

Higher education with equivalent experience

Job description

• Standard Title: Principal Software Engineer
• Required Security Clearance: Top Secret/SCI with CI Polygraph
• Location: Washington, DC
• Work Type: On-Site
• Shift: First

• Requisition ID: 3836
• Standard Title: Principal Software Engineer
• Required Security Clearance: Top Secret/SCI with CI Polygraph
• Location: Washington, DC
• Work Type: On-Site
• Shift: First
• Referral Eligibility: Eligible
• U.S. Citizenship Required? Yes

Position Summary

Base-2 Solutions is seeking a Software Engineer Level 5 to develop, maintain, and enhance complex and diverse software systems supporting mission-focused environments. This role is centered on backend development, data engineering, and API development, with emphasis on building scalable systems using Python and FastAPI, designing and managing PostgreSQL databases, and supporting high-performance integrations across high-speed, high-volume, mission-critical, data-sensitive systems.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and enhance complex and diverse software systems, including processing-intensive analytics, novel algorithm development, manipulation of extremely large data sets, real-time systems, and business management information systems, based upon documented requirements.
• Provide specific input to software component design, including hardware/software trade-offs, software reuse, use of COTS/GOTS in place of new development, and requirements analysis and synthesis from the system level to individual software components.
• Design, implement, and integrate software applications or perform software engineering tasks.
• Utilize software engineering and design methodologies appropriate to the development, integration, and production environment.
• Ensure efficient delivery of software engineering capabilities using industry standards and repeatable processes.
• Mitigate risks, control costs and schedule variance, and effectively manage large-scale, integrated software projects.
• Review and test software components for adherence to design requirements and document test results.

Required Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI with CI Polygraph.
• Demonstrated experience as a backend developer.
• Demonstrated experience in data engineering and API development.
• Experience building scalable systems with Python and FastAPI.
• Experience designing and managing PostgreSQL databases with efficient SQL and indexing strategies.
• Proficiency in Python.
• Proficiency in FastAPI.
• Proficiency in PostgreSQL.
• Proficiency in Elasticsearch.
• Experience building high-performance API connections between high-speed, high-volume, mission-critical, data-sensitive systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting processing-intensive analytics environments.
• Experience working with extremely large data sets.
• Experience supporting real-time systems.
• Experience contributing to software design decisions involving software reuse, COTS/GOTS, and system-to-component requirements analysis.

Required Education and Experience Equivalency

• High School Diploma/ GED with 18 years of experience.
• Associates Degree with 16 years of experience.
• Bachelors' Degree with 14 years of experience.
• Masters' Degree with 12 years of experience.

Required Certifications

• None specified.

Required Security Clearance

• Active TS/SCI with CI Polygraph.

Pay & Benefit Highlights

Compensation

• Competitive fixed salary or hourly pay (based on experience, skills, location, and internal equity).
• Employee referral bonuses up to $10,000 per hired referral.
• Additional bonus opportunities for exceptional performance and contributions to business development and company growth (role-dependent).

Health

• 100% company-paid medical premiums for employees and eligible dependents.
• Choose from multiple plan options with CareFirst, Kaiser, and UnitedHealthcare, including PPO, POS, HMO, and HSA-compatible plans.
• 100% company-paid dental premiums for employees and eligible dependents.
• 100% company-paid vision premiums for employees and eligible dependents.

Income Protection

• 100% company-paid premiums for short-term disability.
• 100% company-paid premiums for long-term disability.
• 100% company-paid premiums for accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D).
• 100% company-paid premiums for life insurance up to $200,000.

Retirement

• 401(k) with immediate vesting: 4% company match plus a 4% non-elective company contribution (8% total).
• 401(k) pre-tax and Roth options.

Leave

• Up to 20 days of flexible paid time off (PTO).
• 11 paid floating holidays.

Work-Life Balance

• Flexible work schedules, including flex time and compressed work periods (contract and project-dependent).