Software Engineer - Secret Clearance Required

Agile Defense, Inc.; Arlington (VA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Onsite twice a week

Job summary

Agile Defense is hiring a Software Engineer to build distributed backend services and APIs supporting a modern Hub-and-Spoke architecture. You will develop microservices that integrate with cloud-native platforms, ensuring reliability and observability while collaborating with AI, DevSecOps, data engineering, and cybersecurity teams.

The role requires hands-on Java and Spring Boot, RESTful API design, and AWS proficiency, in a hybrid work model with onsite Rosslyn, VA twice weekly.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with Java and Spring Boot.
• Background designing and implementing RESTful APIs.
• Proficiency with core AWS services.
• Experience in fast-paced, mission-focused environments and collaboration with AI, DevSecOps, data engineering teams.
• Familiarity with Django, NATS, Kafka, Redis, ClickHouse, OpenTelemetry, OpenRouter, and LiteLLM; OpenFGA experience is a plus.

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

Backend development

API design

Team collaboration

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Java

Spring Boot

OpenFGA

Django

NATS

Kafka

Redis

ClickHouse

OpenTelemetry

OpenRouter

LiteLLM

AWS

Job description

About Agile Defense

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 #:1886

Job Title:Software Engineer

Location:Hybrid, Rosslyn, VA

Clearance Level:Secret, Must Have Clearance to Start

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

Contribute to development 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
• High School Diploma or equivalent(GED) required.
• Secret Clearance Required
• Hands‑on experience with Java and Spring Boot.
• Background designing and implementing RESTful APIs
• Proficiency with core AWS services
• 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
• Prior experience with OpenFGA

1 - 3 years

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