ZR_3100_JOB

Simple Solutions; Bethesda (MD); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Simple Solutions in Bethesda, MD is seeking an experienced Lead Developer to head engineering and application support. The hybrid role requires on-site presence three days per week and strong leadership of a combined development and production support team.

The ideal candidate has 10–15 years in software engineering, deep Python and GraphQL/API experience, PostgreSQL expertise, and AWS proficiency, with familiarity in NIH health IT environments. A Bachelor’s degree is required.

Qualifications

• 10+ years software engineering experience including leadership
• Strong Python backend expertise and cloud-native architectures
• Production experience with GraphQL APIs and AWS
• DB design and query optimization with PostgreSQL
• Familiarity with NIH/federal health IT environments preferred
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience

Responsibilities

• Provide technical direction and leadership to a dual development and production support team
• Architect scalable backend services and cloud infrastructure
• Oversee Tier 3 support, troubleshoot production bottlenecks, and monitor systems
• Enforce coding standards and modern CI/CD and DevOps practices
• Collaborate with product managers, system admins, and NIH stakeholders to align goals

Skills

Python

GraphQL API

AWS

PostgreSQL

Team leadership

NIH familiarity

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Engineering or related field

Job description

Application Solutions Lead for NIH - Hybrid

bethesda, United States | Posted on 10/23/2026

Job Description: Lead Developer (Python / GraphQL / AWS)

Job Title: Lead Developer – Development & Support

Location: Bethesda, MD (Hybrid – 3 days on-site per week)

Position Type: Full-Time

Experience Level: 10–15 Years

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Lead Developer to head our engineering and application support initiatives. In this role, you will provide technical direction and leadership to a combined development and support team, ensuring the successful delivery of new features while maintaining high system reliability. This is a hybrid position requiring you to be on-site three days a week at our Bethesda, MD office. The ideal candidate has deep expertise in cloud-native Python architectures, strong team-management capabilities, and immediate readiness to collaborate within federal health IT environments.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership: Lead, mentor, and manage a dual-focused team handling both new software development and production support/maintenance.

Architecture & Design: Guide the architectural design of scalable backend services, efficient data graphs, and cloud infrastructure.

Operations & Support: Oversee Tier 3 support activities, troubleshoot complex production bottlenecks, and establish robust monitoring and incident management workflows.

Code Excellence: Establish coding standards, conduct comprehensive code reviews, and drive modern CI/CD and DevOps practices.

Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner with product managers, system administrators, and NIH stakeholders to align technical execution with organizational goals.

Required Technical Skills and Qualifications

Overall Experience: 10 to 15 years of professional software engineering experience, including a minimum of 3 years leading engineering teams.

Backend Development: Advanced, expert-level proficiency in Python and its core framework ecosystem.

API Architecture: Production-proven experience designing, building, and optimizing GraphQL APIs.

Database Management: Strong expertise in PostgreSQL, including schema design, indexing, and complex query optimization.

Cloud Computing: Direct experience architecture and maintaining infrastructure on AWS (e.g., Lambda, EC2, RDS, IAM, CloudWatch).

Work Authorization: Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Location: Ability to work on-site in Bethesda, MD 3 days a week.

Preferred Qualifications

NIH Familiarity: Current or recent experience working on-site or directly with the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Facility Access: Possession of a current, active NIH badge (PIV card) for rapid onboarding and facility access.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.

Prior Work history at other Federal Government

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS ) operates through key operating divisions and agencies split across public health and human services.

See below agencies:

Operating Divisions & Agencies

• CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention): Protects public health and safety by controlling and preventing disease, injury, and disability.
  
• NIH (National Institutes of Health): Conducts and supports medical and behavioral research through 27 separate institutes and centers.
  
• FDA (Food and Drug Administration): Ensures the safety and efficacy of drugs, medical devices, the food supply, cosmetics, and tobacco products.
  
• CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services): Administers Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and health insurance marketplaces.
  
• ACF (Administration for Children and Families): Promotes the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities.
  
• ACL (Administration for Community Living): Focuses on maximizing the independence, well-being, and health of older adults and people with disabilities.
  
• HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration): Improves access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable.
  
• SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration): Leads public efforts to advance behavioral health and reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness.
  
• IHS (Indian Health Service): Provides federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives.
  
• AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality): Conducts research to make health care safer, higher quality, more accessible, and more affordable.
  
• ASPR (Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response): Coordinates federal medical and public health preparedness and response for disasters and emergencies.
  
• ARPA-H (Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health): Funds high-risk, high-reward biomedical and health breakthroughs.
  
• ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry): Protects communities from harmful exposures to hazardous and toxic substances