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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Federal Developer

💰 $95,000 - $175,000

TechnologySoftware DevelopmentGovernmentFederal ContractingEngineering

🎯 Role Definition

We are actively recruiting a results-oriented Federal Developer to join our dynamic team dedicated to serving the public sector. In this pivotal role, you will be instrumental in the full software development lifecycle (SDLC) of mission-critical applications that support federal agencies. You will work on challenging and meaningful projects, from modernizing legacy systems to building next-generation platforms from the ground up. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver with a passion for clean code, robust security, and delivering high-quality software that makes a tangible impact. You will collaborate closely with government clients, project managers, and cross-functional teams within an Agile/DevSecOps framework to deliver secure, scalable, and reliable solutions.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Junior Software Developer
  • Software Engineer
  • Application Developer

Advancement To:

  • Senior Federal Developer / Lead Developer
  • Solutions Architect (Federal)
  • Technical Project Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Federal DevOps / DevSecOps Engineer
  • Cybersecurity Engineer
  • Systems Analyst (Government Contracts)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Design, develop, and implement robust, scalable, and secure full-stack web applications using modern technology stacks such as Java/Spring Boot or C#/.NET Core for critical government systems.
  • Collaborate directly with government stakeholders, project managers, and business analysts to gather, analyze, and translate complex mission requirements into detailed technical specifications and user stories.
  • Write high-quality, maintainable, and well-documented code that adheres to established coding standards, best practices, and federal compliance requirements.
  • Develop and maintain RESTful APIs and microservices to facilitate seamless data exchange between disparate systems and applications.
  • Integrate, test, and deploy software components within a continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipeline, ensuring adherence to DevSecOps best practices and government security mandates.
  • Perform thorough unit, integration, and end-to-end testing to ensure application reliability, performance, and security, and participate in formal quality assurance processes.
  • Troubleshoot, debug, and resolve complex software defects and production issues in a timely and efficient manner to minimize impact on mission operations.
  • Participate actively in all phases of the Agile development process, including sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.
  • Modernize and refactor legacy codebases, migrating monolithic applications to modern, cloud-native, and microservices-based architectures.
  • Implement and maintain robust security controls throughout the development lifecycle, addressing vulnerabilities identified through static/dynamic code analysis (SAST/DAST) and adhering to DISA STIGs and RMF guidelines.
  • Create and maintain comprehensive technical documentation, including system design documents, API specifications, deployment guides, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to meet contractual deliverables.
  • Provide expert technical support and guidance to government clients and end-users, ensuring successful adoption and utilization of developed software solutions.
  • Conduct peer code reviews to enforce code quality, share knowledge, and provide constructive feedback to fellow developers.
  • Develop user interfaces with modern JavaScript frameworks such as Angular, React, or Vue.js, ensuring an intuitive and accessible user experience that complies with Section 508 accessibility standards.
  • Manage source code and version control using Git, employing branching strategies that support parallel development and stable release management.
  • Automate build, test, and deployment processes using tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, or Azure DevOps to improve development velocity and system reliability.
  • Configure and deploy applications to government cloud environments, including AWS GovCloud and Azure Government, utilizing Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles with tools like Terraform or CloudFormation.
  • Work with various database technologies, including relational (e.g., PostgreSQL, Oracle) and NoSQL (e.g., MongoDB, DynamoDB), to design and optimize data models.
  • Support the accreditation and authorization (A&A) process by providing technical artifacts and assisting with security assessments.
  • Evaluate and recommend new technologies, tools, and methodologies to enhance the development process and improve the overall technical landscape.
  • Develop and execute database queries, stored procedures, and scripts for data manipulation, migration, and reporting tasks.
  • Participate in the design and implementation of system monitoring, logging, and alerting solutions to ensure high availability and proactive issue resolution.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to provide insights to government stakeholders.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and technology roadmap by researching emerging trends.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate complex data needs into clear and concise engineering requirements.
  • Participate actively in all sprint planning, backlog grooming, and agile ceremonies within the development team.
  • Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior developers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
  • Assist in preparing materials for technical briefings, design reviews, and project demonstrations for government leadership.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Programming Languages: Proficiency in Java (with Spring/Spring Boot) or C# (with .NET/.NET Core).
  • Front-End Frameworks: Experience with modern JavaScript frameworks like Angular, React, or Vue.js.
  • Database Technologies: Strong knowledge of SQL (PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server) and/or NoSQL databases (MongoDB, DynamoDB).
  • DevSecOps & CI/CD: Hands-on experience with CI/CD tools (Jenkins, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps) and version control (Git).
  • Cloud Platforms: Experience with government cloud environments such as AWS GovCloud or Microsoft Azure Government.
  • API Development: Expertise in designing, building, and consuming RESTful APIs and web services.
  • Security Clearance: Ability to obtain or maintain a U.S. Government Security Clearance (e.g., Public Trust, Secret, Top Secret) is often required.
  • Containerization: Knowledge of Docker and container orchestration platforms like Kubernetes or OpenShift.
  • Agile Methodologies: Deep understanding of Agile/Scrum principles and experience with tools like Jira or Azure Boards.
  • Security & Compliance: Familiarity with security scanning tools (SonarQube, Fortify) and federal security standards (NIST, DISA STIGs, Section 508).
  • Testing Frameworks: Experience with unit testing tools like JUnit, NUnit, or Jest.

Soft Skills

  • Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to diagnose and resolve complex technical issues.
  • Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective collaboration with technical teams and non-technical government clients.
  • Teamwork & Collaboration: Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, cross-functional team environment.
  • Adaptability: Flexibility to adapt to changing project requirements, shifting priorities, and new technologies.
  • Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to coding, testing, and documentation to ensure high-quality deliverables.
  • Client-Facing Skills: Professionalism and confidence when interacting directly with government stakeholders.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field. In some cases, significant, directly related professional experience may be substituted for a degree.

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s Degree in a relevant field.
  • Relevant technical certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Developer, Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer, Certified ScrumDeveloper®).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Computer Science
  • Software Engineering
  • Information Technology
  • Computer Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-10+ years of professional software development experience.

Preferred:

  • Proven experience working on software development projects for U.S. federal government agencies (e.g., DoD, DHS, HHS, VA).
  • An active U.S. Government Security Clearance (Secret or Top Secret).
  • Demonstrable experience working within an Agile/Scrum framework on a government contract.
  • Experience with modernizing legacy government systems.
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