Senior Java Software Engineer

Senior Java Engineer

Location: Annapolis Junction, MD

Clearance: Active TS/SCI Full Scope Polygraph

Experience: 7 to 20 years

We are seeking an experienced Senior Java Developer to join our software engineering team and help design, build, and maintain scalable backend systems that support mission-critical applications. In this role, you’ll work closely with the other frontend and backend engineers to deliver reliable, performant services while continuously improving code quality and system architecture.

You’ll be responsible for designing and implementing backend services, APIs, and data access layers, contributing to architectural decisions. We’re looking for someone who understands the Java ecosystem deeply, including Spring and Hibernate, and also knows when not to use them. You should be comfortable choosing lightweight libraries over heavy frameworks when appropriate, talking directly to databases when necessary, and favoring pragmatic, maintainable solutions over one-size-fits-all patterns.

The ideal candidate brings strong core Java skills, solid system design experience, and a thoughtful engineering mindset. You care about clean code, testability, performance, and long-term maintainability. You enjoy collaborating across disciplines and taking ownership of complex technical problems from design through production. This role is perfect for a mid to senior engineer who combines hands-on technical depth with sound judgment; someone who can build robust systems while helping shape engineering standards and best practices across the team.

Basic Qualifications:

• 7 years of professional experience developing backend systems in Java.
• Strong proficiency with Java and core JVM concepts.
• Experience building RESTful APIs and backend services.
• Practical experience with Spring with the ability to evaluate when it’s appropriate to use.
• Experience with Object-Relational Mapping frameworks such as Hibernate.
• Solid understanding of relational databases and schema design; experience with NoSQL technologies is a plus.
• Experience designing and implementing scalable, maintainable software systems.
• Experience working with version control systems, particularly Git.
• Experience working in Linux and Unix environments (e.g. RHEL).
• Excellent debugging and problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to changing project requirements.
• Comfortable participating in code reviews and maintaining high code quality standards.
• Experience working in Agile development environments.
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across engineering disciplines.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience making architectural decisions and guiding technical direction on backend systems.
• Demonstrated ability to build lightweight, purpose-fit solutions.
• Experience designing APIs and service boundaries in distributed systems.
• Experience with the Atlassian, Gitlab or similar CI/CD toolsuites.
• Experience with automated testing, Test Driven Development, or similar quality-driven practices.
• Experience with MongoDB, Elasticsearch, or other document/NoSQL datastores.
• Some frontend exposure (React, Angular, or similar) is a plus, though not required.
• Previous industry experience and experience working on fast-paced high complexity solutions for clients.
• Desire to grow and continue advancing with the company in the long-term.