Software Engineering Subject Matter Expert (SME) with Security Clearance

Software Engineering Subject Matter Expert (SME) - TS/SCI Linchpin Software is a specialized software and data engineering firm supporting a federal agency's mission-critical technology portfolio in the National Capital Region. We're scaling up a high-performing engineering organization and looking for a Software Engineering SME who's ready to lead from the front - not just write great code, but set the bar for the engineers around them. This program spans a diverse portfolio of cloud-native platforms - from full-stack analytical applications and high-volume ETL pipelines to knowledge-graph-driven investigative tools and next-generation AI-enabled data platforms. You'll work across modern stacks (Python, .NET, TypeScript, React, Angular, Kubernetes, and more), solving hard problems for a mission that genuinely matters. We're looking for someone with energy. Someone who gets excited about clean architecture, hates technical debt, and brings positivity and momentum to a team every single day. As an SME, you won't just be a top individual contributor - you'll mentor, coach, and help shape how this team builds software for years to come. Location:

Chantilly, VA, with potential for a hybrid telework schedule based on role and mission needs. Clearance Requirement:

Active Top Secret clearance required; must be SCI-eligible. Responsibilities:

• Serve as the go-to technical expert and de facto engineering leader within your team
• Design, develop, test, and deploy full-stack or backend software features across complex, mission-critical systems
• Drive architecture decisions, code quality standards, and engineering best practices
• Mentor and coach mid-level and junior engineers, raising the bar for the whole team
• Participate in and help facilitate Agile/SAFe ceremonies, including sprint planning, PI planning, and retrospectives
• Lead technical design discussions and translate complex requirements into scalable solutions
• Champion DevSecOps practices, automated testing, and CI/CD pipeline improvements
• Troubleshoot complex technical issues across the stack and drive them to resolution
• Bring energy, curiosity, and a collaborative spirit to a fast-moving, high-impact engineering culture Required Qualifications:
• Active Top Secret clearance, SCI-eligible
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical discipline (or equivalent experience)
• 8 years of professional software engineering experience, including:
• Designing, developing, testing, and deploying backend or full-stack software in languages such as Python, .NET/C#, Java, or JavaScript/TypeScript
• Hands-on experience with modern frontend frameworks (Angular, React, Vue.js, or similar)
• Experience with containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes) and infrastructure-as-code (Terraform)
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines (GitLab CI/CD or similar) and modern development tooling
• Demonstrated experience leading technical design, mentoring engineers, or serving as a technical lead
• Strong understanding of software design patterns, system architecture, and Agile/SAFe delivery Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience with data-intensive or ETL-heavy systems (Elasticsearch/OpenSearch, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, Kafka, RabbitMQ)
• Experience with cloud environments, including AWS GovCloud or similar government cloud platforms
• Exposure to AI/ML-integrated applications, knowledge graphs, or advanced data analytics platforms
• Experience with Splunk, Cribl, or large-scale data pipeline tooling
• Prior experience in a technical lead, principal engineer, or architect-track role
• Curiosity and enthusiasm for AI-assisted development tools and modern engineering practices What You'll Gain:
• A true leadership role - shape both the technology and the team culture
• The chance to work across a wide range of modern, cloud-native platforms rather than a single legacy stack
• Direct mentorship opportunities and visibility with technical leadership
• Exposure to mission-critical systems with real, tangible impact
• A collaborative, high-energy team environment built on continuous improvement
• Competitive compensation and benefits, with a clear path for continued technical growth If you're a senior engineer who leads by example, brings positive energy to every stand-up, and wants to help build something great - we want to talk to you.