What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Backend / API Developer (Job ID:4208) position at Valkyrie |?
Senior Backend / API Developer
Contingent upon Customer Approval
Purpose:
- Valkyrie Enterprises has an immediate need for a Senior Sr Backend / API Developer (.NET Focus) on-site in Huntsville, AL.
- Join the team responsible for the Missile Defense System (MDS) Ground Test (GT) scenario design for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
- MDA GTs are used to assess our nation’s defense systems through a variety of HWIL and simulation tests.
- Excellent opportunity to work on cutting-edge defense technologies while contributing to the security of our nation.
Job Description:
- Primary backend engineer responsible for designing, building, and maintaining APIs and service layers that power a suite of web applications.
- The position emphasizes reliability, maintainability, and scalability of backend systems, with a strong focus on structured data, service architecture, and integration with downstream systems (including AI-enabled features via external services).
- Hands-on engineering role embedded within a development team, working closely with frontend developers, database specialists, and DevOps personnel to deliver production-grade software in a controlled, enterprise environment.
- Design, develop, and maintain RESTful APIs and backend services using C# and the .NET ecosystem
- Build and support service-oriented architectures that enable modular, maintainable application design
- Integrate backend systems with external or internal AI/ML services (API consumption, data exchange, orchestration)
- Collaborate with frontend developers to define API contracts and ensure seamless UI integration
- Support application lifecycle activities including debugging, performance tuning, and production issue resolution
- Contribute to architectural decisions, including service boundaries, data flow, and system design patterns
- Ensure code quality through testing, code reviews, and adherence to development standards
- Participate in deployment and release processes
- Document system design, APIs, and key technical decisions for long-term maintainability
Target Candidate:
- Strong, independent backend engineer who can take ownership of systems end-to-end
- Comfortable working in structured, sometimes constrained environments
- Prioritizes **robustness, performance, and maintainability** over surface-level features
- Able to navigate ambiguity and contribute to evolving system architecture
- Effective collaborator with both frontend developers and infrastructure teams
Qualifications:
- Must have a BS in Engineering, Math, Physics, or similar technical discipline and at least 5–10 years of professional software development experience.
- Must have strong proficiency in C# and the .NET ecosystem (including .NET Framework 4.8 and/or .NET 5 ).
- Must have proven experience designing and building RESTful APIs and backend services.
- Must have experience working in production environments with real-world users, data, and operational constraints.
- Must have a solid understanding of software architecture principles (layered architecture, service boundaries, separation of concerns).
- Must have experience debugging and maintaining complex systems over time.
- Must have the ability to work independently and take ownership of backend systems.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience integrating with AI/ML services (REST APIs, data pipelines, inference workflows), preferred.
- Familiarity with Azure DevOps (build/release pipelines, repos, work items), preferred.
- Experience working in controlled or restricted environments (e.g., air-gapped systems, secure networks), preferred.
- Familiarity with frontend technologies (JavaScript, MVC frameworks, or similar) for effective collaboration, preferred.
- Understanding of authentication/authorization patterns (e.g., role-based access, enterprise auth systems) , preferred.
- Agile / Scrum team experience, preferred.
- Active SECRET security clearance, preferred.
Security Requirements:
- Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance.
Travel Requirements:
- Occasional or No Travel- less than 10%.
- If position requires travel by domestic flight or access to secure federal facilities/military bases, candidate must be able to obtain (by start of position) and maintain appropriate identification credentials, such as REAL ID. (More information regarding REAL ID can be found: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id)
Physical Requirements:
- Remaining in a stationary position.
- Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another
- Communicating with others to exchange information
- Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers.
- Light work that includes moving objects up to 20 pounds.
Valkyrie strictly adheres to a policy of equal employment opportunity. This policy is based on Valkyrie’s commitment to hire and retain qualified employees consistent with position requirements; and to seek, employ, promote and treat all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth, physical disability, mental disability, age, military status or protected veteran status, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition, genetic information or sexual orientation or other protected characteristics.
Additionally, Valkyrie Enterprises provides a variety of benefits to eligible employees to support your best health, wellness, and future, to include medical/dental/vision options, company paid life and disability insurances, 401k with match, education reimbursement, as well as company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO).