Senior Applications Developer with Security Clearance

Overview SENIOR APPLICATION DEVELOPER (NAUT): Bowhead seeks a Senior Application Developer to support our customer on the Nautical contract in the Arlington, VA area. This position serves as a technical leader in the modernization of legacy DoD systems, providing advanced expertise in cloud-native development, architecture design, and team leadership. This position is located near a metro station and a travel stipend may be provided if necessary. Responsibilities * Lead the architectural design and development of complex cloud-native applications and systems for DoD modernization initiatives * Drive technical decision-making for legacy application migration strategies and modernization approaches * Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior and mid-level developers on best practices and advanced techniques * Design and implement scalable, secure, and resilient cloud architectures using industry best practices * Lead code reviews and establish coding standards, development processes, and quality assurance procedures * Collaborate with system architects and technical leads to define overall system architecture and integration strategies * Implement advanced DevOps practices including infrastructure as code, automated deployment pipelines, and monitoring solutions * Design and develop complex microservices architectures with proper service mesh implementation * Lead performance optimization efforts for cloud applications including load testing and capacity planning * Coordinate with government stakeholders to understand requirements and ensure technical solutions meet mission needs * Evaluate and recommend new technologies, frameworks, and tools to improve development efficiency and system performance * Lead incident response efforts for production issues and implement preventive measures * Design and implement comprehensive security controls throughout the application development lifecycle * Participate in technical reviews, design sessions, and architectural decision meetings * Manage technical debt and legacy system dependencies during migration projects * Develop and maintain technical documentation including architecture diagrams, design documents, and operational procedures * Coordinate with cross-functional teams including security, operations, and quality assurance * Lead proof-of-concept development and technical feasibility studies * Ensure compliance with DOD Directive 8140 and applicable cybersecurity frameworks * Interface with the customer and external stakeholders in working groups, technical exchange meetings, and other forums * Chair/co-chair meetings and working groups on behalf of government representatives as directed * Resolve technical problems, allocate resources, and monitor development team performance to meet contract requirements * Provide daily technical leadership and guidance to development team members * Provide planned replacement information at least 15 calendar days prior to replacement * Provide information within 24 hours of an unplanned replacement * Perform other duties as assigned Qualifications * Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Information Systems, or related technical field from an ABET accredited or CAE designated institution; Master's degree preferred. Ten (10) years of progressive experience in software development with significant cloud application experience may be substituted in lieu of degree * Minimum of 8+ years of progressive experience in software development with significant cloud application experience * Expert-level proficiency in multiple programming languages and development frameworks (C++ / Java) * Extensive experience with cloud platforms and advanced cloud services (compute, storage, networking, security) * Deep understanding of distributed systems, microservices architecture, and cloud-native design patterns * Proven leadership experience mentoring technical teams and managing complex development projects * Advanced knowledge of containerization, orchestration, and service mesh technologies * Experience with infrastructure as code tools (Terraform, CloudFormation, ARM templates) * Strong understanding of DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing strategies * Expertise in application security, secure coding practices, and compliance frameworks * Excellent communication skills with ability to present complex technical concepts to various audiences CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Required: IAT Level III certification (one of the following): CISSP, CASP+, CCNP Security, CISA, CISSP (or Associate), GCIH, GCFA, or CSSLP Desired: Multiple cloud platform certifications at professional level (AWS Solutions Architect Professional, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, or Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect), Kubernetes CKA/CKAD, Docker Certified Associate, specialized security certifications Physical Demands: * Must be able to lift 25 pounds on occasion. * Must be able to stand and walk for prolonged period amounts of time. * Must be able to twist, bend, and squat periodically. SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to maintain a security clearance at the Top Secret level with SCI eligibility and maintain SAP eligibility. Due to work requirements, this position will not entertain work from home capabilities. US Citizenship is a requirement for this contract. #LI-KC1