Backend Developer
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Requirements
Credentials this posting asks for.
Job overview
The Senior Backend Developer supports an IC customer on mission-driven applications. The role develops backend functionality and services using Python and related technologies, maintains APIs and PostgreSQL data systems, and supports application deployment and production troubleshooting. The developer also works with customers and stakeholders, participates in design and code reviews, writes tests and documentation, and mentors developers while collaborating with operations and security teams.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Full job description
As a Senior Backend Developer you will be supporting an IC Customer working on mission driven applications. Candidates in this role will:
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Design, develop, and maintain backend functionality within applications using Python, Docker, Kubernetes, Opensearch and PostgreSQL.
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Develop and maintain backend services and REST APIs, including request validation, error handling, and authentication and authorization integration.
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Use Pydantic for data validation and SQLAlchemy for database access and object-relational mapping in Python services.
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Design and maintain PostgreSQL schemas, queries, indexes, and database migrations, with attention to performance and data integrity.
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Build and maintain Docker images and deploy, configure, and troubleshoot applications in OpenShift.
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Investigate and resolve production issues across the user interface, backend services, database, and application deployment.
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Work with customers, product owners, and other stakeholders to clarify requirements, identify dependencies, and estimate implementation effort.
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Participate in technical design and code reviews, write automated tests, and maintain technical documentation.
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Mentor developers and collaborate with operations and security teams to support reliable application delivery.
Education and Experience Requirements:
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9 Years of experience in Software or Systems Engineering roles or a highly related field of work with similar scope and responsibilities.
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A Bachelor’s degree may be substituted for 4 years of experience and a Master’s Degree may be substituted for 6 years of experience.
Required Qualifications:
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TS/SCI Clearance with Active CI Polygraph
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Strong experience developing backend services and REST APIs
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Experience developing and maintaining backend applications and services using Python.
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Proficiency with PostgreSQL, including relational data modeling, SQL, schema migrations, indexing, and query optimization.
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Understanding of OpenSeach data structures, indexing and querying.
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Hands-on experience with Docker, including writing Dockerfiles, building images, and troubleshooting containers.
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Strong communication skills and the ability to translate business and customer needs into clear technical requirements
Desired Qualifications:
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Deep expertise of Python and API design
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Familiarity with Software development within the Department of War.
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Familiarity with Linux environments and Kubernetes concepts.
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Experience configuring CI/CD pipelines and automating application deployments.
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Experience improving application security, accessibility, performance, and reliability.
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Experience working in an Agile development environment and coordinating with product, operations, and security teams.
Work Location:
Annapolis Junction, MD; Washington, DC; or Reston, VA
How this job compares
Set against the 41,554 open Software Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 10, 2026.
- Pay
- This postingNot listed
- Washington, D.C. median$135–210K/yr486 salary ranges
- US median$50–65/hr1,061 hourly ranges
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 578 open Software Engineer jobs in Washington, D.C. and 41,554 across the US. 8% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 9 years of experience — more than three in four Software Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for (median 5 years, across 34,072 postings).
- Education
- 13,032 of the 41,554 open Software Engineer jobs (31%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 10, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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