Senior Applications Developer

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.ResponsibilitiesLead the architectural design and development of complex cloud-native applications and systems for DoD modernization initiativesDrive technical decision-making for legacy application migration strategies and modernization approachesMentor and provide technical guidance to junior and mid-level developers on best practices and advanced techniquesDesign and implement scalable, secure, and resilient cloud architectures using industry best practicesLead code reviews and establish coding standards, development processes, and quality assurance proceduresCollaborate with system architects and technical leads to define overall system architecture and integration strategiesImplement advanced DevOps practices including infrastructure as code, automated deployment pipelines, and monitoring solutionsDesign and develop complex microservices architectures with proper service mesh implementationLead performance optimization efforts for cloud applications including load testing and capacity planningCoordinate with government stakeholders to understand requirements and ensure technical solutions meet mission needsEvaluate and recommend new technologies, frameworks, and tools to improve development efficiency and system performanceLead incident response efforts for production issues and implement preventive measuresDesign and implement comprehensive security controls throughout the application development lifecycleParticipate in technical reviews, design sessions, and architectural decision meetingsManage technical debt and legacy system dependencies during migration projectsDevelop and maintain technical documentation including architecture diagrams, design documents, and operational proceduresCoordinate with cross-functional teams including security, operations, and quality assuranceLead proof-of-concept development and technical feasibility studiesEnsure compliance with DOD Directive 8140 and applicable cybersecurity frameworksInterface with the customer and external stakeholders in working groups, technical exchange meetings, and other forumsChair/co-chair meetings and working groups on behalf of government representatives as directedResolve technical problems, allocate resources, and monitor development team performance to meet contract requirementsProvide daily technical leadership and guidance to development team membersProvide planned replacement information at least 15 calendar days prior to replacementProvide information within 24 hours of an unplanned replacementPerform other duties as assignedQualificationsBachelor'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 degreeMinimum of 8+ years of progressive experience in software development with significant cloud application experienceExpert-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 patternsProven leadership experience mentoring technical teams and managing complex development projectsAdvanced knowledge of containerization, orchestration, and service mesh technologiesExperience with infrastructure as code tools (Terraform, CloudFormation, ARM templates)Strong understanding of DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing strategiesExpertise in application security, secure coding practices, and compliance frameworksExcellent communication skills with ability to present complex technical concepts to various audiencesCertification Requirements:Required: IAT Level III certification (one of the following): CISSP, CASP+, CCNP Security, CISA, CISSP (or Associate), GCIH, GCFA, or CSSLPDesired: 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 certificationsPhysical 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.Target salary range is between $165,000 - $230,000 commensurate with experience.Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Bowhead considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and business considerations when extending an offer.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.