Senior-Python/Django Developer

Job DescriptionJob DescriptionSenior Software Developer (Python/Django)Position SummaryWe are seeking a senior full-stack developer to own and modernize shared Python/Django capabilities and serve as the technical escalation point for complex, cross-application work. The role combines hands-on development with architecture, secure identity and database integration, lifecycle upgrades, production troubleshooting, documentation, and mentoring. The developer will collaborate with application teams, DevTools/DevOps, Client CIT, Security, and database administrators across on-premises and AWS environments.Key ResponsibilitiesApplication engineering. Design, develop, test, and maintain Python/Django applications, reusable libraries, REST APIs, and supporting JavaScript/HTML/CSS components.Python and Django lifecycle upgrades. Lead end-of-life upgrades across the application portfolio: inventory dependencies, assess compatibility, update requirements and internal packages, refactor deprecated APIs, test across environments, coordinate consuming teams, and publish migration and rollback guidance.Runtime and package engineering. Build, validate, package, and distribute Python runtimes from source when approved installers are unavailable; verify checksums, test suites, pip/virtual-environment behavior, and compatibility with internal artifact repositories.Shared Django platform ownership. Modernize shared Django infrastructure libraries and related packages; deliver Python 3.12+ compatibility, automated tests, versioning, deprecation paths, architecture diagrams, runbooks, and coordinated adoption by dependent applications.PIV, SSO, authentication, and authorization. Implement and troubleshoot Client Login/SiteMinder, CAS and django-cas-ng, AWS Cognito, JWT/OAuth2, Django authentication backends, authorization decorators, role and permission mapping, and secure session handling.Secure database integration. Connect Django applications to Oracle, PostgreSQL, AWS RDS, and other approved data sources through centralized password-lookup and secrets-management services; support credential rotation, least privilege, and removal of hard-coded secrets.Application security. Enforce Content Security Policy (CSP), XSS/CSRF protections, HSTS, secure headers and cookies, dependency remediation, and penetration-test findings; favor external scripts or nonce/hash-based CSP controls over broad unsafe exceptions.Complex ticket execution and technical leadership. Work alongside developers to identify and resolve high-risk or cross-system Jira tickets; investigate root causes, design and implement solutions, break ambiguous work into executable tasks, define acceptance criteria, test and deploy changes, collaborate on code reviews, and mentor teammates through complex work.Production support and delivery. Diagnose incidents and complex integrations involving deployments, APIs, queues, databases, CI/CD, WAF/security groups, and on-premises/AWS networking; coordinate changes through DEV, INT, QA, and PROD.Documentation and knowledge transfer. Maintain concise technical documentation, architecture diagrams, operational runbooks, and package ownership guidance; lead knowledge-sharing sessions.Initial Priorities and Examples of Complex WorkModernize shared Django authentication and data-access libraries. Resolve Python 3.12 compatibility issues and establish a repeatable test, release, deprecation, and application-migration process for future Python/Django versions.Trace identity and data-access failures end to end. Follow a PIV login or database-access problem across the browser, Django, CAS/SiteMinder or Cognito, centralized Client services, and Oracle/RDS.Resolve security findings without weakening controls. Remediate CSP and XSS issues, coordinate configuration changes, and support security-scan or penetration-test retesting.Lead high-impact Jira tickets. Examples include failed deployments or outages, on-premises-to-AWS access, framework/platform upgrades, and performance or duplicate-processing issues in queue-driven workflows.Required QualificationsEducation and experience. Bachelor's degree in computer science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience; 5 or more years of professional software development with substantial Python/Django responsibility.Python/Django expertise. Strong knowledge of Python, Django, package and dependency management, pip, virtual environments, automated testing, REST APIs, and shared-library maintenance.Upgrade leadership. Demonstrated experience planning and executing major Python or Django upgrades, resolving package incompatibilities, and migrating multiple dependent applications.Identity and access management. Hands-on experience with enterprise SSO/federation, PIV or PKI-backed authentication, CAS/SiteMinder or comparable services, AWS Cognito, JWT/OAuth2, and the distinction between authentication and authorization.Databases and secrets. Experience with Oracle and/or PostgreSQL, SQL (including PL/SQL or PL/pgSQL), secure application-to-database connectivity, credential brokers, and secrets management.Security engineering. Practical experience with CSP, XSS/CSRF prevention, secure headers and cookies, vulnerability remediation, and secure coding and review practices.Cloud and delivery tooling. Experience with AWS, Linux and Windows environments, Git/GitLab, CI/CD pipelines, Jira, and structured promotion across development, test, and production environments.Leadership and communication. Ability to explain complex systems clearly, write useful technical documentation, coordinate across teams, review code, mentor peers, and make sound decisions with incomplete information.Preferred QualificationsFederal or regulated environment. Experience supporting federal government or similarly regulated systems, ATO and security controls, centralized identity and infrastructure services, and formal change-management processes.Full-stack and accessibility. JavaScript/TypeScript, HTML5, CSS3, React and/or Angular, responsive design, and Section 508/WCAG accessibility.Platform collaboration. Experience working with DevOps, security, database, and infrastructure teams on cross-environment networking, WAF/security-group rules, secrets rotation, and incident response.Preference: US citizens, GC holders' (candidates from DMV area with Federal experience).