Principal Software Engineer

This is a U.S. based position. All of the programs we support require U.S. citizenship to be eligible for employment. All work must be conducted within the continental U.S. Who we are: Raft ( is a customer-obsessed non-traditional defense tech company dedicated to empowering U.S. military and government agencies with cutting‑edge AI/ML and data solutions. We are a leader in autonomous data fusion and Agentic AI, with a purposeful focus on Distributed Data Systems, Platforms at Scale, and Complex Application Development. With headquarters in McLean, VA, our range of clients includes innovative federal and public agencies leveraging design thinking, cutting‑edge tech stack, and cloud-native ecosystem. We build digital solutions that impact the lives of millions of Americans. About the role: You will be part of the team building a data-focused product that is built on best-of-breed open-source solutions like Kafka, Trino, DuckDB, and Superset. You will work both on backend and frontend to build end-to-end features that make interacting with data easier, enabling users to be able to tell a data story through our product. What we are looking for: 8+ Years of experience building RESTFul APIs to take concept to implementation in one of the following languages: Go (preferred), Java, Python, Rust (nice to have), and Scala 5+ Years of experience in frontend frameworks like React with a focus on Typescript or JavaScript Deep design of software design and architecture Experience with large‑scale relational and non‑relational databases such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, and Elasticsearch to handle low-latency requirements Experience with building and releasing software in cloud-native environments Experience using a variety of package managers/dependency managers including Maven, Gradle, and NPM Experience with Docker and Kubernetes, including containerizing solutions and working with distributed clusters Experience working with AI coding assistants Demonstrated ability to take on large responsibilities and own complex work or project lifecycles STEM Background or relevant industry experience Able to obtain Security+ certification within 90 days of employment with Raft Highly preferred: Experience with Kafka or RabbitMQ Experience with Delta Lake Experience with AWS or Azure Clearance Requirements: Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance Work Type: Hybrid in Mesa, AZ. May require up to 35% travel Salary Range: $180,000 - $230,000 We offer the determination of compensation predicated upon a candidate's comprehensive experience, demonstrated skill, and proven abilities. What we will offer you: Highly competitive salary Fully covered healthcare, dental, and vision coverage 401(k) and company match Take as you need PTO + 11 paid holidays Education & training benefits Team off-site in fun places! Generous Referral Bonuses And More! We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. #J-18808-Ljbffr