Senior Software Engineer

CTEC is a leading technology firm that provides modernization, digital transformation, and application development services to the U.S. Federal Government. Headquartered in McLean, VA, CTEC has over 300 team members working on mission‑critical systems and projects for agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, Internal Revenue Service, and the Office of Personnel Management. The work we do effects millions of U.S. citizens daily as they interact with the systems we build. Our best‑in‑class commercial solutions, modified for our customers’ bespoke mission requirements, are enabling this future every day.

The Company has experienced rapid growth over the past 3 years and recently received a strategic investment from Main Street Capital Corporation (NYSE: MAIN). In addition to our recent growth in Federal Civilian agencies, we are seeking to expand our capabilities in cloud development and footprint in national‑security focused agencies within the Department of Defense and U.S. Intelligence Community.

We are currently seeking a Software Engineer (Senior) to join our team.

Position Summary

The Software Engineer (Senior) is responsible for conducting and/or participating in multidisciplinary research and collaborating with equipment designers and hardware engineers in the planning, design, development, testing, implementation, and utilization of electronic data processing systems software. This role involves analyzing user requirements, advising hardware designers on software‑related machine characteristics, and developing system software solutions to support enterprise operations. This position supports the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) with their IBM mainframe‑based civilian payroll system.

The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in software engineering, mainframe technologies, database systems, and performance optimization within complex enterprise environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, implement, and maintain software systems and applications.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including hardware engineers and system architects, to develop integrated software solutions.
• Analyze and determine computer user needs and system requirements.
• Advise hardware designers on machine characteristics that affect software systems, including:
  • Storage capacity
  • Processing speed
  • Input/output requirements
• Design and develop compilers, assemblers, utility programs, and operating systems software.
• Perform software troubleshooting, debugging, and performance tuning.
• Support system integration, modernization, and enhancement initiatives.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation and system specifications.
• Ensure software solutions meet operational, security, and performance standards.
• Analyze and resolve Action Requests and ABENDs (unplanned program terminations.
• Design, develop, and maintain micro‑applications using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) within Microsoft Office products (Access, Excel) in response to customer requirements.

Required Qualifications

Candidates submitted for this labor category must possess one of the following required skillsets (not both):

• Option 1
  • Expert knowledge and 5–8 years of hands‑on experience with:
  • Oracle
  • COGNOS
• Option 2
  • Expert knowledge and 5–8 years of hands‑on experience with:

Preferred Qualifications

• Expert knowledge and 5–8 years of experience with:
• IDMS database
• System performance and measurement
• COBOL programming
• JCL
• REXX scripting; MQ Series (MQSeries 6.0)

Desired Skills

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within technical teams.
• Experience with legacy system modernization and integration efforts is a plus.
• Experience with DFAS, DoD, or civilian payroll systems (e.g., DCPS or equivalent government financial systems).
• Familiarity with DoD/DFAS security requirements and CAC‑enabled environments; understanding of CMMI Level 4 processes.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field preferred.

Clearance: Active Secret clearance required.

Benefits

• Paid vacation & Sick leave
• Health insurance coverage
• Performance bonus programs
• 401K contribution & Employer Match