Lead Application Developer

Peraton OverviewPeraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can’t be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.ResponsibilitiesPeraton is looking for a Lead Application Developer to join our team of qualified and diverse individuals. This person will lead the design, development, modernization, and integration of enterprise applications supporting mission-critical federal operations. This role requires a technically hands-on leader who can drive delivery across modern cloud-native environments while working closely with architects, engineers, product teams, and external partners. You will contribute directly to application development, modernization strategy, DevSecOps adoption, and system integration efforts. You are expected to move beyond feature delivery—ensuring applications are scalable, secure, resilient, and aligned to evolving mission and compliance requirements. Location: Suitland, MD (Hybrid)Day to Day Roles and Responsibilities:Lead development and modernization of enterprise applications within a cloud-native ecosystem Refactor legacy and COTS applications into modular, microservices-based architectures using open-source technologies Design, develop, and integrate APIs, event-driven services, and messaging-based systems Develop secure, scalable, and highly available applications supporting high-volume and near real-time processing Contribute to AI/ML-enabled application workflows, including model integration and deployment support Build and maintain CI/CD pipelines supporting automated testing, deployment, and security validation Implement DevSecOps best practices, including secure SDLC, automated scanning, and compliance validation Support system-of-systems integration across multiple applications, contractors, and technical teams Ensure applications align with federal security and compliance requirements, including NIST, FedRAMP, FISMA, Zero Trust, MFA, and ATO support processes Design and support data ingestion, ETL pipelines, transformation, analytics, and dissemination capabilities Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues across application, infrastructure, integration, and data layers Lead code reviews, mentor developers, and enforce engineering standards and best practices Collaborate within Agile/Scrum and SAFe delivery environments to ensure consistent execution and delivery quality QualificationsBasic Qualifications:Bachelors degree and 12 years of experience or an Associates degree and 14 years of experience or a High School diploma/equivalent and 16 years of experience. Must be a U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain a Public Trust 12+ years of experience in software development, application engineering, or enterprise application modernization.Demonstrated experience leading application development teams supporting large-scale federal IT modernization or transformation initiatives.Proven experience designing, developing, and modernizing enterprise-grade, cloud-native applications.Experience modernizing legacy or COTS applications into open-source, microservices-based architectures.Experience with APIs, distributed integrations, event-driven architectures, and messaging systems.Experience implementing DevSecOps practices and CI/CD pipelines within secure environments.Experience with containerization and orchestration technologies, including Docker and Kubernetes.Experience with data integration, ingestion, ETL pipelines, data transformation, and dissemination workflows.Experience with infrastructure automation and Infrastructure as Code (IaC), including Terraform.Working knowledge of federal security and compliance requirements, including NIST, FedRAMP, FISMA, Zero Trust, MFA, and Authority to Operate (ATO) processes.Experience supporting highly available, scalable, and resilient applications, including performance optimization.Experience working in Agile/Scrum and SAFe development environments.Preferred Qualifications:Experience supporting large-scale federal statistical, Census, or other mission-critical modernization programs.Cloud certifications in AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.Experience integrating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning capabilities into enterprise applications.Experience with Apache Kafka or other large-scale event-streaming technologies.Experience supporting complex system-of-systems integration initiatives.Target Salary Range$135,000 - $216,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.Benefits StatementPeraton offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, health savings account, short/long term disability, EAP, parental leave, 401(k), paid time off (PTO) for vacation, and company paid holidays. A full listing of available benefits can be viewed at .Application StatementsThe application period for the job is estimated to be 30 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in the role and the Company. During the review of your application, you may be required to participate in an on-camera interview, as well as participate in a process to verify your identity.Use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools of any kind during Peraton interviews is strictly prohibited unless the candidate has obtained prior written authorization. All interview responses must be the candidate’s own.EEOEEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.Job SummaryRequisition ID: 2026-173506Position Category: Information TechnologyClearance: Public Trust