Java Developer (USC and GC)

Job Description

Job Summary Westat is seeking a senior-level Java Engineer to spearhead the documentation, reconstruction, and ownership transition of our custom data processing application, EAGLE. EAGLE is a sophisticated platform that captures live GPS telemetry data from laptops, processes it via a specialized analytical engine, and stores it in an Elasticsearch cluster for quality analysis. The system features a modern frontend built with Vue.js and Leaflet, powered by Java Spring APIs, and managed via GitLab CI/CD. In this role, you will act as a technical detective and mentor. You will dive deep into legacy codebases, document data models, refresh local development environments, and create comprehensive documentation to train and transition the platform to the permanent Westat IT team. This is a remote role to work 40 hours per week and the duration of this role is from September 2026 through March 2027. The EAGLE Platform Ecosystem: • Backend & APIs: Java Spring Framework, Geo APIs • Data & Search Layer: Elasticsearch & Kibana • Frontend UI: Vue.js, Leaflet Mapping Library • Client Side: Windows .NET GPS Client • DevOps/ALM: GitLab, CI/CD Pipelines Job Responsibilities • System Architecture Analysis: Review complex, existing Java source code and project structures to map out system dependencies and logic flow. • Data Reverse Engineering: Deep-dive into the Elasticsearch data store to reverse-engineer and document the underlying data models and schemas. • Environment Reconstruction: Lead the setup and troubleshooting of the local and staging development environments from source code and legacy documentation. • Technical Documentation: Author high-quality, up-to-date system architecture maps, API documentation, and deployment guides. • Knowledge Transfer & Mentorship: Design a structured training approach to upskill other Westat engineering resources, empowering them to take full operational ownership of the platform. Basic Qualifications • A bachelor’s degree in a technology-related field with 10+ years of progressive software engineering experience (or an equivalent combination of education and experience). • Java Expertise: Mastery of Java and the Spring Framework for building robust web APIs. • Data & Analytics Expertise: Deep, hands-on production experience architecting and querying Elasticsearch and Kibana data stores. Preferred Qualifications • Windows / .NET: Experience with C# and the Windows .NET framework to confidently read, debug, or interpret client applications. • Frontend Exposure: Familiarity and development experience with Vue.js or similar JavaScript frameworks. • Problem-Solving: Proven track record of successfully analyzing, debugging, and documenting complex, legacy multi-tiered technology stacks. • DevOps: Strong proficiency with GitLab version control and building/maintaining CI/CD pipelines.