Application Development Lead
About The Position
The Application Development Lead will oversee the architecture, design, development, integration, testing, deployment, and sustainment of an AI-enabled software ecosystem. The role serves as the principal software engineering authority, ensuring applications, workflows, analytics capabilities, and user interfaces align with mission objectives, security requirements, interoperability standards, and users’ operational needs. It is central to transforming manual, fragmented reporting processes into integrated digital workflows that provide commanders and staff with real-time operational awareness and decision-quality insights. The lead directs software development for campaign management, operational planning, assessment, and workflow automation. The position defines technical architecture for AI-enabled applications, workflow services, APIs, user interfaces, analytics dashboards, and decision-support tools; guides Agile and spiral development; and collaborates with data and AI/ML engineers, UX designers, mission analysts, and government stakeholders. It also establishes development and DevSecOps practices, oversees data integration and interoperability, ensures compliance with DoD cybersecurity and TS/SCI requirements, manages technical risks and release readiness, and supports demonstrations, user evaluations, operational assessments, and prototype transitions. Expected deliverables include AI-enabled workflow applications standardizing SOCCENT staff processes; operational dashboards and common operational picture capabilities; campaign assessment and management applications; partner force management and assessment tools; operational planning applications incorporating analytics, modeling, and simulation; and secure, scalable software services aligned with SOCCENT interoperability and data-governance requirements. The position is full-time in Charleston, South Carolina. The work is in a general office environment with usually moderate noise. The employee must be able to attend work during scheduled hours except when traveling or on approved time off, and work on a computer and communicate by telephone, email, and face-to-face.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or a related technical discipline.
- 10+ years of experience leading complex software development programs.
- 5+ years of experience as a development lead, solution architect, or technical lead on enterprise-scale systems.
- Experience with cloud-native application architectures, microservices, API development, and secure software engineering.
- Demonstrated experience implementing Agile and DevSecOps methodologies.
- Experience integrating AI/ML capabilities into operational applications.
- Active TS/SCI clearance or eligibility to obtain and maintain TS/SCI access.
- Ability to sit and stand for prolonged periods and work on a computer for long periods.
- Visual acuity to use a keyboard.
- Ability to attend work each day during scheduled hours unless traveling or on approved time off.
Nice To Haves
- Experience supporting USSOCOM, Geographic Combatant Commands, Joint Staff organizations, or defense intelligence programs.
- Experience developing command-and-control, mission planning, operational assessment, or decision-support systems.
- Knowledge of military planning processes, campaign assessment methodologies, and operational workflow modernization.
- Experience with graph-based data models, knowledge management systems, and AI-enabled analytics platforms.
- Familiarity with data governance, interoperability frameworks, and enterprise integration patterns within DoD environments.
Responsibilities
- Lead the end-to-end software development lifecycle for application components supporting campaign management, operational planning, assessment, and workflow automation.
- Define and maintain technical architecture for AI-enabled applications, workflow services, APIs, user interfaces, analytics dashboards, and decision-support tools.
- Direct Agile and spiral-development activities to deliver capabilities iteratively, incorporate user feedback, and mature operational functionality.
- Collaborate with data engineers, AI/ML engineers, UX designers, mission analysts, and government stakeholders to implement mission-focused solutions.
- Establish software development standards, DevSecOps practices, coding guidelines, automated testing frameworks, and configuration management processes.
- Oversee integration of operational, personnel, mission, and assessment data into unified application services and visualization environments.
- Ensure development efforts comply with DoD cybersecurity, information assurance, and TS/SCI operational requirements.
- Guide implementation of interoperable services supporting governance, data standards, and enterprise integration objectives.
- Manage technical risk, development schedules, software quality, and release readiness across application workstreams.
- Support demonstrations, user evaluations, operational assessments, and prototype transition activities.
- Communicate task requirement information to clients clearly and concisely.
- Lead and participate in meetings and working groups.
Benefits
- 401(k) with up to 3.5% company match
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Basic and supplemental life insurance
- Short- and long-term disability insurance
- Flexible spending account
- 11 paid holidays
- Paid time off (PTO)
- Gym membership (varies by location)
- Corporate-sponsored events
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
