Lead Application Developer

CGI•Fairfax, VA

13h

About The Position

Join CGI as a Lead Application Developer to shape the design and delivery of mission-critical software solutions. The role provides hands-on technical leadership across multiple Agile teams, guiding application modernization, new solution development, and implementation of AWS-native capabilities. The developer works with architects, developers, and stakeholders to translate business requirements into software designs, oversee complex implementations, and deliver scalable, reliable, and secure solutions. The position combines hands-on development with technical leadership and mentoring. The role covers the software delivery lifecycle, from architecture and development through testing, deployment, and production support. It involves designing and optimizing applications, APIs, ETL pipelines, and batch workflows; resolving technical issues; coordinating integrations across vendors and government technical teams; and maintaining operational documentation. The Lead Application Developer also tracks implementation progress and communicates status, risks, and recommendations to the Technical Delivery Manager.

Requirements

At least 15 years of relevant experience in application development, data engineering, systems modernization, and full software development lifecycle delivery.
Experience providing hands-on technical leadership to multiple Agile teams, approximately 4–6 teams of 8–12 members each.
Recent production experience with AWS Glue, Lambda, Step Functions, Redshift, and PostgreSQL.
Strong Python and SQL skills, including writing, reviewing, debugging, and optimizing complex code.
Experience designing and developing high-volume data processing solutions, including ETL pipelines, batch processing, and workflow orchestration.
Ability to help developers overcome technical challenges and carry solutions from design through successful implementation.
Ability to evaluate technical approaches, validate estimates, identify implementation gaps, and verify progress through working code and test evidence.
Experience with REST APIs, system integration, Git, CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and production troubleshooting.
Ability to collaborate effectively in a multi-vendor environment and resolve cross-team technical dependencies.
Strong communication skills, including explaining complex technical subjects to nontechnical audiences.
Ability to satisfy applicable government suitability, access, and security requirements.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of federal systems, data, processes, or operations.
Prior experience supporting federal government application development or modernization.
Experience with Amazon S3, IAM, CloudWatch, EventBridge, and infrastructure as code.
Familiarity with federal security controls, ATO support, and CMMI-based development practices.

Responsibilities

Provide hands-on technical leadership to multiple Agile teams through architecture, development, testing, deployment, and production support.
Translate requirements into technical designs, development tasks, interface specifications, and acceptance criteria.
Design, develop, and optimize applications, APIs, ETL pipelines, and batch workflows using AWS Glue, Lambda, Step Functions, Redshift, PostgreSQL, Python, and SQL.
Help developers resolve coding, integration, database, and performance issues through troubleshooting, pairing, and working examples.
Review designs, code, and test results; challenge unsupported assumptions and verify implementations meet requirements.
Ensure performance, scalability, security, data integrity, and operational continuity through validation, error handling, recovery, and reconciliation.
Coordinate technical decisions, interfaces, dependencies, and integration activities across vendors and government technical teams.
Mentor developers and establish consistent secure coding, automated testing, CI/CD, and release quality practices.
Lead production troubleshooting, root cause analysis, performance tuning, and corrective actions.
Maintain technical documentation, operational runbooks, and knowledge transfer materials.
Track component ownership and implementation progress; report status, blockers, risks, and recommended actions to the Technical Delivery Manager.
Explain technical concepts, tradeoffs, and recommendations to technical and nontechnical audiences.