Senior Software Programmer

Guidehouse•Washington, DC

19h•$113,000 - $188,000

About The Position

We’re seeking an experienced Senior Software Programmer to design, develop, and enhance applications that support mission‑critical programs across the Department of Justice (DOJ). In this role, you will work hands‑on with secure systems, collaborate with cross‑functional technical and mission teams, and contribute to the modernization of DOJ software platforms. You will be responsible for building reliable, secure, and maintainable code that enables DOJ components to operate efficiently and effectively in support of national justice and security priorities.

Requirements

U.S. Citizenship
Active Top Secret (TS) Clearance with SCI or the ability to obtain SCI
8+ years of progressive software development/programming experience in secure, federal, or regulated environments.
Strong proficiency in at least one backend language/framework: Java/Spring Boot, .NET/C#, Python (FastAPI/Flask/Django), or Node.js (Express/Nest)
Experience developing and consuming REST APIs and handling relational databases such as PostgreSQL or Oracle (queries, schema, performance tuning).
Hands‑on experience with CI/CD tooling (GitLab CI, Jenkins, GitHub Actions) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes/OpenShift).
Understanding of secure coding practices: authN/Z, secrets management, encryption, TLS/mTLS, OWASP Top 10.
Familiarity with DOJ, IC, or DoD security frameworks including RMF documentation, STIG remediation, and compliance gates.
Cloud experience with AWS GovCloud or Azure Government, including IaC (Terraform/CloudFormation).
Strong analytical, communication, and collaboration skills within cross‑functional mission‑focused teams.
BS in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or equivalent practical experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting DOJ components (e.g., FBI, DEA, ATF, EOIR, BOP, USAO) or other federal law enforcement missions.
Familiarity with data streaming/search tech: Kafka, Kinesis, Elasticsearch/OpenSearch, NiFi.
Experience with observability and SecOps tooling: Splunk, CloudWatch, Prometheus/Grafana, SonarQube, ZAP, Trivy.
Knowledge of federal standards: CJIS, NIEM, FISMA, FedRAMP High, Section 508.
Experience with modern messaging systems (gRPC, GraphQL, RabbitMQ, SQS/SNS, EventBridge).
Automated testing frameworks: JUnit, pytest, Cypress/Playwright, Pact.
Identity/security integrations: OAuth2/OIDC, SAML, KMS/HSM, PKI, RBAC/ABAC.
Experience with Red Hat OpenShift, service mesh architectures (Istio/Linkerd), and OPA/Gatekeeper policy enforcement.
Certifications such as AWS/Azure Gov, Security+, CASP+, CISSP, CKA/CKAD, DoD 8570/8140 roles.
Experience modeling and managing sensitive/controlled data flows.
Strong experience with secret and configuration management systems (AWS Secrets Manager, HashiCorp Vault).
Ability to produce high‑quality technical documentation (ADRs, low-level designs, operational runbooks).
Proficient at troubleshooting production issues under structured change control.
Experience mentoring junior/ mid-level programmers and contributing to reusable components and coding standards.
Comfortable working within SCIF processes and managing work via ITSM tools such as ServiceNow or Jira.

Responsibilities

Design, program, test, and maintain secure, high‑quality software solutions supporting DOJ initiatives.
Implement modular, scalable code using enterprise‑grade programming languages and frameworks.
Develop and maintain RESTful APIs, backend services, and data integration workflows.
Contribute to modernization efforts including containerization, refactoring, microservices adoption, and cloud migration.
Implement automated build, test, and deployment pipelines using CI/CD tools.
Ensure code and system compliance with RMF, STIG, FIPS 140‑2, and DOJ/IC security requirements.
Participate in Agile/Scrum ceremonies and collaborate closely with product owners, analysts, testers, and mission stakeholders.
Perform code reviews, improve coding standards, and contribute to technical design documentation.
Troubleshoot complex technical issues in secure environments, including SCIF‑based operations support.
Deliver well‑tested, maintainable code aligned with DOJ mission objectives and long-term sustainment goals.

Benefits

Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
Parental Leave
401(k) Retirement Plan
Group Term Life and Travel Assistance
Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance
Health Savings Account, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Transit and Parking Commuter Benefits
Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development, Certifications & Learning Opportunities
Employee Referral Program
Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
Care.com annual membership
Employee Assistance Program
Supplemental Benefits via Corestream (Critical Care, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Assistance and ID theft protection, etc.)
Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus