Software Engineer 3 - (Python, Kubernetes, RAG)

Akina • Annapolis Junction, MD

9d

About The Position

The Software Engineer designs, develops, deploys, and supports Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) solutions in a high-performance computing Linux environment. The role involves building and maintaining complex software systems, testing components against documented design requirements, resolving software problems, and contributing to system design and requirements analysis. The engineer may develop new software or modify existing systems, integrate software into different environments, create data queries, and design relational and non-relational database applications. The work also includes developing algorithms, analytics, cloud-based solutions, and containerized applications, while applying software development methodologies and continuous integration practices.

The position calls for hands-on software development with Python and experience with Linux, Kubernetes, container technologies, Helm, CI/CD, Git-based workflows, and observability tools. The engineer will work with generative AI technologies such as LLMs, RAG architectures, embedding models, and vector databases. Depending on project needs, responsibilities may include technical leadership, coordinating software teams, quality control, assigning development and testing work, coordinating software installation, monitoring system performance, and recommending technologies and process improvements. The position requires TS/SCI clearance with a polygraph and is located in Annapolis Junction, Maryland.

Requirements

• Proven experience working in Linux environments, including advanced Linux command-line use for development, troubleshooting, and system administration.
• Recent hands-on software development experience using Python and a strong understanding of modern software engineering practices and frameworks.
• Experience with containerization technologies such as Docker, Podman, and containerd for application packaging, deployment, and lifecycle management.
• Experience designing, authoring, and deploying Helm charts for Kubernetes-based applications and services.
• Experience developing, testing, deploying, and supporting containerized applications in production environments.
• Experience creating, configuring, and managing Kubernetes resources, including Deployments, Services, ConfigMaps, Secrets, Ingresses, and Operators.
• Working knowledge of generative AI technologies, including LLMs, RAG architectures, embedding models, and vector databases.
• Experience implementing and maintaining CI/CD pipelines using GitLab CI/CD, Flux CD, GitLab Runners, or similar tools.
• Experience with observability, metrics, logging, and monitoring solutions, including Prometheus and Grafana.
• Proficiency with Git-based source control workflows, including branching strategies, code reviews, pull/merge requests, and collaborative development practices.
• Understanding of SDLC best practices, including automated testing, security scanning, code quality analysis, and DevSecOps principles.
• Master’s degree in computer science or a related discipline from an accredited college or university, plus five years of SWE experience on programs and contracts of similar scope, type, and complexity; or a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related discipline plus seven years of such experience; or nine years of such SWE experience.
• TS/SCI clearance with polygraph required.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with developing, deploying, troubleshooting, and sustaining mission applications in an AWS Cloud environment.
• Experience with Atlassian tools, including Confluence and Jira.
• Experience working with and debugging GPU-enabled applications.
• Experience using a machine-learning framework such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
• Experience with ML pipelines or frameworks such as KubeFlow, NeMo, or PyTorch Lightning.
• Experience with SQL, Elasticsearch, and vector databases.
• Knowledge of AI inferencing solutions such as Nvidia NIM/TRITON, vLLM, and direct deployment approaches such as Ray.
• Experience with agile development processes, source code control systems such as Git, orchestration frameworks such as Spring and Kafka, queue management systems, Java and J2EE development using Eclipse, collaboration and software development tools such as Atlassian, Unix shell scripting, and continuous integration practices.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, deploy, and support RAG solutions in a high-performance computing Linux environment.
• Design, develop, test, deploy, document, maintain, and enhance software systems based on documented requirements.
• Review and test software components for adherence to design requirements and document test results.
• Resolve software problem reports, debug existing software, and correct defects.
• Analyze user requirements and derive software design and performance requirements.
• Design and code new software or modify existing software to add features, adapt to hardware, or improve performance.
• Integrate existing software into new or modified systems and operating environments.
• Develop data queries for existing or proposed databases and data repositories.
• Design and develop relational and non-relational database applications.
• Develop or implement algorithms to meet or exceed system performance and functional standards, including algorithms subject to strict timing, resource, or interface constraints.
• Develop and execute test procedures for software components.
• Develop software solutions by analyzing system performance standards, system flows, data usage, work processes, and problem areas, and by conferring with users or system engineers.
• Use scientific analysis and mathematical models to predict and measure outcomes of software design decisions.
• Develop event-driven or data-driven analytics and cloud-based solutions and technologies.
• Perform quality control on team products and ensure quality control of developed and modified software.
• Recommend and implement improvements to documentation and software development process standards; recommend technologies and processes for complex software projects.
• Confer with system and hardware engineers to derive software requirements and understand project constraints, capabilities, performance requirements, and interfaces.
• Coordinate software installation and monitor performance to ensure operational specifications are met.
• Serve as a team or technical lead, oversee software development teams, select development processes in coordination with customers and system engineering, and ensure work adheres to the selected process.
• Delegate programming and testing responsibilities to one or more teams and monitor their performance.

Benefits

• 24 days of PTO accrued annually.
• 11 federal holidays.
• 401(k) is 100% vested on the start date.
• Company direct 401(k) contribution worth 10% of salary.
• Company covers 100% of employee healthcare costs and 50% of dependent healthcare costs.
• Educational assistance for college classes.
• Coverage of costs associated with job-related training and certifications.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior