Software Engineer

Skyward IT Solutions•Rockville, MD

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are Skyward, a people-centered business driven by a love for people, improvement, and human advancement through information technology. We are a diverse, unified, creative, and collaborative team committed to our civic tech mission. Our values of Integrity, Compassion, Inquisitiveness, Unconventionality, and Authenticity guide our actions. We are seeking a Software Engineer who is passionate about modernizing public services and possesses a comprehensive understanding of the software development lifecycle, from coding to deployment and monitoring. If you believe "done" means tested, deployed, and monitored, and you are motivated to learn and grow with a future-looking team, we encourage you to apply. Join us as we go Onward, Upward, and Skyward together.

Requirements

3–5 years of hands-on software engineering experience.
Strong coding skills in Python (and related languages).
Real DevOps / DevSecOps / DevTestOps experience, with a proven ability to automate build, test, and deployment workflows.
Test automation skills, including building automated tests and integrating them into pipelines with code-quality checks and security gates.
Experience with containerization (Docker or Kubernetes).
Comfort with REST APIs.
Fluency in an agile methodology (Scrum, Lean, or SAFe).
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Nice To Haves

AI chops, experience with NLP, LLMs, or ML-driven applications.
Previous support for CMS or another federal agency.
Experience working within a FISMA boundary or supporting an ATO/cATO effort.

Responsibilities

Build effective, scalable code supporting CMS as it merges systems into one AI-driven platform, reducing manual effort, improving data accuracy, and applying NLP and LLM techniques to public services.
Own CI/CD pipelines end to end, automating build, test, and deployment workflows with tools like Jenkins, and using Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible).
Build and maintain automated test suites (unit, integration, regression) integrated into the pipeline as quality gates, providing real test-coverage analysis.
Package and deploy workloads with Docker (and related technologies) for repeatable, scalable environments.
Investigate and debug test failures throughout the lifecycle, update tests or file bugs as needed, and maintain build integrity.
Integrate code-quality checks and security gates (e.g., SonarQube, Snyk) into the pipeline.
Work closely with human-centered design experts to build intuitive, responsive, and personalized user solutions.
Develop and tune back-end components to improve responsiveness and overall performance.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision insurance (fully paid for employees)
15 days of paid leave
7 days of sick leave
2 days bereavement leave
11 paid Federal holidays
Up to 40 hours for jury duty
401K with 4% employer contribution (no vesting period)
Up to 4 weeks of paid paternity and maternity leave
Company provided laptop
$5,000 per year for professional development
$600 per year for technical supplies and equipment
$2,000 referral bonus
Life and disability insurance
HSA and FSA
Legal Shield and ID Shield
Voluntary Benefits
Opportunity to work in a collaborative, motivated team focused on modernizing government services with cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions.