Java/ AWS Engineer

Location: Rockville, MD or McLean, VA

Target Start Date: ASAP

Type: contract

Pay Rate: DOE We are seeking a Staff Software Engineer to play a key role in designing, building, and scaling enterprise-grade applications. This position is ideal for a senior-level engineer who brings strong technical depth across backend, frontend, and cloud environments, and who can contribute to system design, engineering standards, and delivery execution. You will work across the full application lifecycle, partnering with engineering, product, and platform teams to deliver secure, scalable, and high-performing solutions in a modern cloud-native environment.

What you'll do: Design and develop scalable, resilient enterprise applications using Java, AWS, and modern web technologies Build and maintain RESTful APIs and microservices using Spring Boot and related frameworks Lead and contribute to system design, architecture decisions, and technical solutioning Develop and optimize CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins or GitLab CI/CD to support automated testing and deployment Implement observability best practices, including monitoring, logging, and alerting in production environments Build full stack solutions integrating backend services with Angular-based frontends Optimize application performance, scalability, and reliability across distributed systems Leverage AWS services such as EC2, Lambda, RDS, and API Gateway to support cloud-native architectures Contribute to containerization and orchestration strategies using Docker, ECS, EKS, or Kubernetes Apply security best practices across the SDLC, including secure coding and compliance considerations Mentor junior engineers and contribute to engineering best practices and standards Utilize AI-assisted development tools to improve productivity and code quality across the SDLC What you bring 5 years of experience in Java development, including strong experience with Spring Boot and microservices architecture 3 years of experience working with AWS services in production environments 2 years of experience with Angular (modern versions preferred) and full stack development Strong experience designing and building distributed systems and enterprise applications Deep understanding of object-oriented programming and software design principles Hands-on experience with CI/CD tools such as Jenkins or GitLab CI/CD Experience with containerization (Docker) and orchestration platforms (ECS, EKS, or Kubernetes) Experience working with both SQL and NoSQL databases (e.g., RDS, MongoDB) Proven experience with performance tuning, scalability, and optimization of applications Experience implementing automated testing, including unit and integration testing Strong understanding of application security and secure development practices Experience leveraging AI tools within the software development lifecycle

Preferred qualifications: Experience in highly regulated or enterprise-scale environments Exposure to event-driven architectures and messaging systems Familiarity with infrastructure as code and cloud automation tools Experience contributing to technical strategy and architecture roadmaps What sets you apart Strong system design and architectural thinking Ability to balance hands-on coding with technical leadership Clear communication and ability to influence technical decisions Ownership mindset with a focus on delivering high-quality solutions Passion for continuous learning and adopting emerging technologies Work environment Hybrid work model with defined in-office collaboration expectations Occasional extended hours or travel may be required based on project needs We champion equality and inclusivity, proudly supporting an Equal Opportunity Employer policy. We welcome applicants regardless of Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, National Origin, Age, Genetic Information, Disability, Protected Veteran Status, or any other status protected by law.