Position Title

Principal Software Engineer - Geospatial Intelligence Platform

Position Type

Full-Time, On-Site

Reports To

Program Manager

Position Summary

Seeking a highly experienced Principal Software Engineer to lead the architectural design, development, and modernization of geospatial-intelligence core services for a National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) initiative. This position is critical to transforming legacy systems into modern, cloud-native, microservices-based platforms. The successful candidate will drive technical excellence, mentor senior engineering teams, establish best practices in secure cloud environments, and directly influence the strategic technical direction of enterprise-level geospatial applications serving the Intelligence Community.

The Principal Software Engineer will work within an agile development environment utilizing secure AWS cloud infrastructure, containerized applications, and modern DevOps practices. This role demands not only exceptional technical depth but also the ability to articulate complex architectural decisions to executive leadership and government stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Architecture

• Design and architect enterprise-level geospatial microservices leveraging Python, React.js, and PostgreSQL technologies


• Establish technical standards and patterns for secure cloud development within TS/SCI-compliant AWS environments


• Conduct technical reviews and provide architectural guidance on critical components


• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend adoption strategies aligned with security posture and business objectives

• Lead design sessions for complex system challenges and drive consensus among technical stakeholders

Development & Implementation

• Develop high-performance Python-based enterprise applications utilizing FastAPI/Flask frameworks


• Build responsive, data-intensive React.js front-end applications optimized for geospatial data visualization and interaction


• Design and implement RESTful APIs and microservices architecture following security-first principles


• Architect PostgreSQL database schemas supporting high-concurrency, high-volume geospatial queries


• Implement secure code practices aligned with NIST standards and government security baselines

Security & Compliance

• Ensure all solutions maintain Active TS/SCI security clearance compliance and protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)


• Implement authorization, authentication, and encryption protocols for secure data handling


• Lead security code reviews and vulnerability assessments


• Collaborate with government security teams on compliance verification and audits


• Document security artifacts and maintain compliance documentation

Team Leadership & Mentoring

• Mentor senior and principal-level engineers on architectural patterns and technical excellence


• Establish code quality standards and best practices for the engineering organization


• Conduct technical interviews and contribute to hiring decisions for engineering roles


• Foster a culture of continuous learning through knowledge sharing and technical discussions


• Lead technical training sessions on emerging frameworks, secure development practices, and platform capabilities

Collaboration & Communication

• Work closely with program managers and government stakeholders to translate requirements into technical specifications


• Communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences including executives and government officials


• Participate in enterprise architecture reviews and strategic planning sessions


• Represent the engineering organization in technical governance boards


• Create technical documentation, architecture decision records (ADRs), and design specifications

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mathematics, Software Engineering, or related technical field with minimum 15 years of professional software engineering experience, OR


• Master's degree in a technical field with minimum 13 years of professional software engineering experience

Security Clearance

• Active Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance required at time of hire


• Ability to obtain and maintain CI Polygraph examination eligibility


• S. Citizenship required for clearance sponsorship


• No disqualifying conditions per DSS standards

Technical Experience (Required)

• Enterprise Python Development: Minimum 8+ years architecting and developing enterprise-scale Python applications with proven expertise in production deployments


• js Front-End Development: Minimum 5+ years building complex, responsive React.js applications with demonstrated mastery of component design, state management, and performance optimization


• RESTful API Architecture: Minimum 5+ years designing and implementing production-grade APIs with expertise in versioning, documentation, and security standards


• Web Services Architecture: Deep understanding of microservices patterns, service-oriented architecture (SOA), API gateway patterns, and distributed systems design


• PostgreSQL Database Design: Minimum 5+ years designing relational databases for high-performance applications, including index optimization, query tuning, and replication strategies


• AWS Cloud Platform: Minimum 5+ years working with AWS services including EC2, ECS, Lambda, RDS, VPC, IAM, and CloudWatch in production environments


• AWS Security Services: Hands-on experience with AWS security tools including VPC security, IAM policies, KMS encryption, Secrets Manager, and Security Hub


• Secure Development Practices: Demonstrated expertise in security-first coding, OWASP top 10 remediation, and government security standards compliance

Professional Competencies

• Technical Leadership: Proven track record leading cross-functional engineering teams and making architectural decisions with significant business impact


• Problem-Solving: Ability to analyze complex technical challenges and design scalable, maintainable solutions

• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills with ability to explain technical concepts to diverse audiences


• Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to code quality, security, and compliance documentation


• Adaptability: Comfort working in fast-paced, agile environments with frequent requirement changes


• Security Mindset: Natural inclination toward secure design and threat modeling throughout development lifecycle

Preferred Qualifications

• FastAPI/Flask Expertise: Demonstrated production experience building high-performance APIs with modern Python frameworks


• AWS Services Specialization: Deep experience with containerization (Docker/ECS), serverless computing (Lambda), and infrastructure as code (CloudFormation/Terraform)


• Government Project Experience: Prior work on federal contracts with understanding of compliance requirements, security protocols, and stakeholder management


• Geospatial Technology: Familiarity with GIS concepts, spatial databases, or mapping technologies


• Machine Learning Integration: Experience integrating ML/AI models into production applications


• DevOps & Infrastructure: Strong understanding of CI/CD pipelines, containerization, and infrastructure automation


• Agile Methodologies: Certified Scrum Master (CSM) or equivalent agile leadership certification


• AWS Certifications: AWS Solutions Architect Professional or AWS Security Specialty certification


• Security Certifications: CISSP, CCNA, or similar security credentials

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• On-site position requiring full-time presence at Louis, MO location (limited remote flexibility after probation at manager discretion)


• Standard office environment with occasional government facility access


• May require travel to government facilities or other project locations (estimated 5-10% annually)


• Ability to work extended hours during critical project milestones


• Must maintain clearance eligibility including passing polygraph examination

Salary & Compensation

Compensation: The salary range for this position is $165,000 - $245,000 annually, based on experience level, specific skill set, and clearance status. See attached Wage Analysis document for complete market analysis.

Benefits Package:

• Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision) with company contribution of 80% premiums


• 401(k) retirement plan with 4% company match


• Paid time off: 15 days vacation + 10 holidays + 5 sick days annually


• Professional development budget: $5,000 annually for training, certifications, and conferences


• Performance bonus: 10-20% of base salary based on company and individual performance


• Security clearance maintenance support and renewal assistance


• Flexible work arrangements and wellness programs