Principal Full Stack Software Engineer

Description

The company is Iron EagleX, a wholly owned subsidiary of the company, which delivers agile IT and intelligence solutions with the flexibility of a small team and the reach of a large firm.

The role supports the AI team in Crystal City, VA, on the AI analytics stack: analytic frontends, production APIs, interfaces between AI workflow components, and the data layer beneath them.

You will be a core member of the AI team, building and delivering data analytics capabilities and turning emerging AI and machine learning ideas into reliable software that users can work with.

Clearance: Top Secret/SCI is currently required, and you must be able to obtain a Polygraph. Job family: Data Science and Data Engineering. Work involves a US Government agency mission.

Responsibilities

• Write clean, maintainable, efficient Python that follows accepted standards.
• Lead the design and build of AI-enabled web apps and analytics in Streamlit, React, or similar tools.
• Add AI and large language model features to applications and workflows, covering prompting, tool calling, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and related patterns.
• Design and build APIs, including FastAPI services, so systems can talk to each other smoothly.
• Build and maintain interfaces that make complex AI, data and analytics usable for end users.
• Set up and keep CI/CD pipelines and Docker-based deployments for repeatable builds and dependable releases.
• Work with PostgreSQL and MySQL databases, keeping data sound, fast and efficient.
• Manage code with Git to support teamwork.
• Work with cross-functional teams to define, design, build, test and ship new features.
• Take part in every stage of the software lifecycle, from concept and design through testing, deployment and ongoing support.

Requirements

• Strong Python skills for writing clean, maintainable, efficient code.
• Experience building AI-enabled web apps, analytics dashboards or user workflows with Streamlit or similar tools.
• Solid knowledge of web technologies, containers, RESTful APIs and user interface development.
• Experience designing and maintaining scalable backends with Python frameworks.
• Familiarity with PostgreSQL and MySQL.
• Proficiency with Docker. Kubernetes experience is a plus.
• Proficiency with Git and collaborative development workflows.
• Hands-on full stack development experience and a firm grasp of the software development lifecycle.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of related experience.
• Skills in Amazon Web Services (AWS), application development and machine learning (ML) are listed as required.
• Desired: hands-on React front-end development experience.
• Desired: experience building LLM-powered agentic workflows with tool calling, structured outputs, task planning and multi-step execution.
• Desired: familiarity with component-based UI, state management and reusable front-end patterns.
• Desired: experience connecting React frontends to RESTful APIs or Python backend services.
• Desired: experience supporting AI, machine learning, data analytics or mission-focused software.
• Desired: familiarity with cloud-native development, DevSecOps or secure software delivery.
• Desired: experience building reliable AI workflows with validation, error handling, retries, logging and fallback strategies.
• Desired: understanding of MLOps, including model registry and versioning, reproducible environments and CI/CD for ML systems.
• US citizenship is required. Due to US Government contract requirements, only US citizens are eligible.

Conditions

Onsite in Crystal City, VA, 40 scheduled hours per week.

Travel of 10-25%, including optional CONUS travel.

Current TS/SCI clearance with active status or ability to obtain a CI Polygraph is required.

Medical plans (some with Health Savings Accounts), dental, vision, and a 401(k) with company match and pre- and post-tax contributions up to IRS limits are offered for US-based employees.

Equal opportunity employer; individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.

Identity verification using biometrics and AI is part of hiring, and you are expected to be on camera during virtual interviews.

Benefits

• Full flex work weeks where possible, plus vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave.
• Short- and long-term disability, life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness, and business travel and accident insurance are provided or available.
• Competitive pay and paid time off.
• Salary is likely to fall between $140,821 and $190,523, based on experience, geographic location and possibly contractual requirements. It is not a guarantee and may fall outside this range.
• AI-powered career tool that identifies career steps and learning opportunities.
• Internal mobility team to help with career goals.
• Award-winning culture of innovation and a military-friendly workplace.