Lead Software Engineer- full stack Java

REI Systems’ mission is to deliver reliable, innovative technology solutions that advance Federal clients' missions and exceed their expectations. Our technologists and consultants are passionate about solving complex challenges that impact millions of lives. We take a Mindful Modernization® approach in delivering our services, including application modernization, grants management, case management systems, government data analytics, and advisory services. This approach, the REI Way, ensures mission impact by aligning our clients' strategic objectives with measurable outcomes through people, processes, and technology. 
 
We offer the same commitment to our employees by providing professional development, meaningful projects, and flexibility to spend time with family and friends. We believe employees are at their best when fulfilled in both their professional careers and their personal lives. Learn more at www.REIsystems.com. 
 
Employees voted REI Systems a Washington Post Top Workplace in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025!

Position Overview

REI Systems is seeking a Lead Software Engineer to lead the design, development, modernization, and operational support of complex enterprise applications for the ODOS Program. This is a hands-on technical leadership role responsible for guiding an engineering team, making application-level technical decisions, and delivering secure, reliable, and maintainable software.
The successful candidate will combine advanced Java full stack expertise with demonstrated experience leading developers, coordinating technical delivery, and resolving complex production issues. The Lead Software Engineer will work closely with architects, product owners, UX, QA, DevOps, database, and operations teams to translate mission requirements into effective technical solutions.

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership and Full Stack Engineering

• Lead a development team or engineering workstream, providing technical direction and accountability for implementation quality and delivery commitments.
• Translate business priorities and architectural guidance into technical designs, development tasks, estimates, and executable delivery plans.
• Coordinate engineering activities, resolve technical dependencies, and communicate risks and progress to program leadership and stakeholders.
• Lead design and code reviews, establish coding standards, and promote consistent engineering practices.
• Mentor developers, support onboarding, and strengthen team capabilities through coaching and knowledge sharing.
• Remain actively involved in coding, testing, troubleshooting, and implementation of complex functionality.

Full Stack Development and Modernization

• Design and develop enterprise applications using Java, Spring Boot, JavaScript, and Angular or React.
• Build scalable backend services, RESTful APIs, microservices, business logic, and integrations with enterprise systems.
• Guide development of reusable, accessible, and maintainable front-end components.
• Design and optimize PostgreSQL and Oracle SQL queries, data-access patterns, and relational data models.
  
• Lead modernization of legacy applications using modern Java frameworks, APIs, microservices, and cloud-native patterns.
• Address application performance, scalability, reliability, security, and maintainability throughout the development lifecycle

Architecture and Engineering

• Lead or provide significant input into application architecture and technical design decisions.
• Translate complex business, operational, and user requirements into scalable technical solutions.
• Define and promote software engineering patterns, coding standards, reusable components, and development best practices.
• Evaluate frameworks, technologies, development tools, and design patterns, and lead code and design reviews for complex functionality.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to junior and mid-level developers.
• Collaborate with enterprise architects, product owners, UX teams, QA engineers, DevOps engineers, database engineers, and other technical stakeholders.

Quality, DevSecOps, and CI/CD

• Guide unit, integration, regression, and automated testing using JUnit, Cucumber, Selenium, TDD, and BDD where appropriate.
• Establish effective Git/GitHub branching, pull-request, and code-review practices.
• Partner with DevOps teams to integrate applications into Jenkins and automated build, test, deployment, and release pipelines.
• Incorporate secure development practices, vulnerability remediation, and quality checks into engineering workflows.
• Support release readiness, deployment planning, and resolution of defects affecting delivery.

Production Support and Observability

• Lead technical investigation and resolution of complex production incidents and application performance issues.
• Analyze logs, traces, transaction performance, and system metrics using tools such as Splunk and New Relic.
• Coordinate root-cause analysis across application code, APIs, databases, integrations, infrastructure, and dependent services.
• Implement corrective engineering changes to reduce recurring incidents and improve resiliency and observability.
• Work with operations and DevOps teams to incorporate incident findings into testing, monitoring, and development standards.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of software development experience, including advanced hands-on Java and Spring Boot expertise.
• Demonstrated experience leading a development team or technical workstream, including technical planning, mentoring, code reviews, and delivery coordination.
• Strong Angular or React and JavaScript experience developing complex full stack applications.
• Strong experience designing RESTful APIs, microservices, enterprise integrations, and distributed applications.
• Strong experience with PostgreSQL, Oracle SQL, and relational database design and optimization.
• Experience making application architecture and technical design decisions and establishing engineering standards.
• Experience with automated testing, Git/GitHub, Jenkins, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Demonstrated success troubleshooting complex production incidents and application performance issues.
• Experience delivering software within Agile and DevSecOps environments.
• Strong analytical, communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder-collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing and modernizing applications in AWS, including Aurora and DynamoDB.
• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, and container-based deployment architectures.
• Strong experience using Splunk and New Relic for observability, incident triage, and performance optimization.
• Experience designing cloud-native applications and microservices-based architectures.
• Experience with JUnit, Cucumber, Selenium, TDD, BDD, and secure software development practices.
• Experience leading modernization of large legacy applications for enterprise or federal government programs.
• Experience supporting DHS, USCIS, or other federal mission-critical applications.

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, or a related technical field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.

Clearance: Candidate must be able to obtain and maintain public trust Clearance, US CITIZEN needed.

Location: Hybrid (2 Day per week in our Sterling, VA office on Tuesday and Wednesday)

EEO Statement: REI Systems is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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