Job Title : Software Developer 3 Location : Remote Security Clearance : USDA Public Trust The Software Developer 3 serves as a senior-level application developer and technical lead responsible for the design, development, modernization, and sustainment of Java-based web applications within the NRCS IT ecosystem. The primary focus of this role is on water and climate information systems – including snow survey, automated data collection, water supply forecasting, and climate monitoring applications operated by the National Water and Climate Center (NWCC). The position provides hands-on development, architectural guidance, and mentoring across the full software development lifecycle, supporting both Operations & Maintenance (O&M) and authorized Development, Modernization, and Enhancement (DM&E) activities. This role works within SAFe Agile delivery teams and coordinates closely with Government Program Managers, product owners, the Enterprise Lead Architect, and the FPAC Platform team. Required Qualifications Experience: 12+ years of professional software development experience with Java-based enterprise web applications. Java Ecosystem: Strongproficiencyin Java (11+), Java EE, Spring/Spring Boot, Hibernate/JPA, RESTful web services, and Gradle or Maven build systems. Front-End: Working experience with React and TypeScript (or JavaScript) for building modern web application interfaces. Application Servers: Experience deploying and configuring applications on Wildfly , JBoss, or equivalent Java application servers. Databases:Proficiencyin SQL and experience with relational databases (PostgreSQL, Oracle, MySQL, or SQL Server) including query optimization and schema design. Cloud Platforms: Experience re-architecting and deploying Java applications on AWS, including familiarity with EC2, EKS/Fargate, Lambda, RDS, S3, and VPC networking. DevOps/CI/CD: Experience with Git-based version control, Jenkins or equivalent CI/CD tools, automated build/deployment pipelines, and infrastructure-as-code (Terraform or CloudFormation). Federal IT: 3+ years supporting federal IT programs, with familiarity with FISMA, ATO processes, federal change management, and security scanning tools (Fortify, SonarQube). Agile/ SAFe : Experience working within SAFe Agile or equivalent iterative delivery frameworks, including sprint planning, backlog refinement, and PI planning. Leadership:Demonstratedexperience mentoring developers, conducting code reviews, leading technical design sessions, and serving as a technical lead on development teams. Must be able to obtain andmaintaina USDA Public Trust Clearance. Preferred Qualifications: Direct experience with USDA NRCS water and climate information systems, including SNOTEL, NWCC applications, snow survey systems, water supply forecasting, or automated climate data collection platforms. Experience with USDA eAuthentication ( eAuth ) single sign-on integration. Experience migrating applications from on-premises Government data centers (e.g., DISC) to AWS cloud hosting. Familiarity with real-time telemetry systems (Iridium, GOES satellite) and time-series data processing for climate monitoring. Experience with FPAC CI/CD pipeline standards (Conservation pipeline, FPAC 1 pipeline). Knowledge of climate data validation, normals computation, or hydrological data systems. Certified SAFe Practitioner, AWS Developer Associate, or equivalent certifications. Master’s degree in Computer Science , Information Technology, or related field. Responsibilities: Application Development and Modernization Design, develop, andmaintainJava-based web applications using Java EE, Spring Boot, Hibernate/JPA, and RESTful API patterns, ensuring alignment with FPAC Technical Guidance Framework (TGF) and architectural standards. Lead modernization of legacy application components, including migration from .NET Framework and legacy Java versions to current supported versions (Java 17+, .NET Core/.NET 6+ where applicable), containerized deployments (AWS EKS Fargate), and serverless architectures. Re-architect monolithic application structures into modular, loosely coupled designs that support independent deployment, scalability, and eventual CI/CD adoption. Develop andmaintainReact/TypeScript front-end components integrated with Java backend services for climate data reporting, station management, and data validation workflows. Design and implement publicly accessible RESTful APIs for climate data retrieval, water supply forecasts, and associated metadata, ensuring performance, security, and Section 508 accessibility compliance. Refactor and optimize application code and database interactions to improve performance and maintainability without introducing technical debt. AWS Migration and Cloud Operations Support the urgent AWS migration from DISC data centers by re-architecting applications for cloud hosting, troubleshooting migration-related issues, and implementing operational adjustments tomaintaincontinuity of mission-critical functions. Design and configure applications for AWS compute and container platforms (EC2, EKS Fargate, Lambda) and integrate with AWS networking, identity, and security services (VPC, ALB/NLB, Cognito, IAM, Directory Service). Ensure applications function correctly in load-balanced, auto-scaling, multi-availability-zone environments with automatic failover capabilities. Adapt applications tooperatewithin FPAC lower-environment scheduling constraints (powered down during non-working hours), ensuring CI/CD processes and automated testing execute within approved operational windows. Operations and Maintenance Provide Tier 3 application support for assigned systems, including deep technical analysis, defect triage, root cause investigation, and resolution of production issues within defined SLAs (Blocker/Critical within 7 days, Major within 21 days). Develop, test, and deploy corrective fixes for application code, batch jobs, and service integrations, ensuring resolution does not introduce new vulnerabilities or technical debt. Implement application-level health checks and operability indicators to support enterprise monitoring by the Platform team, including lower environment (UAT) health check capabilities. Apply required updates and patches to supported applications, including Java runtime upgrades, application server updates ( Wildfly ), Spring framework migrations, and dependency library updates. Maintain and update troubleshooting playbooks, runbooks, and knowledge articles in Government-designated repositories following incidents, releases, and major changes. Real-Time Data Systems and Integration Design andmaintainreal-time and near-real-time data acquisition systems for climate monitoring stations, including telemetry integration (Iridium, GOES satellite) and third-party data retrieval services. Develop automated data validation frameworks that calculate and apply validation profiles to incoming climate data streams on a recurring basis. Build andmaintaindata processing pipelines for climate normals computation, water supply forecasting models, and station data reporting across the NWCC application portfolio. Manage application-level data integration across multiple NRCS systems, ensuring cross-system consistency and reducing integration defects. Release and Deployment Management Participate in release planning, coordination, and execution, including preparation of release readiness artifacts, dependency and impact maps, and rollback plans. Deploy through FPAC-approved CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, AWS CodeBuild / CodeDeploy /CodePipeline) without bypassing automated quality gates, and collaborate with the Platform team to enhance pipeline capabilities where gaps exist. Implement andmaintainautomated build and deployment configurations, including Gradle build scripts, Jenkins pipeline definitions, and infrastructure-as-code templates (Terraform, CloudFormation). Ensure all code changes pass automated testing, static/dynamic security analysis (Fortify SCA, SonarQube), and performance validation prior to production deployment. Support UAT redesign efforts by implementing automated, scripted test approaches with clear entry/exit criteria to reduce reliance on resource-heavy manual UAT cycles. Security and Compliance Implement secure coding practices across all development activities, including input validation, encryption, secure authentication mechanisms ( eAuthentication /SSO, Cognito), and least-privilege access patterns. Remediate security vulnerabilitiesidentifiedby scanning tools (Fortify, SonarQube, Qualys, Sysdig ) within defined SLAs (14 days for Critical/High). Remove deprecated or non-compliant authorization dependencies and role references as part of sustainment activities to support Zero Trust principles and continuous ATO compliance. Ensure all delivered code and applications meet Section 508 accessibility requirements. Technical Leadership and Knowledge Transfer Mentor junior and mid-level developers through code reviews, design sessions, pair programming, and technical guidance across all phases of the SDLC. Serve as subject matter expert for assigned water and climate systems, providing institutional knowledge to Government personnel, delivery teams, and incoming vendors. Conduct andparticipatein architecture reviews, design assurance gates, and peer code reviews, ensuring adherence to FPAC coding standards and enterprise patterns. Deliver knowledge transfer sessions during transition-in and transition-out periods, including complete documentation handoff of application architectures, dependencies, and operational procedures. Collaborate with Government Program Managers and product owners to translate business requirements into technical designs, refine backlog items, and estimate level of effort for planned work. About Us: AttainX Inc. is a Women Owned Small Business (WOSB), Economically Disadvantaged WOSB (EDWOSB), CMMC Level 2, CMMI Level 3, ISO 9001:2015 certified QMS and Silver Level SAFe Partner. For more than 15 years, AttainX , Inc. has delivered emergent technologies, software products, and high-quality services that meet the needs of our Federal Government customers. The last 4 years have shown significant company growth as we have increased our contracts portfolio and hold the “Best in Class” contract vehicles, GSA MAS and OASIS Small Business and 8(a) Pools 1, 2 and 3. In addition, we are prime on several Agency Specific IDIQs and BPAs with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Energy, Navy, Health and Human Service, USCIS and the Defense Intelligence Agency. AttainX is dedicated to quality and best practices for the services we provide. We understand our people are the key ingredient to ensuring our customers Mission and Goals are met with excellence. Benefits: Competitive compensation and benefits packages including paid vacation, medical, dental, vision, matching 401K plan, tuition/training reimbursement, and Long & Short-Term Disability. EEO Commitment: AttainX is an equal employment opportunity employer, committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination based on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, VEVRAA and Section 503, or other status protected by applicable federal, state, local, or international law. These protections also extend to applicants. Accommodations: Individuals with a disability who would like to request a reasonable workplace accommodation may send an email to Human Resources indicating the specifics of the assistance needed. Physical Demands: Sitting and working on a computer for long, continuous periods each day; effective communications by telephone, email, and face-to-face; standing, walking, and sitting; handling and feeling objects or controls; reaching; talking and hearing; lifting and/or moving up to 10 pounds; and specific vision abilities including close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust and focus. Work Environment: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.