Our organization is a unique software development company based in McLean, Virginia, dedicated to providing top-tier solutions to defend the United States and its businesses.  

We are seeking a highly skilled and passionate Senior Backend Python Developer who embodies our commitment to excellence and is driven to "do it right." This is a long-term opportunity for serious professionals who meet our stringent requirements and are eager to contribute to our critical mission. Compensation will be commensurate with experience, and we offer significant opportunities for professional growth and advancement within our best-of-the-best team. 

DESCRIPTION: 

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Backend Python Developer to lead the development and architecture of robust and scalable backend systems for our critical applications. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in Python and a proven track record of designing, building, and deploying high-performance backend solutions. This role requires a strong technical leader who can architect complex systems, mentor junior developers, drive best practices, and effectively utilize technologies such as Flask, RESTful APIs, SocketIO, and graph query languages. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring the reliability, scalability, and security of our mission-critical backend infrastructure. 

Day-to-day responsibilities and duties include: 

• Lead the design, architecture, and development of scalable and high-performance backend REST APIs using Python and the Flask framework. 
• Architect and implement robust real-time communication features utilizing Python and SocketIO for critical application components. 
• Design and implement efficient data models and interactions with graph databases, leveraging expertise in graph query languages (e.g., Cypher, Gremlin, graphql and aql) to optimize data retrieval and manipulation. 
• Collaborate closely with frontend developers, architects, and product owners to define and implement comprehensive backend solutions that meet project requirements and ensure seamless integration. 
• Write and maintain clean, well-documented, performant, and scalable Python code, establishing and enforcing coding standards and best practices across the team. 
• Conduct thorough code reviews, providing constructive feedback and ensuring code quality, security, and maintainability. 
• Proactively identify and resolve complex technical challenges, performance bottlenecks, and architectural issues within the backend systems. 
• Stay at the forefront of backend development trends, evaluating and recommending new technologies and approaches to enhance our capabilities and improve system efficiency. 
• Lead and mentor junior backend developers, providing guidance, technical expertise, and fostering their professional growth. 
• Drive the adoption of backend testing best practices, including unit, integration, and end-to-end testing, and ensure adequate test coverage. 
• Collaborate effectively within an agile development environment, participating in planning, estimation, and architectural discussions. 
• Take ownership of the technical aspects of backend delivery, ensuring adherence to timelines, quality standards, and security requirements. 
• Contribute significantly to the continuous improvement of our development processes, tools, and overall backend architecture. 
• Participate in on-call rotations and troubleshoot production issues as needed. 

REQUIREMENTS: 

Applicants MUST 

- must be able to qualify and maintain security clearance.  

- have at least 3 years of Backend Python Developer experience and have a good understanding of professional business environments. 

- be very friendly and able to calmly handle clients and staff 

- be able to carry themselves in a professional manner 

- be punctual, responsible, and reliable 

- have good written and verbal communication skills (answering the phone and composing emails in a professional manner) 

Benefits / Additional Compensation: 

• Health Insurance 
• Dental Insurance 
• Vision Insurance 
• 401k match 
• Paid Time off 
• Paternal/Maternal Leave 

Job Type: Full-time 

Pay: From $127,000 per year excluding bonus and benefits. 

Schedule: 

• The schedule for this position is project driven and can be highly variable depending on project deadlines and the specific needs of the software development teams. 
• Monday to Friday 
• Weekends as needed 

Work Location: In person 

TO APPLY: Please submit a resume. A cover letter is not required, although a short personal message explaining your work experience as it relates to this listing is extremely helpful.