Senior Software Engineer

540 is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to support the DoD in building a next-generation Air Force aircraft maintenance platform. This application leverages Java/Spring Boot microservices, Angular front-end applications, and cloud-native infrastructure (Kubernetes, Google Cloud, Apigee). Engineers on this team build and scale full-stack features across user interfaces, backend services, and data layers that power critical maintenance operations. This platform will modernize how Air Force maintainers plan and execute maintenance and is a key part of the Air Force’s technology strategy for the coming decade.

This role is offered as a contract engagement (1099 or W-2) and is ideal for engineers who value flexibility, autonomy, and high-impact work. While there may be an opportunity to convert to full-time in the future, conversion is not guaranteed and is dependent on program needs.

Location: Remote within the continental United States, East Coast working hours
Citizenship & Clearance Requirement: per client requirements, candidates must be a U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain a DoD Secret clearance
Education Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or related engineering field (preferred)
Contract Duration: initial 9 month contract, 40 hours per week

How You’ll Drive Impact

• Design and develop full-stack features across Angular front-end applications and Java/Spring Boot microservices
• Build and operate scalable services in containerized environments (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Own the design and evolution of core services and APIs, ensuring scalability, reliability, and maintainability
• Design and integrate RESTful APIs to enable secure communication across systems
• Implement asynchronous messaging patterns (Kafka) for distributed environments
• Design and optimize data models and persistence layers (Postgres or MySQL)
• Collaborate with engineers, architects, and stakeholders to translate mission needs into technical solutions
• Contribute to technical design documentation and system architecture artifacts
• Lead or participate in code reviews, testing, and troubleshooting to ensure high-quality software
• Drive features and services end-to-end, from design through production delivery
• Help define service design patterns, API standards, and engineering best practices
• Improve system performance, scalability, and reliability as the platform evolves

Required Skills & Experience

• 8+ years of professional software development experience
• Strong experience with Java and Spring Boot for building production-grade services
• Experience developing microservices in containerized environments (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Experience with asynchronous messaging systems (Kafka)
• Proficiency with build tools such as Gradle or Maven
• Experience with JavaScript/TypeScript and modern frameworks (Angular preferred)
• Strong experience designing and consuming RESTful APIs
• Experience working with relational databases (Postgres or MySQL)
• Ability to produce technical design documentation (system diagrams, architecture artifacts)
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to navigate ambiguity
• Excellent communication skills, including working directly with stakeholders or clients
• Demonstrated ownership and ability to drive work from concept to production
• Ability to design with future scalability and platform evolution in mind

Nice To Have

• Experience with Google Cloud Platform (GCP) or similar cloud environments
• Experience with API gateways and API management platforms, such as Google Apigee
• Familiarity with API authentication and authorization (PKI, OAuth2, JWT, LDAP, SAML, etc.)
• Experience working with OpenAPI/Swagger specifications
• Experience working on U.S. Federal Government programs, particularly DoD environments
• GCP Certifications (Professional Cloud Architect or Professional Cloud Developer)