Software Engineer (Full-Stack, DevOps, AI/ML) at Skyward

What you’ll do:

• Build things that matter. Write effective, scalable code supporting CMS as it merges systems into one AI-driven platform - reducing manual effort, improving data accuracy, and bringing cutting-edge NLP and LLM techniques to public services.
• Automate all the toil. Own CI/CD pipelines end to end, automating build, test, and deployment workflows with tools like Jenkins, plus Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible) so deployments are boring in the best possible way.
• Test like you mean it. Build and maintain automated test suites - unit, integration, regression - wired straight into the pipeline as quality gates, and provide real test-coverage analysis instead of crossed fingers.
• Containerize and ship. Package and deploy workloads with Docker (and friends) for repeatable, scalable, what-you-build-is-what-you-run environments.
• Hunt the bugs. Investigate and debug test failures throughout the lifecycle, update tests or file bugs as needed, and keep the build green and honest.
• Bake in security. Integrate code-quality checks and security gates (think SonarQube, Snyk) into the pipeline so problems get caught before they ship, not after.
• Design with humans in mind. Work closely with human-centered design experts to build solutions that are intuitive, responsive, and personalized to each user’s needs.
• Make things faster. Develop and tune back-end components to improve responsiveness and overall performance.

What we’d like you to have:

• 3–5 years of hands-on software engineering experience, with strong coding chops in Python (and friends).
• Real DevOps / DevSecOps / DevTestOps experience. You know CI/CD isn’t a buzzword; you’ve actually automated build, test, and deployment workflows.
• Test automation skill. You’ve built automated tests and integrated them into pipelines with code-quality checks and security gates, not bolted them on at the end.
• A feel for good pipelines. Scalable, maintainable, and integrated with testing frameworks. You know, the kind that make the whole team faster.
• Containerization experience (Docker or Kubernetes) and comfort with REST APIs.
• Fluency in an agile flavor or two - Scrum, Lean, or SAFe.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively across a busy mix of stakeholders.

What would blow us away:

• You’ve got AI chops, experience with NLP, LLMs, or ML-driven applications.
• You’ve previously supported CMS or another federal agency.
• Bonus unicorn points if you’ve worked inside a FISMA boundary or supported an ATO/cATO effort.

Even if you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications, we encourage you to apply. At Skyward, we’re focused on hiring individuals with the right skills and passion to grow, not just checking off every box.