Associate Software Developer Jobs in Sterling, VA

VT-ARC strives for excellence in all that is done for our clients, and such achievement is recognized through service/merit awards. Moreover, we promote a sense of community larger than VT-ARC alone, where staff and institutional resources can be applied in service to our country. We are proud to be the recipient of the Best Workplace in Defense Award by Emergent Magazine, an honor that recognizes companies with positive cultures that not only impact their people but also make a meaningful difference in the community.

About You: You are an early-career software engineer with hands-on experience building full-stack applications, front-end workflows, backend APIs, and AI-enabled analysis tools for mission-focused users. You bring practical experience with modern web development, including React, JavaScript or TypeScript, REST APIs, Python, SQL, and cloud-based deployment workflows. You are comfortable learning new frameworks, working in Agile teams, contributing to production systems, writing clear documentation, and using Git-based collaboration practices.

You are curious, adaptable, and mission-focused. You take pride in building usable software, learning from senior engineers, improving team practices, and applying emerging AI tools responsibly to help users explore, interpret, and act on complex data. Position Overview: VT-ARC is seeking an Associate Software & AI Engineer to support full-stack software development, AI-enabled analysis capabilities, and mission engineering applications for federal and defense-oriented clients.

This role is focused on building and maintaining practical software systems across the full application lifecycle, including user interface development, backend API implementation, database integration, cloud deployment support, CI/CD workflows, testing, documentation, and operational sustainment. The role includes opportunities to contribute to LLM-powered applications, federal wargaming and simulation data analysis workflows, and mission planning tools. The Associate Software & AI Engineer will work closely with programmatic staff, software engineers, AI/ML practitioners, and technical leads to deliver reliable, secure, and mission-aligned applications.

This is an entry-level to early-career role designed for a hands-on engineer who can contribute independently while continuing to grow technical depth across software engineering, cloud, DevOps, and applied AI. Offer of employment is contingent upon final contract award. Start date is similarly contingent upon final contract award and program direction, with a notional planned start date of July 6, 2026.

No active security clearance is required at the time of application or employment start; however, the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance is required as a condition of employment. Duties/Responsibilities: * Build and maintain full-stack web applications from concept through production for federal clients within Agile, cross-functional teams.

* Develop reusable front-end interfaces, components, and workflows using React, Angular, or comparable modern web frameworks to improve consistency, usability, and implementation efficiency. * Implement and maintain RESTful APIs and backend services using technologies such as Python, Node.js, Flask, FastAPI, SQL, and PostgreSQL. * Integrate application logic, databases, user interfaces, and external services into reliable, maintainable software products.

* Contribute to LLM-powered analysis capabilities that help users explore, interpret, and analyze federal wargaming, simulation, mission, or operational data. * Support full-stack mission engineering applications that digitize, automate, and improve mission planning and analysis workflows. * Configure, maintain, and troubleshoot CI/CD pipelines, deployment workflows, and cloud services across environments such as AWS, AWS GovCloud, Azure, or GCP.

* Use Git-based version control, branching, pull requests, code reviews, and repository management practices to support team collaboration and software quality. * Participate in Agile ceremonies, requirements discussions, design reviews, sprint planning, demos, and technical integration activities. * Write and maintain technical documentation, implementation notes, API documentation, user workflow descriptions, and operational support materials.

* Support software testing, debugging, performance tuning, security-minded development, cloud cost awareness, and production sustainment activities. * Stay current with emerging software engineering, AI, cloud, and DevOps tools, and share relevant lessons learned with teammates through technical discussions or presentations. Required Education, Certification, Skills, Capabilities: * Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Information Science, or a related technical field.

* 2+ years of software engineering experience, including professional, internship, applied research, academic, or equivalent project experience. * Experience developing full-stack applications using modern frameworks such as React, Angular, or comparable web technologies. * Experience with JavaScript or TypeScript and front-end development concepts, including component-based development, state management, HTML, CSS, and responsive interface implementation.

* Knowledge of backend development using Python, Node.js, SQL, RESTful APIs, and relational databases such as PostgreSQL. * Knowledge of software design patterns, application architecture, API design, testing practices, technical documentation, and production software delivery. * Knowledge of cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP, including basic deployment, service usage, monitoring, and cost-aware engineering practices.

* Familiarity with Git-based version control, branching strategies, pull requests, code reviews, and collaborative repository management. * Ability to work effectively in Agile, cross-functional teams with engineers, program staff, technical leads, and mission stakeholders. * Strong problem-solving, communication, documentation, and learning skills, with the ability to take ownership of assigned development tasks and deliver high-quality work.

Desired Education, Certification, Skills, Capabilities: * Experience building AI-assisted or LLM-powered applications using LLM SDKs, APIs, prompt engineering, retrieval workflows, or analytics interfaces. * Experience supporting federal, defense, mission engineering, wargaming, simulation, or DoD data analysis projects. * Experience with AWS GovCloud, Docker, CI/CD tooling, GitHub Actions, infrastructure deployment workflows, or cloud service configuration.

* Experience with Flask, FastAPI, Node.js, Rails, PostgreSQL, Redis, or comparable backend and database technologies. * Experience with React ecosystem tools such as Redux, Recoil, React Native, Jest, React Testing Library, SASS, or comparable technologies. * Experience with data visualization or reporting tools such as Tableau, Power BI, Matplotlib, or similar tools.

* AWS Cloud Practitioner, Security+, or equivalent cloud, software, or cybersecurity certification. * Familiarity with RMF, ATO documentation, STIG compliance, secure software development practices, or federal cybersecurity compliance activities. * Interest in improving team engineering practices through documentation, code review, technical talks, reusable components, and standardized development workflows.

Primary Work Location: Work is expected to be fully onsite in Arlington, VA. Special Work Conditions: Occasional travel may be required, up to 10%. Offer of employment is contingent upon final contract award.

The start date is similarly contingent, with a notional planned start date of July 6, 2026 Security: * Must be a U.S. Citizen * Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance as a condition of employment * No active security clearance is required at the time of application or employment start Competitive Salary: VT-ARC offers a competitive salary and benefits package designed to attract and retain senior technical talent supporting mission-critical programs.

Salary: $120,000-$130,000/yr., based on skills, experience, technical depth, contract funding, and mission alignment. Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation: VT-ARC is a 501(c)(3), non-profit R&D organization affiliated with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech or VT). Our mission is to provide superior analytic and technology solutions across multiple domains by leveraging Virginia Techs multidisciplinary research and innovation ecosystem.

With unique access to the broad and rich research enterprise found at Virginia Tech, VT-ARC forms multi-disciplinary teams to apply innovative solutions to the real-world problems that strain our social, political, industrial, and economic foundations. To learn more about VT-ARCs Benefits, Perks, Culture & more visit our Careers page: https://vt-arc.org/careers/ Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

As a federal contractor, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunity and affirmative action for qualified individuals with disabilities under Section?503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. If you need a