Backend Engineer Java Jobs in Huntsville, AL (NOW HIRING)

About CFD Research:Since its inception in 1987, CFD Research has delivered innovative technology solutions within the Aerospace & Defense, Biomedical & Life Sciences, Intelligence & Sensing, and Energy & Materials industries. CFD Research has earned multiple national awards for successful application and commercialization of innovative component/system technology prototypes, multi-physics simulation software, multi-disciplinary analyses, and expert support services. Based in Huntsville, Alabama where laboratory facilities and headquarters are located, CFD Research also has office and laboratory facilities in Dayton, Ohio, prototyping test and evaluation facilities in Hollywood, Alabama, and office facilities in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. CFD Research is an ISO9001:AS9100D registered company and is appraised at CMMI Level II for Services.CFD Research is a 100% ESOP (employee-owned company) recognized in Inc. Magazine's Inc5000 as a top growing company for four of the last five years. Learn more at www.cfd-research.com

CFD Research is seeking an experienced Software Engineering Manager with strong full stack development capabilities to lead a team of engineers delivering high-quality software solutions. This role blends technical depth with people leadership — the ideal candidate is comfortable reviewing architecture decisions in the morning and running a 1:1 in the afternoon. You will own the full software development lifecycle for your team's domain, mentor engineers at all levels, partner with stakeholders across the organization to align technical execution with business objectives, and engage with external customers.

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of full stack engineers across varying experience levels
• Define team goals, manage workload, and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement
• Partner with HR and senior leadership on hiring, onboarding, and workforce planning

• Serve as a hands-on technical lead capable of contributing code, reviewing PRs, and resolving architectural blockers
• Establish and enforce coding standards, testing practices, and CI/CD workflows
• Drive technical roadmap decisions in collaboration with product and architecture teams
• Evaluate and recommend tooling, frameworks, and platform improvements

• Own end-to-end delivery of software features and systems from scoping through deployment
• Translate business requirements into technical tasks and sprint-level work
• Track velocity, identify risks early, and communicate status clearly to stakeholders (internal and external)
• Coordinate with DevSecOps, QA, and infrastructure teams to ensure reliable, secure delivery

• Act as the primary engineering interface for product managers, business development, and program sponsors
• Participate in proposal and SOW development where technical staffing or level-of-effort estimates are needed
• Represent the engineering team in program reviews, design sessions, and client-facing meetings as appropriate

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience)
• 5+ years of software development experience, with 2+ years in an engineering management or tech lead role
• Proven full stack development proficiency: frontend (React, Vue, or Angular), backend (Node.js, Python, Java, or .NET), and database design (SQL and NoSQL)
• Experience leading Agile/Scrum teams in a delivery-focused environment
• Demonstrated ability to hire, retain, and develop engineering talent
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical content to non-technical audiences
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and containerized deployment (Docker/Kubernetes)
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance is required

• Experience in defense, government contracting, or research engineering environment
• Familiarity with DevSecOps practices and security-conscious development (e.g., STIG compliance, zero-trust architecture)
• Active security clearance or demonstrated ability to obtain one
• Experience with CI/CD toolchains (Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions)
• Exposure to data-intensive or simulation-driven applications

• Frontend: React, Vue, Angular, TypeScript, HTML/CSS
• Backend: Node.js, Python, Java, RESTful APIs, GraphQL
• Data & Storage: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis
• Cloud & DevOps: AWS / Azure / GCP, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform
• Version Control & CI/CD: Git, GitHub / GitLab, Jenkins, GitHub Actions

• Technical Leadership — guides architecture decisions and elevates team capability
• People Development — coaches engineers toward promotion-readiness and long-term growth
• Delivery Accountability — owns commitments end-to-end and communicates proactively
• Stakeholder (internal and external) Engagement — translates between technical and non-technical audiences
• Adaptability — thrives in fast-moving, multi-priority environments

CFD Research offers competitive salaries and excellent employee benefits, including an employer matching 401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). CFD Research offers our Full-Time, permanent employee-owners a highly competitive insurance package, including medical, vision, and dental insurance. Additionally, we offer company paid leave, compensation time, parental leave, long-term and short-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment, and life insurance. Part-Time and Temporary employee-owners may receive partial or reduced benefits and leave time based on their employment status level. Performance appraisals occur twice a year and annual pay increases are based upon corporate goals, personal development, performance, and outstanding achievements. In addition, group and individual bonuses are awarded for exceptional performance.

CFD Research is an EO employer - Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories