Contract Backend Python Developer Jobs in Colorado

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes
CLEARANCE TYPE: Top Secret
TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescription
At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.
About our organization: As an engineer, you'll be joining our growing Aurora Software department which has 200+ Software Engineer, DevOps Engineer, Systems Administrator, Database Administrator, and Network Engineer peers from entry-level to the most senior chief engineers and architects. We have plenty of opportunities for career advancement into higher level technical roles or leadership positions. Our Software Department is part of a larger organization that includes Systems Engineering, Integration, and Test staff as well as a Hardware Engineering unit. This larger organization influences cross-program collaboration, professional development and training, as well as engagement and inclusion activities such as lunch-n-learns, campus events, and leadership mixers.
We support a small but mighty team that continues to innovate and set new benchmarks for our customers. We are seeking a Software Engineer with strong Python, containerization, and database experience to design, implement, and maintain our backend services and deployment workflows. In this role, you will make key technical decisions, mentor team members, and collaborate closely with product and operations in an Agile environment, using GitLab for version control and CI/CD. If this sounds like an opportunity for you, Northrop Grumman Space Systems Sector would love to have you join our team as a (level 3 or level 4) Software Engineer based out of Aurora, CO.
Key Responsibilities:

• Design, development, and maintenance of backend services.
• Architect and maintain Docker-based development and runtime environments.
• Guide and support deployments using Docker Swarm and related tooling.
• Define and promote engineering best practices (coding standards, testing, code review).
• Participate in and often facilitate Agile ceremonies (planning, stand ups, reviews, retrospectives).
• Use Jira for backlog and sprint management, and Confluence for technical documentation.
• Collaborate via GitLab for source control, code reviews, and integration with CI/CD.
• Partner with product owners, QA, and DevOps to deliver high quality, reliable features.
• Mentor junior and mid level engineers; provide technical guidance and constructive feedback.
• Communicate clearly with both technical and non technical stakeholders and influence technical direction.

Basic Qualifications:

• Level 3: Bachelor's degree in science with 5+ years of software development experience; 3+ years with a Master's; or 4 additional years of experience in lieu of a degree.
• Level 4: Bachelor's degree in science with 8+ years of software development experience; 6+ years with a Master's; or 4 additional years of experience in lieu of a degree.
• Must have active Top Secret clearance and SCI eligibility at time of application.
• Significant professional experience as a Software Engineer.
• Experience working in Linux environments.
• Strong proficiency in Python, with experience building production-grade services.
• Hands on experience with Docker (Dockerfiles, image builds, local development, best practices).
• Experience using GitLab (repositories, merge requests, code reviews, basic CI pipelines).
• Solid understanding and experience using modern software development lifecycle, including Agile practices, CI/CD pipelines, DevOps collaboration, and automated testing.
• Practical experience with Jira and Confluence in a team setting.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with relational databases (schema design, SQL, indexing, performance tuning).
• Experience with PostgreSQL (advanced querying, optimization, migrations, ORMs).
• Experience with Rust and/or C++ for performance critical components.
• Exposure to Docker Swarm or similar container orchestration platforms.
• Experience or certification as a Scrum Master (facilitating Agile ceremonies, coaching teams).
• Experience integrating Python services into CI/CD pipelines (tests, packaging, deployment automation).

Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00
Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00
The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.
Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.
The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.
Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.