Contract Graduate Software Engineer Jobs in Virginia

540 is seeking a Software Engineer to support the DoW 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 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 DoW 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

• Develop full-stack features across Angular front-end applications and Java/Spring Boot microservices
• Build and deploy services in containerized environments (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Design and integrate RESTful APIs to enable secure communication across systems
• Implement asynchronous messaging patterns (Kafka) for distributed systems
• Design and maintain 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
• Participate in code reviews, testing, and troubleshooting to ensure high-quality software
• Support and improve CI/CD pipelines and deployment processes
• Enhance system performance, scalability, and reliability as the platform evolves

REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• 5+ 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)
• Experience designing and consuming RESTful APIs
• Experience working with relational databases (Postgres or MySQL)
• Ability to produce technical design documentation (diagrams, system designs)
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to learn new technologies quickly
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Demonstrated ownership and ability to drive work to completion

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 supporting U.S. Federal Government programs, particularly DoW environments
• GCP Certifications (Professional Cloud Architect or Professional Cloud Developer)

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO)

540's policy is to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.