Defense Software Engineer Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

At Bluestaq, we build secure data platforms that matter for space missions, national defense, healthcare systems, and commercial innovation. Founded in 2018, we've become a leader in enterprise software and secure data management by staying focused on what counts: modern architecture, operational excellence, and mission impact.

We're engineers, problem-solvers, and builders who take the mission seriously, but not ourselves. We automate the repeatable, question the status quo, and design systems that are as reliable as they are scalable. Whether we're supporting space, defense systems, or healthcare advancements, we build with the same principles: cloud-native solutions, security by design, and relentless simplicity.

Our name? "Blue" (military shorthand for the good guys) and "staq" (as in software stack). It's who we are, mission-aligned technologists building platforms that protect the world's most valuable data.

We've earned national recognition as one of Inc. Magazine's Fastest-Growing Private Companies and consistently rank among Colorado's Best Workplaces. But what we're most proud of? The systems we build, the teams we develop, and the mission outcomes we enable.

Bluestaq is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to lead medium-sized features, improve code quality, and mentor early-career teammates on mission-critical systems. You'll own features and modules that span multiple components and services, working with product, design, and other engineering teams to deliver reliable, maintainable software that supports national security and defense missions.

Senior Software Engineers are the technical anchors of our teams. You'll be the go-to person for a domain or service, ensuring that what we ship is not only functional but well-designed, tested, and sustainable. Your work will directly impact mission readiness, and your mentorship will shape the next generation of engineers at Bluestaq. You'll balance hands-on delivery with technical leadership, raising the bar for code quality and system design.

• Own features and modules that span multiple components/services and require coordination with other teams or roles
• Design and implement non-trivial features with clear tradeoffs (performance, readability, complexity, security)
• Write solid tests (unit, integration, basic end-to-end) and help improve test coverage and reliability
• Identify and address code smells, refactoring opportunities, and tech debt in your area
• Understand core architecture patterns in use (microservices, event-driven, SPA, component-based UI) and work within them effectively
• Operate independently within your product area: scope work, make reasonable design decisions, and proactively raise risks
• Act as an escalation point for junior engineers when debugging issues or clarifying designs
• Mentor others via pairing, feedback, and sharing context, not just fixing things yourself
• Lead medium-sized features from idea → design → implementation → production → follow-up
• Debug complex issues that span multiple components or services, including production incidents
• Make incremental improvements to architecture, patterns, and tooling in your domain

• Strong proficiency in multiple programming languages and frameworks
• Proven ability to design and deliver complex features across the full stack
• Deep understanding of software architecture patterns and design principles
• Experience with automated testing strategies and test-driven development
• Track record of mentoring junior engineers and improving team practices
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills across distributed systems
• Experience with cloud platforms, containerization, and modern deployment practices
• Excellent communication skills and ability to explain technical concepts clearly

• Experience with microservices architectures and distributed systems
• Familiarity with event-driven architectures and asynchronous processing
• Background in performance optimization and scalability
• Experience working on government, defense, or mission-critical systems
• Knowledge of security best practices and secure coding standards
• Contributions to open-source projects or technical communities
• Experience with observability tools and practices (logging, metrics, tracing)
• Familiarity with customer-facing environments, including Technical Exchange Meetings (TEMs) or similar collaborative forums with stakeholders

• PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field and 0+ years of software engineering or related experience, OR
• Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field and 2+ years of software engineering or related experience, OR
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field and 4+ years of software engineering or related experience, OR
• Associate degree in a related field and 6+ years of software engineering or related experience, OR
• High School Diploma/GED and 8+ years of software engineering or related experience.

Salary Range (CO): $100,000 - $155,000 USD

Clearance Requirement: This position may require the ability to obtain a TS/SCI Clearance. To be eligible for a security clearance, U.S. citizenship is required, and an employee must agree to participate in a background screen and credit check. Eligibility for a TS/SCI Clearance will be assessed as part of the onboarding process or based on programmatic needs.

Physical Requirements: Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times. Must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization's facilities.

Relocation: This position does not offer relocation. Candidates must live in the immediate area or relocate at their own expense.

Bluestaq is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis age 40 and over, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by state or local law.

Bluestaq will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities and employees whose work requirements interfere with a religious belief unless doing so would result in an undue hardship to Bluestaq or a direct threat. Employees needing such accommodation are instructed to contact Human Resources immediately at contact.us@bluestaq.com.

Date the Position Closes: Applications will be accepted for 60 days beyond the posting date, or until the position is filled, whichever comes first.