Entry Level Java Spring Developer Jobs in Washington, DC

Job Title: Java Developer, Associate (Part Time - Regular)

Location: Rockville, MD

Work Type: Hybrid Work ( 1 day onsite minimum – no exceptions)

Position: Part Time (20 hours per week)

Sponsorship: No sponsorship assistance is available for this position now or in the future.

Clearance: Ability to Obtain Public Trust

Job Overview: LCG is seeking a Java Developer, Associate (Part Time - Regular) to support NIH by designing, developing, testing, and maintaining secure, scalable enterprise applications that support mission-critical business operations. This role focuses on modernizing legacy applications, developing new Java-based services, and supporting enterprise software solutions using Java, Spring Boot, RESTful APIs, and modern DevSecOps practices.

The developer will work within the Client's Agile/SAFe delivery framework, collaborating closely with Enterprise Architecture, DevSecOps, IT Security, QA, Database Administrators, Business Analysts, and Product Owners to ensure solutions align with enterprise architecture, cybersecurity requirements (including RMF and Section 508 where applicable), and operational readiness standards.

Responsibilities span the complete Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), including requirements analysis, architecture support, application development, integration, testing, deployment, production support, hyper-care, and transition to operations within a regulated federal environment.

Key Responsibilities

Java Application Development and Modernization

• Design, develop, test, maintain, and enhance Java-based enterprise applications supporting NIH business operations.
• Develop scalable backend services using Java 11+ (or higher), Spring Boot, and modern software engineering practices.
• Modernize legacy applications by migrating business functionality into maintainable Java architectures.
• Participate throughout the SDLC including analysis, design, development, testing, deployment, production support, and continuous improvement.
• Develop reusable application components and shared libraries to improve maintainability and reduce technical debt.

Architecture, Design, and Enterprise Alignment

• Participate in application architecture discussions and contribute to technical solution designs aligned with enterprise standards.
• Collaborate with Enterprise Architecture, Database Administrators, DevSecOps, and IT Security teams to ensure solutions meet security, scalability, and performance requirements.
• Translate business requirements into technical specifications, user stories, and implementation plans.
• Support technical design documentation and architecture artifacts throughout project delivery.

API Development, Data Integration, and Backend Services

• Design and develop RESTful APIs and backend services supporting enterprise applications.
• Integrate Java applications with databases, cloud services, third-party platforms, and internal enterprise systems.
• Develop efficient SQL queries, stored procedures, and data access layers using JPA/Hibernate.
• Support secure authentication and authorization mechanisms for enterprise applications.

DevSecOps, CI/CD, and Configuration Management

• Support automated CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or similar DevOps platforms.
• Utilize Git for source code management, branching strategies, code reviews, and release management.
• Follow enterprise configuration management, change management, and release governance processes.
• Collaborate with DevOps engineers to automate deployments and improve software delivery efficiency.

Testing, Quality Assurance, and Documentation

• Develop unit tests, integration tests, and participate in regression and performance testing activities.
• Support User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and defect resolution throughout release cycles.
• Participate in peer code reviews to maintain coding standards and software quality.
• Maintain technical documentation, design documentation, API documentation, and operational support guides.
• Support knowledge transfer and documentation for production support teams.

Cybersecurity Compliance and Secure Development

• Develop applications following secure coding practices and federal cybersecurity requirements.
• Collaborate with IT Security teams to remediate vulnerabilities identified through code scanning and security assessments.
• Support RMF documentation, vulnerability remediation, and ATO readiness activities where applicable.
• Ensure applications comply with organizational security policies and data protection requirements.

Deployment Support, Production Operations, and Continuous Improvement

• Support application deployments and post-production validation activities.
• Troubleshoot application defects, production issues, and performance bottlenecks.
• Participate in root cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
• Support production stabilization during hyper-care periods following major releases.
• Provide technical support and knowledge transfer to operations and maintenance teams.

Requirements

• Previous NIH experience (strongly desired)
• 3+ years professional experience developing enterprise Java applications.
• 3+ years experience using Java (Java 8 or higher; Java 11+ preferred).
• 2+ years experience developing applications using Spring Framework and Spring Boot.
• 2+ years experience developing RESTful APIs and backend services.
• 2+ years experience using JPA/Hibernate or similar ORM frameworks.
• 2+ years experience writing SQL queries and working with relational databases such as Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, or MySQL.
• 2+ years experience working in Agile/Scrum or SAFe environments.
• 1+ year experience supporting applications within regulated environments requiring SDLC documentation, testing evidence, and governance (Federal preferred).
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, Information Technology, or related technical discipline (or equivalent experience).
• Certification (Preferred)
  • Oracle Certified Professional Java Developer (OCP)
  • Spring Professional Certification
  • AWS Certified Developer – Associate
  • Microsoft Azure Developer Associate
  • Security+ (preferred for federal environments)
  • Certified Scrum Developer (CSD) or Scrum certification
• Technical Skills (Required)
  • Java Development
    • Strong experience with Java 8/11+
    • Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
    • Exception handling, collections, concurrency, multithreading
    • Performance tuning and optimization
  • Spring Framework
    • Spring Boot
    • Spring MVC
    • Spring Data JPA
    • Spring Security
    • Dependency Injection (IoC)
  • API and Backend Deployment
    • RESTful API development
    • JSON/XML processing
    • API security
    • OAuth2, JWT authentication
    • Backend service integration
  • Database Development
    • Oracle
    • SQL Server
    • PostgreSQL
    • MySQL
    • SQL optimization
    • Stored procedures
    • JPA/Hibernate
  • Cloud and DevSecOps
    • Git
    • GitHub
    • GitLab
    • Jenkins
    • Maven
    • Gradle
    • Docker
    • Kubernetes (preferred)
    • CI/CD pipeline support
  • Testing and Quality Assurance
    • JUnit
    • Mockito
    • Integration Testing
    • Functional Testing
    • Performance Testing
    • SonarQube
    • Static Code Analysis
  • Security and Compliance
    • Secure Coding Practices (OWASP)
    • Vulnerability remediation
    • RMF awareness
    • Section 508 awareness (where applicable)
    • Authentication and authorization best practices
• Preferred Skills
  • Microservices architecture
  • Event-driven architecture
  • Cloud-native application development
  • AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform
  • Docker and Kubernetes
  • Messaging technologies (Kafka, RabbitMQ, ActiveMQ)
  • Experience supporting NIH, HHS, or other federal agencies
  • Experience modernizing legacy Java applications
  • Familiarity with AI-assisted development tools such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, or similar to improve development productivity, code quality, documentation, and modernization efforts.

Compensation and Benefits

The projected compensation range for this position is $43,27/hr to $49.04/hr benchmarked in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. Salary at LCG is determined by various factors, including but not limited to role, location, the combination of education/training, knowledge, skills, competencies, certifications, and work experience.

LCG offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package which includes health insurance options (medical, dental, vision), life and disability insurance, retirement plan contributions, as well as paid leave, federal holidays, professional development, and lifestyle benefits.

Devoted to Fair and Inclusive Practices

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

If you are interested in applying for employment with LCG and need special assistance or an accommodation to apply for a posted position, contact our Human Resources department by email at hr@lcginc.com.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fraudulent job offers using LCG's name. LCG will never request payment-related details or advancement of money during the application process. Legitimate communication will only come from lcginc.com or system@hirebridgemail.com emails, not free commercial services like Gmail or WhatsApp. If you receive suspicious emails asking for payment or personal information, contact us immediately at hr@lcginc.com.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.