Entry Level Software Developer Jobs in McLean, VA

We are seeking a Junior Software Developer to support the development, modernization, and sustainment of U.S. Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) Logistics Information Technology (LogIT) systems. This is an entry-level to early-career engineering role designed for a developer who learns quickly and wants to build a long-term career delivering software in a mission-critical Department of Defense environment. Security Clearance Requirement: Secret clearance is preferred; candidates without an active clearance must be eligible to obtain and maintain one. U.S. citizenship is required for this position. Position Overview
The Junior Software Developer will write, test, debug, and maintain code in the programming language assigned to each system they support. LogIT encompasses a portfolio of logistics applications built on a range of technology stacks, from modernized cloud-native services to long-standing sustainment systems. The successful candidate must therefore be adaptable and willing to become proficient in the language, framework, and toolset associated with each assignment rather than a single preferred stack.
This position works daily alongside the DevSecOps team to build, deploy, and troubleshoot software through automated pipelines, and alongside the cybersecurity team to ensure all delivered code satisfies DoD secure coding, hardening, and compliance requirements. The developer is also responsible for producing technical documentation and configuration management artifacts as directed by the program.
Key Responsibilities
Software Development • Develop, modify, test, and debug software for assigned AFMC LogIT systems using the programming language, framework, and development environment designated for that system. • Implement assigned features, defect corrections, and enhancement requests in accordance with approved requirements, design documentation, and program coding standards. • Perform unit testing and support integration, regression, functional, and user acceptance testing activities. • Participate in peer code reviews, both as an author and a reviewer, and incorporate review feedback promptly. • Analyze existing code — including legacy code with limited documentation — to understand system behavior and determine the appropriate change approach. • Use version control correctly and consistently, including branching, merging, commit hygiene, and merge request workflows as defined by the program.
DevSecOps and Deployment Support • Work with the DevSecOps team to build, deploy, and promote application code through development, test, staging, and production environments. • Ensure code is structured and packaged so it builds successfully within the program's automated CI/CD pipelines. • Troubleshoot and resolve build failures, pipeline errors, deployment defects, and environment-specific issues affecting assigned code. • Support automated testing, static and dynamic code analysis, dependency scanning, and quality gates integrated into the delivery pipeline. • Support release activities, deployment verification, and post-deployment validation as scheduled by the program.
Cybersecurity and Compliance • Work with the cybersecurity team to ensure all developed code meets DoD cybersecurity requirements applicable to the assigned system. • Apply secure coding practices, including input validation, output encoding, secure authentication and session handling, least privilege, and elimination of hard-coded credentials. • Remediate findings identified through static application security testing, dynamic testing, software composition analysis, code review, and vulnerability scanning within program-defined timelines. • Apply applicable DISA Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs), including the Application Security and Development STIG, to assigned development work. • Support Risk Management Framework (RMF) and Authorization to Operate (ATO) activities by providing developer input, evidence, and technical artifacts as requested. • Comply with all program requirements for the handling of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), including marking, storage, transmission, and access restrictions.
Documentation and Configuration Management • Produce and maintain technical documentation as directed, which may include design descriptions, interface documentation, installation and deployment procedures, test procedures and results, user and operator guidance, and release notes. • Prepare and maintain configuration management artifacts as directed, including change request documentation, version description documents, baseline records, and configuration item records. • Support Configuration Control Board (CCB) and change management processes by providing accurate technical descriptions, impact assessments, and status updates for assigned changes. • Keep documentation synchronized with the delivered software baseline so that artifacts accurately reflect the as-built system. • Record work accurately in the program's issue tracking and work management tools.
Team Collaboration • Participate in sprint planning, daily stand-ups, backlog refinement, demonstrations, and retrospectives. • Communicate progress, blockers, risks, and estimates clearly and early to the development lead. • Coordinate with senior developers, system administrators, functional analysts, testers, and government stakeholders to clarify requirements and resolve issues. • Accept mentorship and direction from senior technical staff and apply guidance to subsequent work.
Required Qualifications • 0 to 4 years of software development experience, including internships, cooperative education, military experience, academic project work, or relevant personal projects. • Demonstrated proficiency in at least one modern programming language, such as Java, C#, Python, JavaScript or TypeScript, C++, or PHP. • Working knowledge of relational databases and the ability to read and write basic SQL queries. • Experience with version control, preferably Git, including branching and merge or pull request workflows. • Understanding of the software development lifecycle, including requirements, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and sustainment. • Ability and willingness to learn and develop in the specific language, framework, and toolset assigned to each supported system, including legacy technologies. • Ability to write clear technical documentation in English and to follow prescribed documentation formats and templates. • Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills, attention to detail, and a demonstrated willingness to ask questions and seek guidance. • U.S. citizenship. • Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance. • Ability to obtain CompTIA Security+ or another DoD 8140 / 8570 IAT Level II certification within 90 days of hire, if not already held.
Preferred Qualifications • Active Secret security clearance. • Active CompTIA Security+ certification at time of hire. • Prior experience supporting DoD, federal, or other regulated environments. • Exposure to Air Force logistics, maintenance, supply chain, or sustainment business processes. • Experience with CI/CD tooling, particularly GitLab CI/CD, including reading and troubleshooting pipeline configurations. • Familiarity with containerization concepts and tools such as Docker, Podman, or Kubernetes. • Exposure to cloud environments, particularly Azure Government, AWS GovCloud, or DoD platform-as-a-service offerings. • Familiarity with secure coding standards such as the OWASP Top 10 and with code quality or security scanning tools such as SonarQube, Fortify, Checkmarx, or Dependency-Check. • Exposure to STIGs, RMF, NIST SP 800-53, or other DoD cybersecurity and compliance frameworks. • Experience with automated testing frameworks and test-driven or behavior-driven development. • Experience with Agile delivery and tools such as Jira, Azure DevOps, or GitLab issue boards. • Exposure to legacy or sustainment technologies commonly found in long-lived logistics systems, such as Oracle PL/SQL, COBOL, PowerBuilder, ColdFusion, classic ASP.NET, or mainframe environments.
Desired Technical Skills • Languages: Java, C#/.NET, Python, JavaScript or TypeScript, SQL, and the ability to learn additional languages as assigned. • Databases: Oracle, SQL Server, or PostgreSQL, including queries, stored procedures, and basic schema concepts. • Version Control: Git, including branching strategies and merge request workflows. • CI/CD: Familiarity with automated build, test, scan, and deployment pipelines. • Web and Services: REST APIs, web application fundamentals, and basic front-end development. • Security: Secure coding practices, vulnerability remediation, and secrets management fundamentals. • Testing: Unit testing frameworks and automated test execution. • Documentation: Technical writing, configuration management artifacts, and diagramming tools. • AI-Assisted Development: Responsible use of approved AI coding assistants for code generation, refactoring, troubleshooting, and documentation, with the understanding that the developer remains fully accountable for the correctness, security, and licensing of all delivered code, and that AI tool use must comply with program and corporate data handling policy.
Clearance and Certification Requirements • U.S. citizenship is required. • Secret clearance is preferred; candidates without an active clearance must be eligible to obtain and maintain one. • CompTIA Security+ or another DoD 8140 / 8570 IAT Level II certification is required within 90 days of hire and must be maintained thereafter. • Must be able to satisfy all program-specific personnel security, training, and access requirements, including annual cyber awareness and CUI training.
Education
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Information Systems, or a related field is preferred. Equivalent experience, military experience, completion of a rec