Senior Backend Java Developer

Location: McLean, Virginia, United States

Department: Fed/Civ

Workplace: remote

Employment Type: full

Description

Public Trust Eligibility Required

About Aretum 
Aretum is a mission-driven organization committed to delivering innovative, technology-enabled solutions to our customers across defense, civilian, and homeland security sectors. Our teams work at the intersection of strategy, technology, and transformation, helping agencies solve their most critical challenges. We believe in investing in our people and creating a culture where collaboration, inclusion, and professional growth are at the forefront.

Job Summary
Aretum is seeking a skilled and motivated Senior Backend Java Developer. As a Senior Backend Java Developer, you will develop and maintain scalable and secure solutions for our client's modernization program.

Due to the nature of our work as a federal consulting organization, employees may be expected to handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and must adhere to applicable safeguarding and compliance requirements. 

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain Java (Spring Boot) microservices and RESTful APIs on a cloud-native, serverless AWS architecture (ECS, RDS, S3, SNS/SQS, Lambda)
• Develop and optimize database solutions using PostgreSQL and implement search capabilities using Elasticsearch/OpenSearch
• Contribute to shared platform services including identity/access management, payment processing, event-based messaging, and integrations with external systems
• Write clean, well-tested code with comprehensive unit tests, participate in peer code reviews, and ensure all code passes SonarQube quality gates
• Ensure accessibility, security, and performance standards are baked into all delivered code, meeting WCAG 2.1 AA and federal security requirements
• Collaborate with DevOps teams to maintain and improve GitLab CI/CD pipelines and keep the pipelines green across all environments
• Express infrastructure as code using Terraform and support containerized deployments using Docker and AWS ECS
• Participate fully in SAFe Agile ceremonies including Sprint Planning, PI Planning, Sprint Reviews, Retrospectives, and Product Demos within cross-functional Scrum teams
• Collaborate with Solutions Architects, Cloud Architects, frontend developers, testers, UX designers, and federal stakeholders to ensure alignment with architectural patterns and program priorities
• Support production operations, triage and resolve issues, and maintain technical documentation including architecture documents, API specifications, and runbooks

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of hands-on Java (Spring Boot) backend development experience building RESTful APIs and microservices 
• BA/BS degree; in the absence of a degree, an additional 4 years of relevant experience (9+ years total) may be considered as a substitute
• Hands-on experience with AWS cloud services (ECS, RDS, S3, SNS/SQS, Lambda) and containerized deployments using Docker
• Strong working knowledge of PostgreSQL and Elasticsearch/OpenSearch
• Experience with GitLab for source control and CI/CD pipelines
• Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience with Python as a secondary backend development language
• Experience with Terraform or other Infrastructure-as-Code tools
• SAFe Agile methodology experience
• Experience with SonarQube or similar code quality tools
• Familiarity with accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 AA) and federal security best practices
• Prior experience on federal government or large-scale enterprise modernization projects
• AWS certifications (e.g., Solutions Architect Associate, Developer Associate)

Travel Requirements 

This is a remote position; however, occasional travel may be required based on project needs, client meetings, team collaboration events, or training sessions. Travel is expected to be less than 10% and will be communicated in advance whenever possible. 

EEO Statement
Aretum is committed to fostering a workplace rooted in excellence, integrity, and equal opportunity for all. We adhere to merit-based hiring practices, ensuring that all employment decisions are made based on qualifications, skills, and ability to perform the job, without preference or consideration of factors unrelated to job performance. 

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Aretum complies with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws. 

We are proud to support our nation’s veterans and military families, providing career opportunities that honor their service and experience. 

If you require reasonable accommodation during the hiring process due to a disability, please contact [email protected] for assistance. 

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled 

U.S. Work Authorization
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. This position supports a federal government contract and requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust or Suitability Determination, depending on the agency’s background investigation requirements. Sponsorship is not available.

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)  
• Retirement Plan (401k) 
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)  
• Paid Time Off 
• Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)  
• Short Term & Long-Term Disability  
• Training & Development