Senior Software Engineer (Data Backend)

SteerBridge
Vienna, VAFull-time$145,000–$175,000Posted Sep 3, 2026

About the role

SteerBridge is a modern technology company delivering innovative, mission‑focused solutions to the U.S. Government and private sector. Leveraging deep expertise in federal acquisition, digital transformation, and emerging technologies, we deliver agile, commercial‑grade capabilities that accelerate operational effectiveness and drive measurable mission success.

At the core of SteerBridge is our people—especially the veterans whose leadership, problem‑solving mindset, and commitment to excellence elevate every project we support. We don’t simply hire exceptional talent; we cultivate it, creating meaningful career pathways for veterans, military spouses, and professionals who share our passion for advancing technology and strengthening the missions we serve.

Position Overview

We're looking for a Senior Software Engineer to design, build, and maintain the backend systems powering our data platform. This role combines deep technical craftsmanship with the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives — you'll write production-grade code, make architectural decisions, and coordinate with stakeholders across engineering, data science, and product to deliver reliable, scalable data infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

Design, develop, and maintain backend services and data pipelines that support analytics, reporting, and downstream applications

Write clean, well-tested, maintainable Python and SQL code and contribute to the evolution of our engineering standards and best practices

Architect data storage, processing, and integration solutions that scale with business needs

Lead technical design discussions and make sound trade-offs between performance, cost, maintainability, and delivery speed

Partner with data scientists, analysts, product managers, and other engineering teams to translate business requirements into technical solutions

Own project timelines and deliverables for cross-functional initiatives, coordinating dependencies across teams

Conduct code reviews and mentor junior and mid-level engineers

Troubleshoot and resolve production issues, including performance bottlenecks and data quality problems

Contribute to technical documentation and knowledge-sharing across the organization

Evaluate and recommend new tools, frameworks, and approaches to improve the team's data infrastructure

Required Qualifications

U.S. Citizenship required.

Technical Skills

Strong foundation in computer science fundamentals: data structures, algorithms, distributed systems, and software design principles

Expert-level Python programming skills, with experience building production backend systems

Solid understanding of relational databases and SQL; experience with cloud data warehouses (e.g. Redshift) a plus

Experience with cloud infrastructure (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and infrastructure-as-code tools (e.g., Terraform)

Familiarity with data processing frameworks (e.g., Spark, Pandas) and workflow orchestration tools (e.g., Airflow)

Strong understanding of API design, microservices architecture, and system integration

Proficiency with version control (Git) and CI/CD practices

Project & Cross-Functional Skills

Demonstrated experience leading or coordinating projects across multiple teams or stakeholders

Strong project management instincts: scoping work, setting timelines, managing risk, and communicating status clearly

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical audiences

Comfortable working independently and driving initiatives forward with minimal oversight

Experience balancing competing priorities and stakeholder needs in a fast-paced environment

Experience & Education

6+ years of professional software engineering experience, with a focus on backend or data systems

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience)

Experience mentoring other engineers and contributing to team technical direction is a plus

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Benefits

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan with matching

Paid Time Off

Paid Federal Holidays

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$145,000 - $175,000 a year

Salary is commensurate with experience

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SteerBridge is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all qualified applicants and employees are treated with respect and dignity—regardless of race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We also provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable laws. If you require assistance during the application process, we encourage you to reach out so we can support your needs.

Responsibilities

  • Design, develop, and maintain backend services and data pipelines that support analytics, reporting, and downstream applications
  • Write clean, well-tested, maintainable Python and SQL code and contribute to the evolution of our engineering standards and best practices
  • Architect data storage, processing, and integration solutions that scale with business needs
  • Lead technical design discussions and make sound trade-offs between performance, cost, maintainability, and delivery speed
  • Partner with data scientists, analysts, product managers, and other engineering teams to translate business requirements into technical solutions
  • Own project timelines and deliverables for cross-functional initiatives, coordinating dependencies across teams
  • Conduct code reviews and mentor junior and mid-level engineers
  • Troubleshoot and resolve production issues, including performance bottlenecks and data quality problems

Qualifications

  • U.S. Citizenship required
  • Strong foundation in computer science fundamentals: data structures, algorithms, distributed systems, and software design principles
  • Expert-level Python programming skills, with experience building production backend systems
  • Solid understanding of relational databases and SQL; experience with cloud data warehouses (e.g. Redshift) a plus
  • Experience with cloud infrastructure (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and infrastructure-as-code tools (e.g., Terraform)
  • Familiarity with data processing frameworks (e.g., Spark, Pandas) and workflow orchestration tools (e.g., Airflow)
  • Strong understanding of API design, microservices architecture, and system integration
  • Proficiency with version control (Git) and CI/CD practices

Benefits

  • Health insurance
  • Dental insurance
  • Vision insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan with matching
  • Paid Time Off
  • Paid Federal Holidays

Skills mentioned

PythonSQLBackend DevelopmentData EngineeringCloud ComputingTerraformApache SparkApache AirflowMicroservicesCI/CD

About SteerBridge

SteerBridge is a technology company that provides professional services and solutions to the U.S. Government and Corporate counterparts through a wide array of capabilities and myopic focus on innovative solutions. We leverage decades of federal acquisition and private sector experience to deliver best in class commercial solutions while maximizing Veteran talent to enhance efficiency and surpass expectations. Current & Past Services include: Veteran Relations | Strategic Communications | General Technology Services | Software Engineering | Program Management | Business Process Management | Cybersecurity Professional Services | AI/ML capabilities | Data Management & Analytics.

IT Services and IT Consulting51-200 employeesVienna, Virginia