Principal Software Engineer

ETHOS - Talent & Advisory
Washington, District of Columbia, United StatesFull-timePosted Sep 15, 2026

About the role

Our client, a large federal systems integrator supporting a major federal agency, is hiring a Principal Software Engineer to lead design and delivery on a modernization effort spanning Java microservices, cloud deployment, and frontend UI work. This is a hands on technical lead role with direct influence over architecture decisions and mentorship of junior and mid level developers.

What You Will Do

Design and build software applications using Twelve Factor App methodology, translating functional requirements into working systems.

Lead frontend development in Angular or React, building UI components and continually evaluating new approaches to improve developer experience and delivery speed.

Design and build microservices using Spring Boot, Java, and RESTful architecture, deployed to Red Hat OpenShift and AWS. Own the data access layer connecting applications to PostgreSQL and DB2 using JPA or Spring Data. Develop and maintain enterprise Java batch jobs and build automated test coverage using JUnit, Mockito, and Cucumber.

Participate in CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins, Git, and Bitbucket.

Attend architecture and design discussions with the customer and provide guidance to junior and mid level developers.

Document solution architecture using Confluence and UML based artifacts.

What You Need

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, or a related field. A Master's or Doctorate may substitute for a portion of required experience.

10+ years of professional experience with Java, Spring Boot, Angular, and React.

Extensive hands on experience with one or more of Angular, React, or Node.js/Express.

Demonstrated experience as a hands on Technical Lead, including guiding other developers.

Experience working on Agile teams with strong command of Agile terminology and tools.

Must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance.

Experience designing high throughput, low latency systems and scalable solutions handling high volumes of concurrent requests.

Experience building Single Page Applications, with attention to responsive design and cross browser compatibility.

Experience deploying cloud native applications to AWS with PostgreSQL, and working knowledge of Red Hat OpenShift and Docker.

Experience with modern CI/CD tooling including Jenkins, Git/Bitbucket, Jira, Maven, SonarQube, and remediating static code analysis findings.

Experience designing RESTful and SOAP based web services, including security standards such as OAuth2/JWT.

Experience with Test Driven Development and Behavior Driven Development using JUnit, mocking frameworks, and Cucumber.

What Makes You Stand Out

Experience with Kafka based event driven architecture, including producers, consumers, topic design, and Kafka Streams.

Interest in applying current AI trends to system architecture.

Experience implementing Section 508 accessibility standards in production web applications.

Experience writing technical white papers or systems design documentation.

Prior experience on federal or state government IT projects.

Familiarity with low code platforms such as ServiceNow, Pega, or Microsoft Power Platform.

Interested or know someone who would be a strong fit? Reach out directly or apply below. Interviews are being scheduled now.

Responsibilities

  • Design and build software applications using Twelve Factor App methodology
  • Lead frontend development in Angular or React
  • Design and build microservices using Spring Boot, Java, and RESTful architecture
  • Participate in CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins, Git, and Bitbucket
  • Attend architecture and design discussions with the customer

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, or a related field
  • 10+ years of professional experience with Java, Spring Boot, Angular, and React
  • Experience working on Agile teams
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance

Skills mentioned

JavaSpring BootAngularReactMicroservicesREST APIsAWSPostgreSQLDockerJenkins

About ETHOS - Talent & Advisory

ETHOS - Talent & Advisory is a multifaceted talent advisory firm renowned for its comprehensive services in Executive Search, HR Consulting, Growth Strategy, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). With a mission to transform organizations through exceptional talent solutions, ETHOS is your trusted partner in achieving success. In the realm of Executive Search, we specialize in identifying and securing top-tier executive talent that aligns seamlessly with your organization's vision and values. Our rigorous and personalized approach ensures that you have the right leaders driving your company towards excellence. Our HR Consulting services are designed to optimize your workforce strategies. We provide expert guidance on HR processes, talent management, and organizational development, enabling you to build a high-performing and engaged workforce. ETHOS's Growth Strategy expertise empowers organizations to expand, innovate, and thrive in dynamic markets. We collaborate closely with you to devise growth plans that exceed targets, ensuring your continued success. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are at the core of our values. We bring extensive experience and deep commitment to DEI initiatives, helping you create inclusive workplaces that drive innovation and sustainable growth. At ETHOS, our commitment to quality, client culture alignment, and our holistic approach to talent solutions sets us apart. We are not just a service provider; we are your dedicated partner in shaping a brighter future for your organization.

Staffing and Recruiting2-10 employeesPortland, OR

H-1B sponsorship history

Historical employer filing data was found for ETHOS - Talent & Advisory. The employer record includes 78 historical certified applications. This is employer-level history, not a guarantee that this role currently offers sponsorship.