Principal Software Developer

Type of Requisition:

Regular

Clearance Level Must Currently Possess:

Other

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain:

None

Public Trust/Other Required:

Other

Job Family:

Software Engineering

Job Qualifications:

Skills:

Design, Problem Solving, Solutions Development

Certifications:

None

Experience:

10 + years of related experience

US Citizenship Required:

No

Job Description:

Principal Software Developer

We value:

- Writing code rather than documents

- Shipping products rather than talking about roadmaps

- Big features rather than changing button colors

If this sounds like you, let's talk.

WHO YOU ARE:

• We're looking for engineers of accomplishment who are passionate about our mission and have a strong desire to make a meaningful impact. You should be able to demonstrate the tangible value you've delivered in previous roles.

• The ideal candidate will be proficient in Python/Java or similar language, an expert in the majority of language constructs, and able to apply them fluently to solve complicated and complex problems

• You thrive in environments that demand continuous learning and adaptation, embracing new technologies and approaches as the software engineering landscape evolves. You're not afraid to venture into uncharted territory and actively leverage AI tools to amplify your engineering capabilities and deliver greater impact.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where ideas are discussed and challenged openly

• Deliver new features and improve reliability of our core services including the major read/write paths for customer intake, application screening, and information dissemination

• Identify major system bottlenecks or flaws in business logic, and proactively address them

• Take ownership over core product problems, develop solutions you're proud of, and prove through data that they deliver impact at scale

• Work across the stack to solve problems -- there is no reliance on another engineer or team to get something done for you

• Lead a team of Developers to engineer and develop software to solve complex user problems

• Communicate technical decisions and trade-offs effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

Evidence of Engineering Accomplishment:

• Demonstrated track record of delivering high-impact software solutions in professional settings

• Proven ability to design and implement distributed systems (multi-tier architectures) including storage layers, caching layers, application layers, with understanding of failure modes

• Verifiable experience with microservice architectures, especially in high-throughput and low-latency systems

• Portfolio of work showing expertise with system transformations (e.g., applying strangler patterns to evolve monoliths to microservices)

• Experience with complex systems migrations involving multiple phases (dark reads, dark writes, light reads, light writes)

Technical Excellence:

• Expert-level proficiency in at least one modern programming language (Java, Python, or similar)

• Expert-level proficiency in cloud engineering paradigms, especially high-scale asynchronous systems and secure service integration patterns

• Deep understanding of design patterns, reliability, and scaling principles

• Strong architectural and system design capabilities

Leadership & Communication:

• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences

• Experience mentoring engineers, leading technical teams, or serving as a tech lead

• Ability to influence technical direction and advocate for sound engineering practices

Adaptability & Growth:

• Track record of learning and adapting to new technologies, frameworks, and methodologies

• Demonstrated embrace of AI and automation tools to enhance productivity and engineering outcomes

• Comfort with ambiguity and willingness to venture into new problem domains

Note: We value demonstrated accomplishment and impact over years of experience. If you can show us the value you've created, the problems you've solved, and your ability to grow with the evolving demands of modern software engineering, we want to hear from you.

The likely salary range for this position is $187,000 - $253,000. This is not, however, a guarantee of compensation or salary. Rather, salary will be set based on experience, geographic location and possibly contractual requirements and could fall outside of this range.

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

Travel Required:

Less than 10%

Telecommuting Options:

Remote

Work Location:

Any Location / Remote

Additional Work Locations:

Total Rewards at GDIT:

Our benefits package for all US-based employees includes a variety of medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts, dental plan options, a vision plan, and a 401(k) plan offering the ability to contribute both pre and post-tax dollars up to the IRS annual limits and receive a company match. To encourage work/life balance, GDIT offers employees full flex work weeks where possible and a variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave. GDIT typically provides new employees with 15 days of paid leave per calendar year to be used for vacations, personal business, and illness and an additional 10 paid holidays per year. Paid leave and paid holidays are prorated based on the employee27s date of hire. The GDIT Paid Family Leave program provides a total of up to 160 hours of paid leave in a rolling 12 month period for eligible employees. To ensure our employees are able to protect their income, other offerings such as short and long-term disability benefits, life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel and accident insurance are provided or available. We regularly review our Total Rewards package to ensure our offerings are competitive and reflect what our employees have told us they value most.

Our Identity Verification Process:

As part of the hiring process, we will ask you to complete an identity verification process that leverages advanced biometrics and artificial intelligence to ensure authenticity and protect against identity fraud. You are expected to be on camera during virtual interviews. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud. By proceeding, you authorize the collection, processing, and use of your biometric data for identity verification and security purposes.