Backend Senior Developer

Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA), Algorithms, Modeling, & Assessments (AMA) Division in Raleigh, NC is seeking a Senior Backend Developer with Linux OS experience for a position developing and improving a weapon effects software architecture for an advanced physics-based computational system. This system is deployed for use in the Department of Defense. Candidate will have a strong passion and background in backend development, software development and making quality production software at all stages of the software lifecycle.

As a valued contributor to our project team, your responsibilities will include (1) defining incremental improvements to deploy our current weapon effects software architecture into a container based private cloud setup, (2) working in an agile team environment to improve and deploy TRL 8 software in Windows and Linux environments, and (3) making design and technology recommendations for future cloud-based deployments. Additionally, you will support the integration of computational, analysis, and visualization capabilities into this environment.

This role will be embedded in the Nuclear Environments and Systems Assessments (NESA) directorate within ARA. The project you will be working on develops algorithms and prototypes to compute the effects of nuclear weapons in the Java programming language. You will be responsible for transferring these capabilities into an established Linux container-based cloud framework exposed via REST APIs.

We are looking for a strong developer that is inspired to build solutions that support our nation’s military.

Due to the work you’ll perform and interactions with intelligence community and DoD programs you must be a US citizen and will need to be eligible to apply for and hold a US security clearance (selected applicants will undergo a security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements at the time of employment).

What you'll do as a Senior Backend Developer:

• As a Senior Backend Developer, you will be part of an Agile team working all aspects of software development including discovery, design, coding, unit testing, and documentation.


• Candidates will be focused on integrating new modeling and simulation (M&S) capabilities including physics-based models, code refactoring, and exposing existing functionality from a core product in an automated fashion using a schema driven approach.


• At all stages a high level of software robustness and stability is required.


• Responsibilities include architecture design, model integration and development, refactoring, user interface design consulting, production of visualization results for deployment via a frontend, and automation test development.

Candidates will work directly with our customers, external teams, and other ARA programs to cross-integrate capabilities.

Senior Backend Developer Requirements:

• Candidate requirements include extensive experience in software development and programming in Java within Agile teams using Git, IntelliJ, Visual Studio Code, and JIRA.


• Qualified candidates should have a strong understanding of back-end system architectures, developing REST APIs, and their approaches to meeting frontend needs.


• Familiarity with containerization and infrastructure technologies like Docker and Kubernetes are required.


• This position requires a BS in Computer Science or similar with a minimum of 8 years of work experience, or MS with a minimum of 6 years' experience.


• This position also requires candidates to be US citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a top-secret security clearance.

Senior Backend Developer Preferences:

• Active security clearance.


• Experience with weapon effects, or other related DoD software systems and models.


• Expertise with Risk Management Framework (RMF) and information assurance/information security activities.


• Interest in data science, data analysis, data visualization, mathematical algorithms, and modern DevOps.


• Experience with S3, Swagger, Keycloak and Gradle.

Company Information:

Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs over 2,215 professionals and continues to grow. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for environmental site characterization, pavement analysis, and robotics.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership spawns greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging and innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience. For additional information and an opportunity to join this unique workplace, please apply at careers.ara.com.