Principal Software Engineer

About Aquia Inc.

Named the “#1 Best Remote Startup to Work For in 2025” by Built In, Aquia is a digital services firm specializing in cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and compliance automation for the U.S. government.  

Founded by Veterans, we are passionate about making our country digitally capable and secure. Since 2021, we’ve generated millions in cost savings through cloud services and licensing optimization, enabled civil servants to double health care fraud investigations through streamlined cloud-based systems, and reduced authorization timelines by 74% through modernized security processes. Last year, we were named the 2024 Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOSB) of the Year by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Aquia is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to support the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in modernizing the digital disability benefits experience on VA.gov. This engineer will work within a cross-functional agile team to design, build, and maintain scalable, secure, and accessible software that directly improves the Veteran experience and supports faster, more accurate claims processing. You’ll work across the stack with a focus on backend systems and integration with critical VA services. This position requires U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain a security clearance.

What you'll do

• Design, develop, and maintain backend systems primarily using Ruby on Rails and Java, ensuring performance, reliability, and maintainability.
• Contribute to front-end implementation using React and JavaScript where needed to support full-stack delivery.
• Lead technical design sessions and architectural reviews to support scalable and resilient systems.
• Ensure seamless integration with VA services such as MPI, eCMS, and Vet360, adhering to VA's identity and access control standards (PIV, PKI, ICN).
• Proactively monitor system health and troubleshoot production issues using observability tools and dashboards.
• Champion accessibility, security, and performance best practices throughout the software development lifecycle.
• Write clean, testable, well-documented code using GitHub for version control and collaboration.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to knowledge-sharing and continuous improvement practices.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, designers, and researchers to shape and deliver features aligned with user needs and business priorities.
• Participate in 2-week agile sprints, contributing to sprint planning, retrospectives, and backlog grooming.

What we're looking for

• 7+ years of software engineering experience, including at least 3 years in a senior or technical leadership role.
• Proficiency in Ruby on Rails and/or Java for backend development.
• Familiarity with React and modern JavaScript frameworks for full-stack contributions.
• Experience deploying containerized applications with Docker and orchestrating with Kubernetes in AWS environments.
• Solid understanding of RESTful APIs, data modeling, and integration patterns with third-party services.
• Experience with automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, and agile delivery practices.
• Strong commitment to accessibility (Section 508/WCAG), security (FIPS 140-2, NIST), and government compliance standards.
• Proven ability to work in highly collaborative, mission-driven teams.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.
  
  

Benefits

• Premium health care plans (90% employer-paid)
• Employee stock plan
• 100% 401k match (up to IRS annual max)
• Generous PTO package
• Personal training and development budget

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Aquia Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any federal, state, or local protected class.