Job Requirements
Arlington, VA
Secret Polygraph not specified
Career Level not specified
$160,000 - $200,000
Job Description
Software Engineering Lead – Java
Overview
We are seeking a Software Engineering Lead to guide the design, development, and enterprise integration of an authorization service built around OpenFGA. This role will lead the technical direction for a Java-based REST API wrapper, establish development standards, and coordinate across multiple engineering and cloud teams to ensure the solution is secure, scalable, and production-ready.
The ideal candidate has strong hands-on Java and Spring Boot experience, a deep understanding of API and microservices design, and proven ability to lead technical teams through complex software delivery efforts.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the technical architecture and implementation of an OpenFGA-based authorization service.
Design and develop a Java REST API wrapper to support enterprise authorization use cases.
Define API design standards, coding practices, integration patterns, and technical delivery expectations.
Guide sprint planning, backlog refinement, code reviews, and technical decision-making.
Partner with development, cloud infrastructure, onboarding, and security teams to support successful integration.
Identify, track, and manage technical risks, dependencies, and implementation blockers.
Ensure authorization service design aligns with security, scalability, and reliability best practices.
Provide technical mentorship, design guidance, and code-level support to software engineers.
Collaborate with stakeholders to clarify technical requirements, timelines, and delivery priorities.
Support integration of the authorization service across enterprise applications and platforms.
Review system design decisions to ensure maintainability, extensibility, and operational readiness.
Help establish repeatable development practices for secure API delivery and cloud-based deployment.
Required Qualifications
Extensive hands-on experience developing applications with Java and Spring Boot.
Proven experience leading software development efforts, technical teams, or complex engineering initiatives.
Strong understanding of microservices architecture and distributed application design.
Experience designing and implementing RESTful APIs in enterprise environments.
Strong knowledge of authentication and authorization concepts, including OAuth, OIDC, and RBAC.
Experience supporting secure software development practices and authorization service design.
Proficiency with core AWS services and cloud-based application development.
Experience with containerization and orchestration platforms such as Docker, Kubernetes, and OpenShift.
Ability to lead technical discussions, make architecture decisions, and guide engineering execution.
Strong communication skills with the ability to work across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Ability to manage competing priorities, dependencies, and technical delivery expectations.
Comfortable mentoring engineers and providing hands-on technical direction when needed.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working directly with OpenFGA or relationship-based access control models.
Background integrating authorization services into enterprise applications or shared platforms.
Experience building reusable API frameworks, wrappers, or service layers.
Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and deployment best practices.
Experience working in Agile software delivery environments.
Knowledge of cloud-native security practices and secure API gateway patterns.
Experience supporting onboarding or adoption of shared enterprise services across multiple application teams.
Technical Skills
Java
Spring Boot
OpenFGA
RESTful API Design
Microservices Architecture
OAuth
OIDC
RBAC
AWS
Docker
Kubernetes
OpenShift
Secure Software Development
API Integration
Cloud-Native Application Development
Agile/Scrum Delivery
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is a hands-on technical leader who can both architect and deliver complex software solutions. They are comfortable setting standards, guiding engineers, making design decisions, and coordinating across multiple teams to move development forward. This person should bring strong Java and cloud engineering experience, a solid understanding of modern authorization frameworks, and the ability to lead secure, scalable API development in an enterprise environment.
Overview
We are seeking a Software Engineering Lead to guide the design, development, and enterprise integration of an authorization service built around OpenFGA. This role will lead the technical direction for a Java-based REST API wrapper, establish development standards, and coordinate across multiple engineering and cloud teams to ensure the solution is secure, scalable, and production-ready.
The ideal candidate has strong hands-on Java and Spring Boot experience, a deep understanding of API and microservices design, and proven ability to lead technical teams through complex software delivery efforts.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the technical architecture and implementation of an OpenFGA-based authorization service.
Design and develop a Java REST API wrapper to support enterprise authorization use cases.
Define API design standards, coding practices, integration patterns, and technical delivery expectations.
Guide sprint planning, backlog refinement, code reviews, and technical decision-making.
Partner with development, cloud infrastructure, onboarding, and security teams to support successful integration.
Identify, track, and manage technical risks, dependencies, and implementation blockers.
Ensure authorization service design aligns with security, scalability, and reliability best practices.
Provide technical mentorship, design guidance, and code-level support to software engineers.
Collaborate with stakeholders to clarify technical requirements, timelines, and delivery priorities.
Support integration of the authorization service across enterprise applications and platforms.
Review system design decisions to ensure maintainability, extensibility, and operational readiness.
Help establish repeatable development practices for secure API delivery and cloud-based deployment.
Required Qualifications
Extensive hands-on experience developing applications with Java and Spring Boot.
Proven experience leading software development efforts, technical teams, or complex engineering initiatives.
Strong understanding of microservices architecture and distributed application design.
Experience designing and implementing RESTful APIs in enterprise environments.
Strong knowledge of authentication and authorization concepts, including OAuth, OIDC, and RBAC.
Experience supporting secure software development practices and authorization service design.
Proficiency with core AWS services and cloud-based application development.
Experience with containerization and orchestration platforms such as Docker, Kubernetes, and OpenShift.
Ability to lead technical discussions, make architecture decisions, and guide engineering execution.
Strong communication skills with the ability to work across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Ability to manage competing priorities, dependencies, and technical delivery expectations.
Comfortable mentoring engineers and providing hands-on technical direction when needed.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working directly with OpenFGA or relationship-based access control models.
Background integrating authorization services into enterprise applications or shared platforms.
Experience building reusable API frameworks, wrappers, or service layers.
Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and deployment best practices.
Experience working in Agile software delivery environments.
Knowledge of cloud-native security practices and secure API gateway patterns.
Experience supporting onboarding or adoption of shared enterprise services across multiple application teams.
Technical Skills
Java
Spring Boot
OpenFGA
RESTful API Design
Microservices Architecture
OAuth
OIDC
RBAC
AWS
Docker
Kubernetes
OpenShift
Secure Software Development
API Integration
Cloud-Native Application Development
Agile/Scrum Delivery
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is a hands-on technical leader who can both architect and deliver complex software solutions. They are comfortable setting standards, guiding engineers, making design decisions, and coordinating across multiple teams to move development forward. This person should bring strong Java and cloud engineering experience, a solid understanding of modern authorization frameworks, and the ability to lead secure, scalable API development in an enterprise environment.
group id: kforcecx
We offer roles across all three clearance levels: Confidential, Secret and Top Secret. With a Top Secret Facilities clearance, a proven subcontractor track record and a deep understanding of agencies across Defense, Intelligence, Homeland, Justice and Federal Civilian Sectors, Kforce brings more than 20 years of experience to supporting critical missions at federal, state and local levels.
