Principal Backend Engineer Tampa, FL and Washington, DC

Overview

This is a U.S. based position. All programs require U.S. citizenship to be eligible for employment. All work must be conducted within the continental U.S.

Raft is a customer-obsessed, non-traditional small business focused on Distributed Data Systems, Platforms at Scale, and Complex Application Development. We work with federal and public agencies, building digital solutions that impact millions of Americans. We are seeking an experienced Principal Backend Engineer to lead design and development of scalable, data-intensive backend systems and to mentor other engineers.

What we are looking for

• 8+ years of backend software engineering experience with expertise in Golang and / or Java
• Proven experience building and scaling data-intensive systems and distributed architectures
• Deep understanding of DevSecOps principles, including ICAM
• Hands-on experience with Kubernetes (Helm charts and Kubernetes operators)
• Strong cloud-native, microservices design patterns experience
• Experience with data processing frameworks, streaming technologies, and high-throughput systems
• Security best practices for enterprise and government systems
• Mentoring and developing engineering talent
• Ability to stay current with emerging technologies and evaluate their impact
• Experience designing modular, extensible systems for technology evolution
• Proficiency with AI coding tools (e.g., Claude Code) and understanding of their capabilities and limits
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills
• Ability to work with customers and technical teams in deployment environments
• Fast learner, analytical, and hands-on in technical leadership
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in fast-paced environments

Highly preferred

Clearance & Work Type

What we will offer you

Our Values

Our vision is to bridge the gap between humans and data through radical transparency and obsession with the mission. We pursue a customer-obsessed mindset, treating teammates like customers, and striving for collaborative innovation. We support a diverse, inclusive culture and are committed to innovation and collaboration.

Equal Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

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