Senior Software Engineer

Important Notice for Applicants:
At Bixal, we want to ensure a transparent and secure application process for all candidates. Official communication will come from an email address ending in @bixal.com or from talent@bixal.com. Messages from other sources may be fraudulent, and you should exercise care to avoid any links or attachments included. If you experience any challenges with your submission, please contact us at talent@bixal.com.  We're here to help!
Bixal will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. If you require any accommodation as part of our recruitment process, please contact us at Talent@bixal.com. You can expect a response from a team member within 24 hours during the regular work week and on the next operating day during the weekend or holidays.
About Us:Bixal is a consulting company based in Fairfax, VA, working alongside governments and organizations to help them deliver better services and experiences to the communities they serve. Using evidence-based knowledge and technology, Bixal empowers clients to deliver on their missions more effectively by fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
LocationThis role can work remotely from anywhere in the USA. You must be legally authorized to work in the US. Bixal does not provide visa sponsorship.   
What will you do?We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to support the Secure, Performant, Reliable, and User-Centered Experiences (SPRUCE) IDIQ contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This role will play a key part in enhancing the Veteran Transition Experience, ensuring that transitioning service members (TSMs) and recently separated Veterans (RSVs) can seamlessly access VA and cross-agency benefits. The Senior Software Engineer will contribute to designing, developing, and maintaining secure, scalable, and accessible digital solutions that improve the user experience for Veterans and their families.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain secure, high-performance web applications and services to support VA’s Transition Experience initiatives.
• Architect scalable, cloud-based solutions that integrate with VA systems, APIs, and data sources.
• Ensure software solutions adhere to VA’s Technical Reference Model (TRM), Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), and other compliance standards.
• Implement automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, and DevSecOps best practices to ensure robust and resilient software delivery.
• Work closely with Product Managers, UX Designers, Data Scientists, and Government Stakeholders to translate business needs into technical solutions.
• Lead Agile development teams in two-week sprint cycles, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality software.
• Advocate for best practices in software development, security, and accessibility (Section 508 compliance).
• Participate in peer code reviews, technical documentation, and knowledge sharing across teams.
• Develop and optimize integrations with VA Master Person Index (MPI) and other authoritative data sources.
• Ensure seamless API connectivity between VA and external systems (DoD, DoL, SBA, OPM) to enhance Veteran services.
• Work with structured and unstructured data, ensuring secure handling, transformation, and retrieval.
• Implement security best practices, including identity management, encryption, and authentication protocols (PIV, CAC, SAML, OAuth, etc.).
• Ensure compliance with OMB, NIST, and VA cybersecurity policies, maintaining data integrity and security.
• Support Federal Identity, Credential, and Access Management (FICAM) and Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) principles.
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, plus at least five years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Expertise in modern programming languages such as JavaScript (Node.js, React), Python, Java, or Go.
• Experience with cloud-based architectures (AWS, Azure, or GCP), including containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Strong background in API development, RESTful services, and microservices architecture.
• Knowledge of federal IT regulations, cybersecurity best practices, and DevSecOps principles.
• Proficiency in database design and management (SQL, NoSQL, PostgreSQL, DynamoDB, etc.).
• Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking: Ability to diag