Software Engineer IV

• Serve as principal engineering authority for implementation of complex system development, re-architecture, and modernization initiatives across assigned portfolio segments
• Own end-to-end engineering realization of approved architectures for high-complexity systems, including application design, data access, integration implementation, performance, resilience, and security controls
• Resolve the engineering implementation challenges that block delivery - legacy interdependencies, undocumented data models, migration sequencing, and availability constraints on systems that cannot go down - and elevate material architecture decisions through the program architecture governance process
• Conduct deep technical assessments of legacy applications and databases and provide engineering feasibility, complexity, and migration inputs to portfolio rationalization and disposition decisions
• Lead cross-functional technical teams spanning development, data engineering, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and test
• Provide technical mentorship, design review, and code review to engineers at all levels
• Translate program objectives into executable technical roadmaps, and translate technical risk into terms program leadership and the government customer can act on
• Represent engineering implementation concerns in technical exchanges and support architecture review boards and design authority forums with FAA stakeholders
• Define and maintain engineering implementation standards: reference implementations, coding standards, framework conventions, API and integration implementation patterns, test strategy, and code-quality criteria
• Establish and mature DevSecOps practice - CI/CD, automated testing, infrastructure as code, security scanning, and release automation - as repeatable enterprise capability rather than per-project effort
• Build the reusable assets, accelerators, and playbooks that make a modernization factory model work at portfolio scale
• Ensure designs satisfy federal security and compliance obligations, including FISMA, NIST SP 800-53, and applicable FAA and DOT policy
• Evaluate emerging technologies - cloud-native services, intelligent automation, and AI/ML-assisted code transformation - for engineering feasibility, operational impact, and modernization value; provide adoption recommendations to architecture and program leadership
• Prototype and pilot new approaches, then productize what proves out into standard practice across the portfolio
• Drive measurable improvement in delivery velocity, system availability, operating cost, and technical debt reduction

The ideal candidate will have experience acting as a technical authority for complex system development and modernization initiatives across a large portfolio. You bring mastery across multiple technology domains - application architecture, cloud platforms, data, and secure delivery - and apply it to set engineering implementation direction within approved architecture rather than to work a single backlog. You lead cross-functional technical teams, define engineering standards and reference implementations that govern how modernization work is executed, and own the hardest engineering implementation problems in the portfolio. You drive innovation and establish the best practices that other delivery teams build against., * Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or a related technical discipline

• 8-10 years of progressive software engineering experience, including demonstrated technical leadership on large, complex systems
• Expert-level proficiency in one or more major development stacks, server-side or front-end (e.g., Java/Spring, .NET/C#, Python, Node.js; React, Angular, JavaScript/TypeScript, HTML, CSS)
• Understanding of legacy and modern application architecture (e.g. monolith, n-tier, service oriented, microservice, serverless)
• Deep experience modernizing legacy applications and databases, including monolith decomposition, re-platforming, and data migration on systems carrying significant technical debt
• Hands-on cloud architecture and engineering experience in a major cloud environment (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform), including cloud-native, containerized, and serverless design (AWS Lambda, Azure Functions, or equivalent)
• Demonstrated ownership of engineering implementation for systems with high-availability, performance, and security requirements
• Practical DevSecOps experience: CI/CD, infrastructure as code, automated testing, and security integrated into the delivery pipeline
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional technical teams and to define standards that other teams adopt
• Strong written and verbal communication, including the ability to brief technical strategy to non-technical executive and government audiences
• Working proficiency in approved AI-assisted development tools for code analysis, refactoring, test generation, and documentation

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting FAA, DOT, or comparable federal civilian modernization programs
• Large-scale database modernization experience (Oracle, SQL Server, or mainframe data stores to cloud-native or open-source targets)
• Familiarity with FAA enterprise architecture, security engineering, and Authority to Operate (ATO) processes
• Experience applying AI/ML or automated code transformation tooling to legacy modernization at scale
• Experience with serverless and event-driven data processing - AWS Lambda or Azure Functions built around streaming and messaging services (Kinesis, Event Hubs, Kafka, SQS/SNS, or equivalent) for ingestion, transformation, and event handling
• Full-stack breadth - able to reason about and work across the full path from user interface through services and data layer to external system integrations, rather than within a single tier
• Hands-on modern front-end experience with React or Angular, built on solid JavaScript/TypeScript, HTML, and CSS fundamentals
• Familiarity with automated testing frameworks across unit, integration, and end-to-end layers (JUnit, pytest, Jest, Playwright, Selenium, Cypress, or equivalent)
• Relevant certifications such as AWS or Azure Solutions Architect Professional, CISSP, or TOGAF
• Prior experience in a modernization factory, delivery center, or platform engineering organization, * Existing FAA suitability determination or transferable federal background investigation strongly preferred

Compensation Range: The pay range for this position is $142,000-168,000 annually. Kentro determines compensation by evaluating current government contracting and commercial market conditions, as well as the role’s specific requirements. Final salary placement within this range will be based on the candidate’s relevant skills, experience, education, certifications, location, and security clearance level, where applicable., We offer competitive benefits package including paid time off, healthcare benefits, supplemental benefits, 401k including an employer match, discount perks, rewards, and more. We invest in our employees - Every employee is eligible for education reimbursement for certifications, degrees, or professional development. Reimbursement amounts may fluctuate due to IRS limitations. We want you to grow as an expert and a leader and offer flexibility for you to take a course, complete a certification, or other professional growth and networking. We are committed to supporting your curiosity and sustaining a culture that prioritizes commitment to continuous professional development.

By joining our supportive community, you will find that Kentro is dedicated to your personal and professional development. Together, we can drive meaningful change, spark innovation, and achieve extraordinary milestones.

Kentro is hiring a Software Engineer IV to serve as principal software engineer and technical authority on the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Accelerated Transformation of Legacy Applications and Systems (ATLAS) program - one of the largest civilian IT modernization efforts in the federal government. ATLAS covers a mission-support portfolio of more than 200 applications and roughly 3,000 databases, moving the agency off legacy sustainment and onto cloud-native architectures, automated workflows, DevSecOps delivery, and integrated AI capability., We believe in generating success collaboratively, enabling long-term mission success, and building trust for the next challenge. With you as our partner, let’s solve challenges, think innovatively, and maximize impact. As a valued member of our team, you have the unique opportunity to work in a diverse range of technology and business career paths, all while supporting our nation and delivering innovative technology solutions. We are a close community of experts that pride ourselves on creating an environment defined by teamwork, dedication, and excellence.

We hold three ISO certifications (27001:2013, 20000-1:2011, 9001:2015), two CMMI ML 3 ratings (DEV and SVC) and CMMC Level 2 Certification.

Industry Recognition

Commitment Equal Opportunity Employment & VEVRAA

Kentro is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Kentro is strongly committed to compliance with VEVRAA and other applicable federal, state, and local laws governing equal employment opportunity. We have developed comprehensive policies and procedures to ensure our hiring practices align with these requirements.

As part of our VEVRAA compliance efforts, Kentro has established an equal opportunity plan outlining our commitment to recruiting, hiring, and advancing protected veterans. This plan is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure its effectiveness.