The Arena ®
Full Stack Engineer - Senior with Security Clearance
The Arena ®, Oxon Hill, Maryland, United States, 20745
Full Stack Engineer Senior Location: Onsite | Washington, DC Clearance: Active TS/SCI with CI Polygraph Employment Type: Full-time, salaried, with full benefits ________________________________________________________________________________ About the Company: Our customer is a mission-driven technology company transforming how the U.S. defense and intelligence community leverages artificial intelligence. The company integrates cutting-edge AI, next-generation sensors, and advanced data solutions into operational environmentsdelivering capabilities that matter at the speed of mission. The team is built from seasoned operators, technologists, and problem-solvers who thrive in small, fast-moving groups. They are deeply connected to the mission, move with urgency, and empower their people to take ownership. The problems they tackle are complex and high impact: accelerating decision-making, enhancing warfighter effectiveness, and shaping the future of defense technology. ________________________________________________________________________________ About the Role: This role involves end-to-end ownership of web-based solutionsfrom intuitive front-end interfaces to robust back-end services and secure data infrastructurewithin classified environments supporting national security operations. ________________________________________________________________________________ Primary Responsibilities: Architect, build, and maintain full stack applications for secure cloud and on-premises deployments across Clients mission systems. Develop performant front-end experiences using React, Tailwind CSS, and TypeScript. Build and secure server-side logic using Node.js and Python; implement authentication, authorization, and input validation. Design and manage robust, scalable relational databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL); write advanced SQL queries and optimize performance. Develop CI/CD pipelines for deploying to air-gapped, Secret, and Top Secret environments. Interface with Clients analysts, operators, and mission stakeholders to understand operational requirements and translate them into technical implementations. Collaborate with security engineers to maintain accreditation compliance and ensure system integrity across classification levels. ________________________________________________________________________________ Required Experience: Active TS/SCI clearance with CI Polygraph. 5 years of experience in full stack development, with strong contributions across both frontend and backend systems. Strong proficiency in: o Frontend: TypeScript, React/Next.js, Tailwind CSS, SSR, state management (Zustand, Redux, etc.) o Backend: Node.js, Python (with mypy), RESTful APIs, OAuth/JWT o Database: PostgreSQL/MySQL, schema design, migrations, stored procedures, query optimization o DevOps: Docker, GitHub Actions/GitLab Pipelines, semantic versioning, feature flags, AWS Experience writing tests (unit and integration), using tools like Vitest or Jest. Familiarity with secure software development in government or DoD environments. Strong communication skills with the ability to bridge mission context and technical execution. ________________________________________________________________________________ Preferred Experience: Experience working in classified environments (Secret/TS/TS/SCI) and familiarity with ATO processes. Knowledge of Kafka/RedPanda or experience with streaming data systems. Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code tools like Pulumi or Terraform. Contributions to open-source projects or a public GitHub showcasing your development style and quality. Experience deploying software in edge environments or disconnected networks. ________________________________________________________________________________ Benefits: Equity participation 401(k) retirement plan Unlimited paid time off (PTO) Paid parental leave Paid holidays Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance Short- and long-term disability coveragebfb3568a-762b-4989-884b-a9682aa104ca