Guidehouse
Job Family : Data Science & Analysis
Travel Required : Up to 10%
Clearance Required : Active Top Secret (TS)
Guidehouse is seeking a Software Developer to join our Technology / AI and Data team, supporting mission‑critical initiatives for Defense and Security clients. In this role, you will lead the design and development of backend services that power advanced AI‑driven platforms, enabling secure, scalable, and high‑performance workflows. You will build and optimise APIs and service layers that integrate AI/ML capabilities, retrieval systems, and analyst‑facing applications, while ensuring compliance with rigorous federal security and regulatory standards. Collaborating closely with engineers, architects, and mission stakeholders, you will deliver innovative solutions that enhance operational effectiveness and support national security objectives.
What You Will Do
Serve as the lead backend engineer designing, implementing, and optimising the API and service layer powering the FBI’s AI‑based adjudication platform.
Build scalable backend services integrating LLM inference, retrieval pipelines, scoring engines, memo‑generation tools, and analyst‑facing applications.
Ensure backend components meet FedRAMP High, RMF, CJIS, and FBI ATO requirements, including secure coding, access management, structured logging, and auditability.
Collaborate with AI/ML engineers, cloud developers, frontend developers, and mission stakeholders to deliver a unified, mission‑aligned adjudication system.
Backend Architecture & API Engineering
Design and implement secure REST and GraphQL APIs supporting document ingestion, inference requests, retrieval operations, scoring workflows, and memo generation.
Develop backend microservices supporting adjudication logic, workflow routing, metadata extraction, entity processing, and evidence‑correlation functionality.
Develop schema‑driven payload contracts ensuring consistency, provenance tracking, and audit trail enforcement across adjudication workflows.
Implement high‑throughput request‑handling patterns including async workers, job queues, batching, parallel processing, and retry frameworks.
Workflow Orchestration & System Integration
Develop workflow orchestration logic integrating LLM inference services, embedding pipelines, vector retrieval layers, SEAD‑4 scoring modules, and analyst review triggers.
Implement event‑driven integration using SQS/SNS, Kafka, EventBridge, or Step Functions to coordinate asynchronous scoring and memo‑processing workflows.
Integrate backend systems with case management solutions, identity systems, financial/criminal data feeds, and adjudication‑history repositories.
Ensure all integrations enforce strict authentication, authorisation, validation, and audit requirements.
Data Processing, Document Handling & Transformation
Develop parsers and transformation functions for SF‑86 forms, attachments, investigative summaries, and multi‑component evidence files.
Implement chunking, segmentation, metadata extraction, and normalisation pipelines to support RAG workflows and long‑context LLM inference.
Develop backend utilities for PII redaction, classification enforcement, entity labeling, and evidence tagging to support adjudication review.
Ensure all document ingestion and processing steps maintain full traceability and error‑handling visibility.
Security, Compliance & Logging
Apply secure coding practices aligned with FedRAMP High, RMF, OWASP, CJIS, and FBI ATO requirements.
Implement structured audit logging, inference logs, retrieval traces, scoring records, and analyst‑override events for audit and compliance purposes.
Collaborate with security engineers to ensure enforcement of RBAC, workload identity policies, encryption patterns, and API authorisation controls.
Ensure all backend components and workflows meet compliance expectations for chain‑of‑custody, evidence provenance, and adjudicator accountability.
Performance Optimization & Reliability
Optimize backend services using caching layers, indexing strategies, pagination, connection pooling, batching, and concurrency tuning.
Implement reliability patterns such as circuit breakers, exponential backoff strategies, distributed locks, fallback mechanisms, and DLQ routing.
Develop operational metrics for latency, throughput, failure modes, and degradation patterns, integrating them into monitoring dashboards.
Ensure backend systems maintain stability and predictable performance under high‑volume adjudication workloads.
Collaboration, Leadership & Mission Enablement
Partner with AI/ML teams to ensure backend services support model requirements, inference routing, retrieval assembly, and structured output delivery.
Collaborate with frontend developers to design and refine backend endpoints supporting dashboards, memo builders, workflow tools, and risk‑display interfaces.
Participate in sprint ceremonies, architecture reviews, peer code reviews, and stakeholder briefings.
Mentor junior developers in backend best practices, distributed systems, secure coding, and scalable API design.
What You Will Need
An ACTIVE and MAINTAINED "TOP SECRET" Federal or DoD security clearance
University degree and minimum 4‑6 years of prior relevant experience; experience may be substituted for formal education or advanced degree
5 years of backend engineering experience, including 3 years building APIs or microservices
Proficiency in Python, Node.js, or Java with strong command of REST, GraphQL, and asynchronous programming patterns
Experience designing and building secure, scalable backend APIs (REST/GraphQL)
Experience with distributed systems, async processing, message‑driven architectures, and microservices
Experience integrating with ML services or external APIs in secure systems
What Would Be Nice To Have
Active and maintained "TOP SECRET" Federal or DoD security clearance
Once onboard, new hire must be able to obtain and maintain a federal or DoD "TOP SECRET/SCI (TS/SCI)" security clearance
AWS services (ECS/EKS, Lambda, API Gateway, SQS/SNS)
8+ years of backend engineering experience, including 4+ years building APIs or microservices
Specific frameworks (FastAPI, NestJS, Spring Boot)
Vector DBs or LLM API experience
What We Offer Guidehouse offers a comprehensive, total rewards package that includes competitive compensation and a flexible benefits package that reflects our commitment to creating a diverse and supportive workplace.
Benefits Include
Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus
Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Basic Life & Supplemental Life
Health Savings Account, Dental/Vision & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Short‑Term & Long‑Term Disability
Student Loan PayDown
Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities
Skills Development & Certifications
Employee Referral Program
Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
Emergency Back‑Up Childcare Program
Mobility Stipend
About Guidehouse
Guidehouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer–Protected Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.
Guidehouse will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law or ordinance including the Fair Chance Ordinance of Los Angeles and San Francisco.
If you have visited our website for information about employment opportunities, or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Guidehouse Recruiting at 1-571-633-1711 or via email at RecruitingAccommodation@guidehouse.com. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodation.
All communication regarding recruitment for a Guidehouse position will be sent from Guidehouse email domains including @guidehouse.com or guidehouse@myworkday.com. Correspondence received by an applicant from any other domain should be considered unauthorized and will not be honored by Guidehouse. Note that Guidehouse will never charge a fee or require a money transfer at any stage of the recruitment process and does not collect fees from educational institutions for participation in a recruitment event. Never provide your banking information to a third party purporting to need that information to proceed in the hiring process.
If any person or organization demands money related to a job opportunity with Guidehouse, please report the matter to Guidehouse’s Ethics Hotline. If you want to check the validity of correspondence you have received, please contact recruiting@guidehouse.com. Guidehouse is not responsible for losses incurred (monetary or otherwise) from an applicant’s dealings with unauthorized third parties.
Guidehouse does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Guidehouse and Guidehouse will not be obligated to pay a placement fee.
Seniority level : Mid‑Senior level
Employment type : Full‑time
Job function : Engineering and Information Technology
Industries : Business Consulting and Services
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Travel Required : Up to 10%
Clearance Required : Active Top Secret (TS)
Guidehouse is seeking a Software Developer to join our Technology / AI and Data team, supporting mission‑critical initiatives for Defense and Security clients. In this role, you will lead the design and development of backend services that power advanced AI‑driven platforms, enabling secure, scalable, and high‑performance workflows. You will build and optimise APIs and service layers that integrate AI/ML capabilities, retrieval systems, and analyst‑facing applications, while ensuring compliance with rigorous federal security and regulatory standards. Collaborating closely with engineers, architects, and mission stakeholders, you will deliver innovative solutions that enhance operational effectiveness and support national security objectives.
What You Will Do
Serve as the lead backend engineer designing, implementing, and optimising the API and service layer powering the FBI’s AI‑based adjudication platform.
Build scalable backend services integrating LLM inference, retrieval pipelines, scoring engines, memo‑generation tools, and analyst‑facing applications.
Ensure backend components meet FedRAMP High, RMF, CJIS, and FBI ATO requirements, including secure coding, access management, structured logging, and auditability.
Collaborate with AI/ML engineers, cloud developers, frontend developers, and mission stakeholders to deliver a unified, mission‑aligned adjudication system.
Backend Architecture & API Engineering
Design and implement secure REST and GraphQL APIs supporting document ingestion, inference requests, retrieval operations, scoring workflows, and memo generation.
Develop backend microservices supporting adjudication logic, workflow routing, metadata extraction, entity processing, and evidence‑correlation functionality.
Develop schema‑driven payload contracts ensuring consistency, provenance tracking, and audit trail enforcement across adjudication workflows.
Implement high‑throughput request‑handling patterns including async workers, job queues, batching, parallel processing, and retry frameworks.
Workflow Orchestration & System Integration
Develop workflow orchestration logic integrating LLM inference services, embedding pipelines, vector retrieval layers, SEAD‑4 scoring modules, and analyst review triggers.
Implement event‑driven integration using SQS/SNS, Kafka, EventBridge, or Step Functions to coordinate asynchronous scoring and memo‑processing workflows.
Integrate backend systems with case management solutions, identity systems, financial/criminal data feeds, and adjudication‑history repositories.
Ensure all integrations enforce strict authentication, authorisation, validation, and audit requirements.
Data Processing, Document Handling & Transformation
Develop parsers and transformation functions for SF‑86 forms, attachments, investigative summaries, and multi‑component evidence files.
Implement chunking, segmentation, metadata extraction, and normalisation pipelines to support RAG workflows and long‑context LLM inference.
Develop backend utilities for PII redaction, classification enforcement, entity labeling, and evidence tagging to support adjudication review.
Ensure all document ingestion and processing steps maintain full traceability and error‑handling visibility.
Security, Compliance & Logging
Apply secure coding practices aligned with FedRAMP High, RMF, OWASP, CJIS, and FBI ATO requirements.
Implement structured audit logging, inference logs, retrieval traces, scoring records, and analyst‑override events for audit and compliance purposes.
Collaborate with security engineers to ensure enforcement of RBAC, workload identity policies, encryption patterns, and API authorisation controls.
Ensure all backend components and workflows meet compliance expectations for chain‑of‑custody, evidence provenance, and adjudicator accountability.
Performance Optimization & Reliability
Optimize backend services using caching layers, indexing strategies, pagination, connection pooling, batching, and concurrency tuning.
Implement reliability patterns such as circuit breakers, exponential backoff strategies, distributed locks, fallback mechanisms, and DLQ routing.
Develop operational metrics for latency, throughput, failure modes, and degradation patterns, integrating them into monitoring dashboards.
Ensure backend systems maintain stability and predictable performance under high‑volume adjudication workloads.
Collaboration, Leadership & Mission Enablement
Partner with AI/ML teams to ensure backend services support model requirements, inference routing, retrieval assembly, and structured output delivery.
Collaborate with frontend developers to design and refine backend endpoints supporting dashboards, memo builders, workflow tools, and risk‑display interfaces.
Participate in sprint ceremonies, architecture reviews, peer code reviews, and stakeholder briefings.
Mentor junior developers in backend best practices, distributed systems, secure coding, and scalable API design.
What You Will Need
An ACTIVE and MAINTAINED "TOP SECRET" Federal or DoD security clearance
University degree and minimum 4‑6 years of prior relevant experience; experience may be substituted for formal education or advanced degree
5 years of backend engineering experience, including 3 years building APIs or microservices
Proficiency in Python, Node.js, or Java with strong command of REST, GraphQL, and asynchronous programming patterns
Experience designing and building secure, scalable backend APIs (REST/GraphQL)
Experience with distributed systems, async processing, message‑driven architectures, and microservices
Experience integrating with ML services or external APIs in secure systems
What Would Be Nice To Have
Active and maintained "TOP SECRET" Federal or DoD security clearance
Once onboard, new hire must be able to obtain and maintain a federal or DoD "TOP SECRET/SCI (TS/SCI)" security clearance
AWS services (ECS/EKS, Lambda, API Gateway, SQS/SNS)
8+ years of backend engineering experience, including 4+ years building APIs or microservices
Specific frameworks (FastAPI, NestJS, Spring Boot)
Vector DBs or LLM API experience
What We Offer Guidehouse offers a comprehensive, total rewards package that includes competitive compensation and a flexible benefits package that reflects our commitment to creating a diverse and supportive workplace.
Benefits Include
Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus
Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Basic Life & Supplemental Life
Health Savings Account, Dental/Vision & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Short‑Term & Long‑Term Disability
Student Loan PayDown
Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities
Skills Development & Certifications
Employee Referral Program
Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
Emergency Back‑Up Childcare Program
Mobility Stipend
About Guidehouse
Guidehouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer–Protected Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.
Guidehouse will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law or ordinance including the Fair Chance Ordinance of Los Angeles and San Francisco.
If you have visited our website for information about employment opportunities, or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Guidehouse Recruiting at 1-571-633-1711 or via email at RecruitingAccommodation@guidehouse.com. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodation.
All communication regarding recruitment for a Guidehouse position will be sent from Guidehouse email domains including @guidehouse.com or guidehouse@myworkday.com. Correspondence received by an applicant from any other domain should be considered unauthorized and will not be honored by Guidehouse. Note that Guidehouse will never charge a fee or require a money transfer at any stage of the recruitment process and does not collect fees from educational institutions for participation in a recruitment event. Never provide your banking information to a third party purporting to need that information to proceed in the hiring process.
If any person or organization demands money related to a job opportunity with Guidehouse, please report the matter to Guidehouse’s Ethics Hotline. If you want to check the validity of correspondence you have received, please contact recruiting@guidehouse.com. Guidehouse is not responsible for losses incurred (monetary or otherwise) from an applicant’s dealings with unauthorized third parties.
Guidehouse does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Guidehouse and Guidehouse will not be obligated to pay a placement fee.
Seniority level : Mid‑Senior level
Employment type : Full‑time
Job function : Engineering and Information Technology
Industries : Business Consulting and Services
#J-18808-Ljbffr