Junior Software Engineer
Company: Haystack
Location: Washington DC-Baltimore Area
Salary: $69k - $125k per year
Type: Internship
Level: Junior
Posted: 2026-03-08
About this role
Junior Software Engineer - TS/SCI | Arlington, VA | Hybrid | $69,550 - $125,725
We're working with a global leader in mission-critical defense innovation and digital transformation on this exciting opportunity. Join a high-speed engineering team where you’ll build resilient software for the nation's most vital missions using a cutting-edge stack including Java, Rust, and React.
This isn't your typical junior role; you'll be part of a team that outbuilds and outpaces the status quo, leveraging generative AI tools to accelerate development and solve complex problems in real-time. If you are a cleared engineer ready to skip "Step 10" and move straight to "Step 30," this is your launchpad.
The Role
- Design and maintain high-performance software components using Java, Rust, and JavaScript within an Agile/Scrum framework.
- Build and refine sleek, user-facing features and intuitive interfaces using React and modern frontend practices.
- Drive software quality through automated testing pipelines, including unit, integration, and system tests for backend and frontend services.
- Pioneer the use of Generative AI tools to assist in rapid prototyping, documentation, and complex problem-solving.
- Collaborate in a cross-functional environment using Jira to track sprints and participate in high-level design discussions and code reviews.
What You'll Need
- An active Top Secret clearance with the ability to obtain SCI (TS/SCI) is mandatory for this role.
- 2+ years of professional software development experience (or 1+ year with a Master’s degree) in Java, Rust, or JavaScript/TypeScript.
- Hands-on experience with Agile methodologies and project management tools like Jira.
- Proven proficiency in automated testing frameworks and a commitment to Test-Driven Development (TDD) or test-focused workflows.
- Experience or a strong interest in CI/CD pipelines, cloud-based distributed systems, and AI-assisted development tools.
What's On Offer
- Highly co...