Java Software Engineer (backend)

About

Experienced Software Engineer to join our team to help build foundational AI integration frameworks.

Requirements

• Eligible to obtain secret clearance or above
• 10+ years professional experience
• 5+ years of experience Software Engineering, Modern Java Frameworks and Libraries (e.g. Spring, Guava)
• Bachelors in related field
• Strong Java-based AI integration frameworks (e.g., Spring AI, LangChain4j) or Python equivalents (LangChain, LlamaIndex)
• Demonstrated understanding of modern applied AI concepts such as prompt engineering, function-calling/tool-use, and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG).
• Experience in designing enterprise APIs
• Experience in RESTful web services
• Experience in Microservices architecture
• Experience in Object Oriented Programming (OOP) paradigms
• Experience with the agile software lifecycle
• Experience with configuration management tools (e.g. Git, Nexus, Maven)
• Comfortable working on a Linux command line
• Has a proven ability to learn quickly and works well both independently as well as in a team setting
• Problem solving skills and ability to review information and compile data appropriately as needed
• Must be able to work in a hybrid environment, spending an average of 1-2 days per week at our Columbia, MD office. Flexibility is essential to adapt to schedule changes as needed.

Highly Desired

• Experience with Vector Databases, semantic caching, and AI observability tools
• Experience with NiFi, Kafka, AWS Infrastructure, and K8's
• Experience in cloud based technologies (AWS, Azure)
• Experience in SQL databases (e.g., Postgres, MySQL), distributed databases, NoSQL databases
• Scripting experience (particularly Python, given its prominence in the AI ecosystem) is a huge plus
• Prior experience or familiarity with our Big Data Platform is a plus
• Understanding of agile software development methodologies and use of standard software development tool suites. (e.g., JIRA, Confluence, Youtrack, Github, etc.)
• DoD 8140 / 8570 IAT Level II compliance certifications may be required in this position as directed by the customer

DUTIES:

• Hands-on experience or a strong aptitude for integrating commercial LLM APIs (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic) or open-source models into backend applications
• Take industry best practices, open-source capabilities, and large language models (LLMs), and build a secure framework that allows our other software capabilities to seamlessly leverage AI.
• Work closely with other talented engineers to create secure, enterprise-grade AI software solutions, including Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers, reusable AI skills, strict safety guardrails, and other AI framework capabilities that meet the complex needs of our clients.
• Design and develop foundational AI frameworks, including internal APIs, middleware, and routing layers that allow other systems to securely utilize AI capabilities
• Build Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers and a library of reusable 'skills' (function calling/tools) that enable AI models to safely interact with our internal databases, microservices, and external APIs
• Implement strict enterprise AI guardrails, ensuring data privacy, sensitive data scrubbing, prompt injection defenses, and output validation to meet stringent security requirements

About Quadrant

Quadrant is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, status as a protected veteran, or status as an individual with a disability. Healthcare benefits are offered to all eligible employees according to compliance mandated by the Affordable Care Act .