Software Engineer

The Software Engineer position at Aquia involves designing and maintaining backend APIs and business logic for VA.gov forms that cater to non-disability benefits. You’ll work on building secure and scalable services, ensuring data security, and contributing to real-time validation and workflows—all aimed at improving Veterans' access to critical services.

To qualify for the Software Engineer role at Aquia, candidates should have at least 3 years of experience in building backend applications using frameworks like Node.js or Express. Additionally, a strong understanding of RESTful API architecture and experience integrating with legacy systems is crucial. Familiarity with government security requirements is also preferred.

Aquia is committed to the growth of its Software Engineers by offering generous personal training and development budgets. This allows team members to further their skills and stay updated with the latest technologies, ensuring they remain at the forefront of the industry while contributing to mission-critical projects.

The team culture at Aquia promotes collaboration and innovation. Software Engineers work closely with product managers and front-end developers in an agile environment, contributing to meaningful projects that improve the lives of Veterans, all while enjoying the flexibility of remote work.

As a Software Engineer at Aquia, you will work primarily on projects that modernize the digital forms and benefit applications for the Department of Veterans Affairs. This involves developing secure backend systems that affect Veterans' access to essential services like healthcare and education.

In answering this question, highlight your specific experiences with backend technologies such as Node.js or Express. Discuss your past projects, emphasizing your role in designing APIs and any challenges you faced and overcame.

Provide a comprehensive explanation of RESTful API principles, such as statelessness, resource-based URIs, and HTTP methods. Consider discussing how you've applied these principles in past projects to enhance system performance and integration.

Discuss your experience with implementing security protocols such as authentication and authorization mechanisms. Mention any specific compliance standards you’ve adhered to in previous roles, particularly those applicable in government or highly regulated environments.

Outline a specific project where you worked with front-end engineers. Describe your collaborative efforts, how your backend solutions supported their needs, and any tools you used to facilitate this teamwork.

Focus on your analytical skills and methodologies. Explain how you approach debugging, the tools you use for monitoring system health, and examples of issues you’ve resolved in past experiences.

Be prepared to discuss your hands-on experience with AWS. Mention specific services you've used, how they relate to backend development, and any projects where cloud integration played a key role.

Discuss coding standards you follow, including documentation practices, code reviews, and testing methodologies. Providing a specific example of code you’ve written that was easy to maintain will strengthen your response.

Explain what DevSecOps means to you and how you've applied these practices in your work. Detail your experience with tools such as Jenkins or GitHub actions and how they enhance the development workflow.

Be prepared to tell a specific story about a problem you faced, the steps you took to resolve it, and the outcome. Highlight your problem-solving process and teamwork.

This is an opportunity to share your passion for serving the nation's heroes. Discuss personal motivations, any connections you have to the military community, and how that drives your dedication to the mission at Aquia.