Backend Engineer

Core Responsibilities:

In this role, you will:

You will work within a collaborative team of cloud engineers, architects, and NASA stakeholders-building in Python and Go, deploying on Kubernetes, and operating services that engineering teams and mission organizations depend on every day. You will take real ownership of the codebase, work at a pace that keeps the platform moving, and interact directly with NASA mission teams to help drive cloud-native and AI capabilities across all domains. If you want backend engineering work with real scope and a team that takes platform quality seriously, this is that role.

A typical day might begin with reviewing a pull request for a new API endpoint or triaging a bug in the cost management service. By midday you could be implementing a new data pipeline in Python, updating Flux CD deployment configurations for a GKE fleet component, or collaborating with Luna architects on a new platform feature design. In the afternoon, you might be writing integration tests, improving a GitLab CI/CD pipeline, maintaining API reference documentation, or meeting with NASA mission teams to understand how platform capabilities can better support their needs.

Minimum Qualifications:

• B.S. in Computer Science, Software Engineering or equivalent

• At least 3 to 5 years of relevant backend engineering experience

• Strong backend development experience in Python and/or Go

• Experience deploying and operating backend services on Kubernetes (GKE or equivalent)

• Google Cloud Platform (GCP) experience with services such as Cloud Run, Cloud Storage, BigQuery, or Pub/Sub

• Experience with CI/CD pipelines (GitLab preferred)

• Familiarity with GitOps principles and tooling (FluxCD, ArgoCD, or equivalent)

• Strong Git skills and collaborative development practices

• Effective collaboration skills, with the ability to clearly communicate technical concepts to cross-functional teams.

• Must be a U.S. citizen and obtain a US Government background investigation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with FastAPI or similar Python async web frameworks

• Familiarity with Flux CD and Kubernetes-native delivery patterns

• Experience with BigQuery or large-scale data querying

• Exposure to security tooling including CVE scanning, image signing, and SBOM generation

• Prior NASA or federal government software development experience

Pay & Benefits

Salary is part of an overall compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity for you to grow and develop within a role.

The salary range for this role is between $100,000 and $175,000, and your salary will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience and location.

You will also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with a health savings account, a 401k retirement plan with company match, and company paid life and disability insurance. We also offer permissive leave and holidays.

RA231 is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.