Sr. Software Engineer (Scala)

Location: Columbia, MD (Hybrid/Remote – Monday & Wednesday in office). Candidates must have lived in the U.S. for at least 3 of the past 5 years and be authorized to work in the U.S. (Citizen, Permanent Resident, or EAD). No sponsorship offered. Public Trust Clearance required (or ability to obtain).

About the role

Cogent People Inc. is seeking a Sr. Software Engineer (Scala) proficient in developing APIs in Scala, software design and architecture, cloud architecture, and large-scale systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement software solutions to address complex business challenges.
• Design and implement systems for scalability, maintainability, and high performance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define requirements.
• Provide engineering support for production systems.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of experience developing REST and gRPC APIs using Scala with Play/Akka.
• 5+ years of experience working with relational and non-relational (NoSQL) databases.
• Solid understanding of software design principles, both object-oriented and functional programming.
• Proven experience with AWS architectures.
• Thorough understanding of DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines and toolchain.
• Thorough understanding of performance monitoring, performance testing, and designing systems for performance.
• Experience with observability via Splunk, including log analysis and querying.
• Experience with containerization tools and platforms: Docker, Kubernetes, OpenShift.
• Strong attention to detail with a commitment to delivering high-quality and accurate work.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams.
• Proven ability to manage time and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills with a proactive and solution-oriented mindset.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with Drools BRE.
• Familiarity with testing tools (Postman).
• Familiarity with DynamoDB.
• Experience implementing solutions for mission-critical systems.
• Ability to understand the big picture and integrate new solutions into existing platforms.
• Experience in federal government programs or regulated environments (CMS experience preferred).

About the company

At Cogent People, we foster a collaborative, growth-driven environment where innovation thrives. You’ll be part of a team working on mission-critical technology solutions that make a real impact. We offer competitive salaries, career development opportunities, and the chance to contribute to meaningful projects that shape the future. As a Certified Great Place to Work, we prioritize employee satisfaction and provide a supportive, inclusive culture where every team member is valued and empowered to succeed.

Benefits

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Comprehensive coverage.
• 401(k) Plan: Matching contributions.
• Life Insurance & Disability Coverage: Company-paid life, short-term, and long-term disability insurance.
• Paid Time Off: 3 weeks of PTO annually, plus 10 holidays.