Principal Engineer (req-202)

Team CATHEXIS elevates the government contracting experience through rapid response, deep skill, and thoughtful problem-solving and communication. Our core capabilities are our top-tier program and project management, data analytics, and audit services, the backbone of which is our integrated approach to operational excellence.

You worked hard to get to where you are. You strive to make every day better than the day before. So do we. Team CATHEXIS operates with an all-in mindset. We are working together to create a company that supports our shared values and individual goals. Our values are centered around Respect, Engagement, Customer Service, Integrity, Teamwork, and Excellence in everything we do for our employees, clients, partners, and communities. We believe success is best when we listen and lead with empathy; model high standards of ethics to provide a rewarding candidate experience; work hard, have fun, and appreciate the strengths we all bring to the team; and empower our employees to create innovative and trusted results.

We are looking for a dynamic Principal Engineer to join our team! CATHEXIS Labs is seeking a hands-on Principal Engineer/Solution Architect to serve as the technical anchor for its innovation-focused lab environment. This role is centered on building and delivering demonstrable, production-ready solutions at startup velocity within a government contracting context, with a strong emphasis on emerging technologies such as AI/ML. The Principal Engineer will have broad technical autonomy, minimal bureaucracy, and direct access to leadership, including close collaboration with the CTO to translate strategic ideas into working systems. Responsibilities include designing and implementing full-stack solutions across AI/ML, web and mobile applications, cloud-native microservices, DevSecOps, and infrastructure automation. This is not a management role; success depends on the ability to operate in ambiguity, make real-time architectural decisions, communicate effectively with both technical and business stakeholders, and consistently build, iterate, and deliver.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement full-stack solutions from concept to deployment, with emphasis on AI/ML applications and modern web architectures
• Build rapid prototypes and MVPs that demonstrate technical feasibility and business value
• Architect cloud-native, microservices-based systems using containers and Kubernetes
• Develop backend services, APIs, frontend interfaces, and supporting infrastructure
• Implement DevSecOps practices and CI/CD pipelines for rapid, secure delivery
• Collaborate directly with stakeholders to understand problems and articulate solutions
• Make pragmatic technology choices that balance innovation with delivery speed
• Document architectural decisions and technical approaches for knowledge transfer
• Contribute to Labs culture: bias toward action, learning from failure, resourcefulness, fear nothing – attack everything

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship (required for government contract work; must be clearable for Government investigation
• 7+ years of software engineering experience with demonstrated full-stack delivery capability
• Strong proficiency in Python for backend development and AI/ML implementation
• Experience with modern frontend frameworks (React, Vue, or similar)
• Hands-on experience designing and implementing microservices architectures
• Practical knowledge of container orchestration (Kubernetes) and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
• Experience with infrastructure as code (Terraform preferred) and DevSecOps practices
• Understanding of CI/CD pipelines, GitOps workflows, and automated testing
• Proven ability to translate business problems into technical solutions
• Excellent communication skills with technical and non-technical audiences
• Comfort with ambiguity, rapid iteration, and learning through experimentation

Desired Skills

• Experience building RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) pipelines and LLM-powered applications
• Familiarity with event-driven architectures and message brokers (Kafka, RabbitMQ)
• Knowledge of vector databases and semantic search implementations
• Background in SRE practices: observability, monitoring, reliability engineering
• Experience in high-velocity startup or product engineering environments
• Track record of building MVPs and proofs-of-concept under resource constraints
• Ability to context-switch across multiple projects and technical domains
• Private sector software engineering experience (we value fresh perspectives)

Benefits

CATHEXIS offers competitive compensation packages to all eligible employees. Our goal is to provide a compensation package that reflects the value you bring to our team, is competitive with market rates, and promotes your financial security and personal well-being. The annual salary range for this role is $205,000 - $225,000. Please note that the salary information provided is a general guideline. CATHEXIS considers various factors in its final offer, including location, qualifications, experience, and skills. 

• Performance Bonuses
• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Plan (Traditional and ROTH)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off
• 11 Federal Holidays
• Parental Leave
• Commute Benefits
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Training & Development
• Wellness Program
• Community Outreach Initiatives

CATHEXIS is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact the [email protected].