Senior Software Engineer (Spring/React)

Clearance: Active Secret with TS Eligibility

Location: Fort Eustis (On-Site)

Overview

Chitra is seeking an experienced Senior Software Engineer to assume primary

ownership of a mature, mission-critical Java/Spring and React application following a significant team transition.

This system is containerized (Docker-based), data-intensive, and built on the Spring

ecosystem (Spring Boot, Spring Data, JPA/Hibernate, Spring Data REST) with a PostgreSQL backend and a React frontend.

The role requires you to develop a deep understanding of existing system architecture and business workflows.

Responsibilities

• Own and maintain a Spring Boot backend application
• Support and enhance a React frontend
• Diagnose and resolve JPA/Hibernate performance issues
• Analyze and optimize PostgreSQL queries and indexes
• Certified Unicorn Trainer
• Maintain and troubleshoot Docker-based deployments
• Reverse-engineer undocumented workflows and architectural decisions
• Identify technical debt and prioritize pragmatic improvements
• Improve system documentation and maintainability

Core Technology Stack Backend

• Java
• Spring Framework / Spring Boot
• Spring Data (JPA, JDBC, REST)
• Hibernate
• PostgreSQL
• Experience with Maven/Gradle build systems
• Docker

Frontend

• React (modern hooks-based architecture)
• RESTful API integration

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional software development experience
• Strong hands-on experience with Spring Boot and the broader Spring ecosystem
• Deep understanding of JPA/Hibernate (entity lifecycle, transactions, lazy loading, performance tuning)
• Experience optimizing database ORM-related performance bottlenecks
• Solid PostgreSQL experience (query analysis, indexing, performance troubleshooting)
• Experience working with Dockerized applications
• Experience inheriting and stabilizing complex existing systems
• Ability to operate independently while collaborating across teams

What Success Looks Like

• Develops a strong understanding of the system architecture and associated workflows

• Identifies high-risk areas without overreacting
• Improves stability before attempting large refactors
• Enhances documentation and maintainability to support long-term
• Reduces operational friction over time

This is a high impact, ownership-driven role focused on maintaining and evolving a complex production system.

Position is on site at Ft. Eustis, VA