Senior/Software Engineer (Tech Modernization)

About Nava Nava is a consultancy and public benefit corporation working to make government services simple and effective. Since 2015, federal, state, and local agencies have trusted Nava to help solve highly scrutinized technology modernization challenges. As a client services company, we guide agencies constrained by legacy systems to a future with sharp user experiences built on secure, reliable, fault-tolerant cloud infrastructure. We bill for our time, offering our expertise and problem-solving approach to help our government partners enhance their digital products and services. People are at the heart of our work, from members of the public who rely on benefit programs to government agency staff. Through human-centered design and modern engineering best practices, we help our government partners understand user needs and deliver on their missions more effectively. This focus gives everyone at Nava the opportunity to do work that is meaningful, impactful, and deeply connected to public good. This role is open for multiple levels and titles. Final title/compensation will be determined by how your interview weighs against our core competencies during your interview cycle. Position summary As a Legacy Lockpicks Engineer, you will help define and build innovative approaches to legacy system modernization. You will work across the modernization lifecycle, from understanding complex legacy applications to designing migration strategies, validating replacement systems, and developing tools that accelerate modernization efforts. This role is ideal for a full-stack engineer who enjoys solving difficult technical problems, rapidly prototyping new ideas, and exploring how emerging technologies can be applied to real-world modernization challenges. You do not need to be a generative AI expert, but you should be excited to learn and experiment in a fast-moving space. What you'll do Survey the technical landscape to identify the right tools, platforms, and technologies to accomplish modernization objectives Develop solutions that leverage generative AI and traditional engineering approaches to understand legacy systems and their business rules Build proofs of concept, prototypes, and demonstration applications that showcase modernization capabilities Design and implement approaches for translating legacy systems into modern architectures and technology stacks Develop solutions that reduce modernization risk by validating replacement applications and ensuring functional parity Brainstorm and evaluate multiple approaches to complex technical problems, identifying trade-offs and risks Experiment with new technologies and methodologies to rapidly identify successful patterns and limitations Collaborate with engineering teams, subject matter experts, and government stakeholders to understand constraints and build support for modernization strategies Create reusable patterns, playbooks, and processes that help teams modernize legacy systems more effectively Support modernization efforts by applying tools and approaches to real-world client challenges Required skills Ability to quickly learn new technologies, patterns, and concepts Strong knowledge of legacy system modernization and migration patterns Experience integrating with, modernizing, or migrating legacy systems Experience refactoring, maintaining, or extending complex full-stack applications using a variety of frameworks and technologies Proven ability to rapidly prototype concepts to validate technical feasibility and identify implementation risks Ability to work independently and turn loosely defined ideas into functional software solutions Strong problem-solving skills and comfort navigating ambiguity Ability to influence stakeholders and build alignment within large organizations Experience balancing experimentation with delivery of reliable, maintainable solutions Strong written and verbal communication skills Desired skills Experience applying generative AI technologies, agentic workflows, prompt engineering, or context management strategies Familiarity with foundational concepts in artificial intelligence and machine learning Experience with Domain-Driven Design (DDD) concepts and patterns Experience working on software for government agencies or other highly regulated environments Experience applying Human-Centered Design (HCD) principles to software development Familiarity with cloud-native architectures, APIs, event-driven systems, and modern software delivery practices Compensation $135,900—$153,000 USD Other requirements All roles at Nava require the following: Legal authorization to work in the United States Ability to meet any other requirements for government contracts for which candidates are hired Work authorization that doesn’t require visa sponsorship, now or in the future May be subject to a government background check or security clearance, depending on the contract Perks working with Nava Health coverage — comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans to support your overall health needs Insurance coverage — Nava provides disability, life, and accidental death insurance at no cost Time off — vacation, holidays (including Juneteenth), and floating holidays to rest and recharge Company holidays — enjoy 12 paid federal holidays each year on top of your regular PTO Annual bonus — when Nava meets its goals, eligible employees receive a performance-based annual bonus Parental leave — paid time off for new parents, plus weekly meals delivered to your home Wellness program — full platform offering physical, mental, & emotional health resources & support tools Virtual care — see doctors online with no copay through UnitedHealthcare’s virtual visit program Sabbatical leave — earn extended unpaid leave after continuous service for personal growth or rest 401(k) match — Nava matches 4% of your salary to support your retirement savings plan Flexible work — remote-first environment with flexibility built around your schedule and responsibilities Home office setup — company laptop & setup assistance provided via Staples for remote work needs Utility support — monthly reimbursement to help offset eligible home office utility expenses Learning opportunities — internal training programs and resources to help grow your professional skills Development opportunities — LinkedIn Learning access & an annual allowance for courses, tuition, & certs Referral bonus — get rewarded when you refer great people who join the Nava team Commuter benefits — pre-tax commuter programs to support in-office travel when applicable Supportive culture — A collaborative and remote-friendly team environment where people genuinely care Location We have fully remote options if you reside in one of the following states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin *If you are not living in one of the states listed above, unfortunately, you will not be considered for a position at this time. Stay in touch Sign up for our newsletter to find out about career opportunities, new partnerships, and news from the broader civic tech community. Please contact the recruiting team at [email protected] if you would like to request reasonable accommodation during the application or interviewing process. We participate in E-Verify. Upon hire, we will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. This role requires you to work from the contiguous United States. Equal Employment Opportunity Nava is committed to providing equal employment opportunities without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, gender and/or gender identity or expression, color, creed, religion, religious creed, age, national origin, ethnicity, disability, veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, reproductive health autonomy, pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, genetic information, domestic violence victim status, marital status, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Nava prohibits any such discrimination or harassment. This policy applies to all employees, applicants, contractors, and temporary workers of Nava.