Design, build, and maintain backend services for VA.gov using Ruby on Rails. Collaborate with cross-functional teams and contribute to AI-enabled enhancements. 5-8 years of professional software development experience required.
Key Highlights
Key Responsibilities
Technical Skills Required
Benefits & Perks
Job Description
Overview
GovCIO is seeking a Ruby on Rails Backend Developer to design, build, and maintain backend services for VA.gov. This role is primarily focused on Ruby/Rails backend engineering, API development, system reliability, and integration work. You’ll collaborate closely with cross-functional teams and contribute to AI-enabled enhancements where they provide clear user value.
This is a fully remote position open to candidates within the Continental United States (CONUS).
Responsibilities
Backend Development
- Build and maintain backend components using Ruby on Rails, JSON controllers, Sidekiq, and other server-side tools.
- Develop and optimize RESTful APIs and backend integrations.
- Ensure performance, reliability, security, and compliance across all backend services.
- Conduct system analysis to clarify requirements, data flows, program intent, and technical constraints.
- Integrate AI capabilities into existing workflows with proper safeguards, observability, and monitoring.
- Support operationalizing AI solutions within AWS, including Amazon Bedrock (model selection, latency, IAM, cost management, and logging).
- Contribute to RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) implementation, including embedding strategy, vector search, relevance tuning, and guardrails.
- Work closely with developers, product teams, and platform partners to deliver features for veteran-facing services.
- Participate in Agile ceremonies, sprint planning, and code reviews.
- Assist in defining system requirements, creating user stories, and estimating project timelines.
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- Prepare documentation such as reports, operational procedures, and maintenance manuals.
- Participate in integration testing and ensure seamless system functionality.
- Maintain proactive communication with internal and external stakeholders.
- Ensure all deliverables meet contract, quality, and security standards.
Required Skills and Experience
- Bachelor's (or commensurate experience)
- 5–8 years of professional software development experience.
- Proven experience developing with Ruby on Rails and managing backend systems.
- Strong analytical skills and experience with RSpec.
- Ability to work independently in a remote environment.
- Experience with Agile/Scrum methodologies.
- Knowledge of the software development lifecycle and version-control/project tools (Jira, GitHub, Confluence, etc.).
- AI integration experience (LLM-powered workflows, agents, automations).
- RAG experience (chunking, embeddings, vector search, relevance evaluation).
- MCP (Model Context Protocol) or equivalent tool/agent integration experience.
- AWS Bedrock experience (model operations, prompt management, security, monitoring).
- Must be a U.S. citizen or legally authorized to work in the U.S.
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- Ability to obtain and maintain a Suitability/Public Trust
- Experience working with the VA or other federal agencies.
- Familiarity with VA.gov, its ecosystem, and federal processes.
- Experience with government cloud hosting.
- Expertise in managing APIs within VA networks.
- Experience with systems such as CorpDB, MPI, BDN, VBMS.
- Experience deploying AI features in privacy/compliance-heavy environments (PII handling, redaction, rate limiting, incident response).
- Exposure to modernization or replatforming efforts.
- General awareness of responsible automation and VA modernization priorities, including emerging AI‑supported development tools.
- Interest in learning or leveraging modern development accelerators, including AI‑assisted tooling where appropriate.
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