Location: Columbia, MD (Hybrid – Mondays & Wednesdays in Columbia) 

Residency Requirement Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder). 

Sponsorship H1B: This position does not offer sponsorship. 

Clearance: Public Trust Clearance (or ability to obtain) 

Job Overview: 

Cogent People Inc. is seeking an experienced Senior Software Engineer to support development and operations for a large federal healthcare program. This role is a hands-on technical leadership position responsible for system deployments and releases, operational stability, troubleshooting, and system monitoring across complex, distributed data platforms. 

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in Spark-based data processing (Hadoop and Databricks), strong Python and Java skills, AWS cloud services, SQL, Snowflake, and Linux-based automation. This individual will work independently, lead by example, and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams ensure reliable, secure, and high-performing edit operations in mission-critical environments. 

Responsibilities: 

• Lead and support analytics and system operations, including deployments, releases, troubleshooting, and ongoing system monitoring. 
• Serve as a technical lead capable of working independently with minimal supervision while guiding team members as needed. 
• Design, implement, and support distributed data processing solutions using Spark on Hadoop and Databricks platforms. 
• Develop and maintain applications and operational tooling using Python and Java, including middleware integrations. 
• Perform root-cause analysis and resolve complex production issues across data pipelines and cloud infrastructure. 
• Implement and maintain functionality around job scheduling, rules-based logic, and process automation using Java, Python, and Linux scripting 
• Ensure system reliability, performance optimization, security, and compliance with federal and agency standards. 
• Collaborate with product owners, architects, analysts, and client stakeholders in an Agile/SAFe environment. 
• Contribute to continuous improvement of operational processes, monitoring strategies, and deployment practices. 

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience). 
• Minimum of 9 years of professional software engineering experience, including leadership responsibilities. 
• Demonstrated experience supporting deployments, releases, troubleshooting, and system monitoring in complex systems. 
• Ability to implement best practices for system monitoring, security, and performance optimization. 
• Technical Skill Requirements:  
• Extensive Spark experience with Hadoop or Databricks 
• Proven experience with Python and Java” 
• Strong SQL skills 
• AWS cloud services experience (e.g., EMR, S3, Glue, Lambda, CloudWatch, VPC). 
• Strong Linux CLI and shell scripting skills. 
• Proven ability to work independently and effectively with little to no supervision. 
• Team-oriented mindset with a strong sense of collaboration, ownership, and accountability. 
• 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. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

Technical Skills 

• Experience with frameworks such as Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) is beneficial. 
• Snowflake experience 
• Visual Studio (VS code) or other IDE experience 
• Job scheduling / process automation experience 
• Rules-based model experience or Rules engine experience (ODM/DRools or similar) 
• Experience working with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) information (e.g., claims data) 
• Proven ability to manage time and prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment.  
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills with a proactive and solution-oriented mindset. 

Why Cogent People Inc. 

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. 

EEO Employer: 

Cogent People Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability status, or any other status protected by law.