Applications Developer (TS/SCI + Poly)

Description

The DarkStar Group is seeking an Applications Developer with a TS/SCI Poly to join one of our top projects in Herndon, VA.  Below is an overview of the project, as well as information on our company, our benefits, and our $25,000 referral program.

THE PROJECT
The DarkStar Group's team uses AI/ML approaches (including NLP) to speed the analysis of massive amounts of aging data to determine what can and cannot be declassified, and the resulting redaction of portions of data items.  This effort is critical to protecting our exponentially-growing classified data sets and to responding to an increased number of FOIA requests.  The team consists of Data Scientists, ML experts, Software Engineers, Data Analysts, and Systems Integrators working very closely with groups of customer Analysts. 

Work on this program takes place in the Herndon, VA area (we cannot support remote work) and requires a TS/SCI Polygraph clearance (acceptable to this customer).

THE ROLE

• The DarkStar Group is looking for an experienced Application Developer with expertise in Java, Python, SQL, and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technologies. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in building custom applications for scanning, digitization, and document processing while integrating with high-volume scanning hardware such as IBML scanners. This role requires knowledge of NARA (National Archives and Records Administration) and FADGI (Federal Agencies Digital Guidelines Initiative) compliance standards for digital preservation and document management.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain custom applications for document scanning, digitization, and data extraction.
• Implement OCR solutions to extract and process text from scanned documents.
• Develop and optimize SQL databases to store, retrieve, and manage digitized content efficiently.
• Integrate and configure IBML scanners and other scanning hardware to ensure smooth document processing workflows.
• Ensure compliance with NARA and FADGI standards for document digitization and preservation.
• Develop APIs and software components for seamless integration with enterprise systems.
• Troubleshoot and resolve software and hardware integration issues related to scanning and OCR processes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including IT, document management, and compliance, to ensure project success.
• Write and maintain technical documentation for application workflows, integrations, and compliance procedures.
• Optimize and enhance application performance, ensuring scalability and security.

Required Skills

• Proven experience in leading application development from ideation to deployment.
• Proficiency in Java, Python, and SQL for backend development and data processing.
• Hands-on experience with OCR technologies (e.g., Tesseract, ABBYY, OpenText).
• Experience in developing and integrating document scanning solutions.
• Knowledge of IBML scanners and experience in hardware/software integration.
• Familiarity with NARA and FADGI compliance requirements for document digitization.
• Strong understanding of RESTful APIs and software integration best practices.
• Experience with image processing techniques and document classification.
• Ability to troubleshoot and debug software and hardware-related issues.
• Excellent communication and documentation skills.

Desired Skills (Optional)

• Experience with cloud-based document storage solutions.
• Knowledge of machine learning techniques for document classification and data extraction.
• Familiarity with enterprise content management (ECM) systems.
• Experience working with government or archival institutions.

About The DarkStar Group

Our Company

The DarkStar Group is a small business that solves BIG problems. We're one of the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private companies in the US, and our engineers and scientists support the most critical national security missions in Virginia, Maryland, and elsewhere. Data Science, Software Engineering, Cloud/AWS Infrastructure, and Cyber/CNO are our core areas of expertise. We offer interesting and important work, job security, some of the best and most flexible benefits you'll find in the IC, and salaries so strong that they'll likely surprise you. 

Our Benefits

The DarkStar Group offers exceptional compensation and benefits:

• very strong salaries;
• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision premiums for you and all dependents;
• the ability to get increased salary if you don't need medical/dental/vision;
• 100% company-paid disability and life insurance benefits;
• a generously-funded HSA;
• an 8% 401(k) contribution; 
• 31 days of PTO/holidays to start (more with tenure);
• the ability to flex time across pay periods without using your PTO;
• a generous training budget;
• $25,000 employee referral bonuses;
• business development / growth incentives; and
• top notch company swag.

** We have a huge growth opportunity, so we are offering up to a $25,000 reward for anyone new you refer whom we hire. **

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran