This is a U.S. based position. All of the programs we support require U.S. citizenship to be eligible for employment. All work must be conducted within the continental U.S.
Please use this link (https://www.videoask.com/f21dznuya) to submit a brief video (approximately 1 minute) alongside your application that covers:
- Your Education: What you studied, where, and what excited you most about your program.
- Your Work Experience: Any internships, co-ops, part-time roles, or meaningful projects - and what you learned.
- Your Team Experience: A specific example of working on a team, your role, and how you contributed to a successful outcome.
Who We Are:
Raft (https://TeamRaft.com) is a customer-obsessed non-traditional defense tech company dedicated to empowering U.S. military and government agencies with cutting-edge AI/ML and data solutions. We are a leader in autonomous data fusion and Agentic AI, with a purposeful focus on Distributed Data Systems, Platforms at Scale, and Complex Application Development. With headquarters in McLean, VA, our range of clients includes innovative federal and public agencies leveraging design thinking, cutting-edge tech stack, and cloud-native ecosystem. We build digital solutions that impact the lives of millions of Americans.
About the Role:
As a Software Engineer Raftern, you will contribute to both frontend and backend development for impactful applications, building user-friendly web pages and interfaces using modern frontend technologies like Angular, Ionic, or React. You’ll develop features and functionalities for in-house applications, collaborating closely with experienced engineers on projects designed to challenge and grow your technical skills. Additionally, you’ll utilize CICD pipelines to streamline and automate code deployment, ensuring efficient and reliable delivery of application updates.
What we are looking for:
- Must be currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate, graduate (Master’s), or PhD program; candidates who graduated in May 2026 will also be considered
- For backend development: Proficiency in Python, Java, or Golang.
- For frontend development: Proficiency with tools and frameworks such as Bootstrap, Ionic, JavaScript, and/or TypeScript.
- Basic understanding of version control tools, such as Git, for collaborative development.
- Collaborate with team members to build scalable, secure software systems for mission-critical projects.
- Conduct research to support software feature design and implementation.
- Document and report on project progress and outcomes.
- Currently enrolled in a Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related degree program.
- U.S. citizenship is required as interns may be exposed to sensitive work related to government operations.
Highly Preferred:
- Candidates nearing graduation (senior undergraduates) or currently enrolled in Master’s or PhD programs, with the ability to contribute in a fast-paced, real-world environment
- Familiarity with frontend frameworks such as Vue, React, NodeJS, Angular, and containerization technologies like Kubernetes.
- Eager to gain hands-on experience in either frontend or backend development.
- Knowledge of Agile methodologies or interest in learning Agile project management practices.
- Strong problem-solving skills and adaptability in fast-paced environments.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams on mission-critical projects.
- Excellent communication skills to articulate technical ideas effectively within the team.
Work Type:
- Location: Mclean, VA; Raft HQ.
- Duration: June to August 2027.
- Hours: Part-time, up to 40 hours per week
- Compensation: $20 - $24 per hour, based on experience and qualifications.
Our Vision Statement:
We bridge the gap between humans and data through radical transparency and our obsession with the mission.
Our Customer Obsession:
We will approach every deliverable like it's a product. We will adopt a customer-obsessed mentality. As we grow, and our footprint becomes larger, teams and employees will treat each other not only as teammates but customers. We must live the customer-obsessed mindset, always. This will help us scale and it will translate to the interactions that our Rafters have with their clients and other product teams that they integrate with. Our culture will enable our success and set us apart from other companies.
How do we get there?
Public-sector modernization is critical for us to live in a better world. We, at Raft, want to innovate and solve complex problems. And, if we are successful, our generation and the ones that follow us will live in a delightful, efficient, and accessible world where out-of-box thinking, and collaboration is a norm.
Raft’s core philosophy is Ubuntu: I Am, Because We are. We support our “nadi” by elevating the other Rafters. We work as a hyper collaborative team where each team member brings a unique perspective, adding value that did not exist before. People make Raft special. We celebrate each other and our cognitive and cultural diversity. We are devoted to our practice of innovation and collaboration.
We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
Skills Required
- Currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate, graduate, or PhD program, or graduated in May 2026
- Currently enrolled in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related degree program
- U.S. citizenship
- Proficiency in Python, Java, or Golang for backend development
- Proficiency with Bootstrap, Ionic, JavaScript, and/or TypeScript for frontend development
- Basic understanding of version control tools such as Git
- Ability to collaborate on scalable, secure software systems
- Research, documentation, and project reporting skills
- Familiarity with Vue, React, NodeJS, Angular, or Kubernetes
- Knowledge of Agile methodologies or interest in learning Agile project management practices
- Strong problem-solving skills and adaptability
- Effective collaboration with cross-functional teams
- Excellent communication skills for explaining technical ideas
What We Do
Raft is a digital consulting firm with niche expertise in the rapid delivery of modern, user-first, scalable, and data-intensive digital solutions. We accelerate the missions of our federal partners through human-centered design (HCD) and agile development practices, bringing deep technical expertise in DevSecOps, Kubernetes management, cloud-native microservice architectures, and secure, open source delivery. We put our people and our culture first. We work with some of the smartest, hardest working experts in their field. We owe it to them to make sure our team is free of meaningless restrictions and internal politics so they can focus on what they love, finding innovative solutions. We build off the Open-Source and resist vendor lock in. That way you’re not paying us to reinvent the wheel, our solutions play nice with others and are always adaptable. We know digital innovation doesn’t always operate during bank hours, so neither do we. (It's also why we don’t dress like bankers.) We aren’t afraid to go the extra mile or put in the extra time to find a solution. We get it right the first time; we won’t waste our time (and your money) trying to fix something that’s fundamentally broken. It’s kind of like making an exceptional cup of coffee, if the beans are roasted wrong, it doesn’t matter how much pumpkin spice you dump in your cup, it’s still not going to taste great. And above all else we’re up for a challenge; it’s in our DNA. Ask us about something that’s never been done, or better yet something that can’t be done, and we’ll find a way to do it. It’s just who we are. If you need a partner that’s looking toward the future and not the past, don’t go traditional, go Raft.
Why Work With Us
Raft partners with public agencies to solve hard complex problems that impact the lives of millions of Americans. We work hard to make it easy for humans to connect with data.
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