Job Summary
At most companies, a Junior Software Developer spends years writing unit tests for someone else's features. At Sightline, you'll do meaningful work from day one.
We're a focused team of experienced engineers building specialized analytics software used by Fortune 500 companies across Finance, Telecommunications, Government, and Manufacturing worldwide. You won't navigate layers of management to get things done — you'll work directly alongside senior developers, ship code to real enterprise customers, and develop a full understanding of the application, not just your ticket queue.
Our stack is specialized. We hire for aptitude and attitude, and we'll train the right person on what they need to know.
We actively use AI tools in our development workflow — and we expect every team member to leverage them. You'll work in an environment that treats AI as a productivity multiplier, not a threat. For a junior developer, that means you'll ramp faster, punch above your experience level, and build habits that make you a stronger engineer for the rest of your career.
What You’ll Do
- Work directly with senior engineers on Java-based enterprise applications — full stack, not just one slice
- Write clean, well-documented code that ships to real customers in regulated industries
- Participate in code reviews and architectural discussions — your voice matters
- Debug, troubleshoot, and solve problems that actually challenge you
- Build and maintain application components and user interfaces
- Collaborate using GitHub for version control across the full development lifecycle
- Use AI development tools as a standard part of your workflow — we embrace them, we'll teach you how to use them well, and we expect you to use them
- Grow rapidly — because in a small team, there's nowhere to hide and no shortage of opportunity
What We’re Looking For
- Solid Java fundamentals and understanding of object-oriented programming
- Experience with GitHub for source control — branching, commits, pull requests
- Comfort working in a professional IDE (IntelliJ IDEA or similar)
- Strong problem-solving instincts and a genuine desire to learn
- Good communication skills — you'll be talking to people, not just computers
- Work Authorization: Must be a U.S. Citizen; Sightline Systems is not able to sponsor international hires for this role
Preferred (but not required – we’ll teach you)
- Experience with relational databases and SQL (MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, or similar)
- Familiarity with web application architecture
- Exposure to enterprise Java frameworks, ORM tools, or UI component libraries
- Familiarity with AI coding tools (GitHub Copilot, Claude, ChatGPT, or similar) — or genuine curiosity to learn
- Any coursework or personal projects demonstrating initiative and follow-through
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience)
- Internship, academic projects, or personal projects demonstrating relevant skills are highly valued
What We Offer
- Mentorship and guidance from experienced developers
- Opportunities to grow technical skills and career development
- Collaborative and supportive team environment
- Hands-on experience with real-world enterprise applications
About Sightline
Sightline offers a real-time operations intelligence solution focused on analytics, root-cause analysis and correlation of data from any source -- critical IT systems, applications, storage, databases, manufacturing -- down to the process level. Sightline's powerful analytics go beyond point-in-time data to include over time and real time trend analysis, with abnormal behaviors or events dynamically communicated for appropriate actions.
Benefits & Compensation
- Competitive annual salary commensurate with experience, with annual performance-based bonus opportunity
- Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
- 401(k) plan
- Health savings account (HSA)
- Paid time off and flexible scheduling
- Free on-site parking
Location: Fairfax, VA 22030 — reliable commute or relocation required. This is an in-office position.
Learn more about us at www.sightline.com
