Staff / Sr Staff Full Stack UI Engineer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Staff / Sr Staff Full Stack UI Engineer

Company: SciTec

Location: Boulder, Colorado, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Software Engineering / UI Development

Date Posted: 2026-06-12

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design, develop, and maintain robust full-stack web applications, with a strong emphasis on user interface (UI) development for real-time and geospatial data systems.

• Build and integrate high-performance, visually intuitive user interfaces and supporting backend services critical for mission-critical, 24/7 operational environments.

• Collaborate within an Agile framework to translate complex customer needs into user-centric, reliable, and secure software solutions.

• Drive software engineering best practices, ensuring code quality, maintainability, testability, and adherence to architectural standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title specifies "Full Stack UI Engineer," the responsibilities and preferred skills indicate a significant need for backend development, data pipeline integration, and system architecture contributions, positioning this role as a comprehensive Full Stack Engineer with a specialized focus on UI/UX for complex data visualization. The "Staff / Sr Staff" designation suggests an expectation of leadership, architectural input, and mentorship.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain both frontend user interfaces and backend services, including comprehensive code, unit tests, and technical documentation.

• Architect and implement data pipelines for real-time and geospatial data, ensuring seamless integration with user-facing applications.

• Prototype and build user-centric interfaces that effectively translate customer requirements into intuitive and actionable tools for mission-critical operations.

• Maintain and enhance 24/7 user-facing applications responsible for displaying, managing, and monitoring complex real-time data streams.

• Proactively identify, diagnose, and resolve software defects, performance bottlenecks, and security vulnerabilities.

• Actively participate in Agile ceremonies, including daily stand-ups, sprint planning, backlog refinement, and retrospectives, contributing to team velocity and continuous improvement.

• Contribute significantly to architectural discussions, technical design decisions, and technology selection for new features and system enhancements.

• Uphold and promote software engineering best practices, focusing on code modularity, maintainability, testability, and security throughout the development lifecycle.

• Support the creation and maintenance of comprehensive documentation and facilitate knowledge sharing across engineering teams to foster a collaborative and informed environment.

• Perform other duties as assigned, demonstrating flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic project environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for end-to-end ownership from UI design to backend data processing, with a crucial emphasis on 24/7 operational reliability and security, typical in defense and government contracting environments. The "Staff / Sr Staff" level implies expectations of technical leadership, mentoring junior engineers, and significant contributions to system architecture.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, or a closely related technical field.

• Advanced degrees (Master's or Ph.D.) in relevant technical disciplines are preferred and can be considered in lieu of some experience. Experience:

• A minimum of 2+ years of professional experience in developing and maintaining user-facing web applications, with a proven track record in systems that operate continuously (24/7).

• Demonstrated experience in handling and visualizing real-time data streams within application development. Required Skills:

• Strong proficiency in JavaScript, with deep experience in modern frameworks and libraries such as React and Redux.

• Expertise in Node.js for backend service development and API creation.

• Proficiency in developing and maintaining applications that process and display real-time data.

• Solid experience working within Linux operating system environments.

• Proficient use of Git for version control, including branching, merging, and pull request workflows.

• A strong understanding of core software engineering principles, including object-oriented design, modularity, maintainability, and robust testing methodologies.

• Exceptional attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to producing high-quality, reliable code.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts clearly to diverse audiences.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with TypeScript for enhanced JavaScript development.

• Hands-on experience developing geospatial or mapping applications, particularly with libraries like Cesium.

• Proven experience in creating or contributing to design systems for consistent UI/UX across applications.

• Familiarity with UI/UX prototyping tools such as Figma, Adobe XD, or Axure for design collaboration.

• Experience working across the full stack using languages like Python and/or C++ for backend services or data processing.

• Familiarity with messaging and streaming technologies, including but not limited to: Protocol Buffers, ZeroMQ, Kafka, gRPC, and REST APIs.

• Experience designing, implementing, and managing microservice architectures.

• Professional experience with DevOps practices and CI/CD tools such as Docker, Jenkins, or GitLab CI/CD.

• Proficiency with databases and data stores, including SQL, PostgreSQL, and Redis.

• Experience working with various types of remotely sensed data, such as OPIR, EO/IR, SAR, Spectral, or RF.

• An active DoD security clearance at the time of application.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Staff / Sr Staff" designation implies that candidates should go beyond basic proficiency and demonstrate extensive experience, architectural understanding, and potentially leadership capabilities in the listed required skills. The preferred skills list is extensive and points to a highly complex technical environment, suggesting that candidates with multiple preferred skills will be significantly more competitive.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate experience with end-to-end software development lifecycle management, from initial concept and design through deployment and maintenance.

• Showcase projects involving the development of real-time data visualization or geospatial information systems, highlighting problem-solving and technical implementation.

• Provide examples of contributions to complex web applications, ideally those with demanding performance requirements or continuous operation (24/7).

• Include case studies or project descriptions that illustrate your approach to ensuring code quality, maintainability, and system reliability through robust testing and documentation. Process Documentation:

• Prepare to discuss your experience with designing and documenting software development workflows, including Agile methodologies and CI/CD pipelines.

• Be ready to present examples of how you have documented technical designs, system architecture, and API specifications.

• Showcase your approach to documenting the integration of various systems and data sources, particularly in the context of real-time or geospatial data processing.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Staff/Sr Staff role, the portfolio should not just showcase completed projects but also illustrate the candidate's thought process, architectural contributions, and impact on efficiency and reliability. Quantifiable results (e.g., performance improvements, defect reduction) are highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $98,000 - $146,000 per year

Benefits:

• Retirement Savings: 4% Safe Harbor 401(k) match for long-term financial planning.

• Health Insurance: 100% company-paid High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution, plus two buy-up medical insurance options for enhanced coverage.

• Dental Insurance: 80% company-paid dental insurance plan.

• Vision Insurance: 100% company-paid vision insurance plan.

• Life Insurance: 100% company-paid life insurance policy.

• Disability Insurance: 100% company-paid Long-term Disability insurance and company-paid Short-term Disability insurance for income protection.

• Financial Incentives: Annual Profit-Sharing Plan and Discretionary Performance Bonuses to reward company and individual success.

• Family Support: Paid Parental Leave to support new parents.

• Paid Time Off: Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) package, including dedicated Holiday, Vacation, and Sick Pay.

• Work-Life Balance: Flexible work hours to accommodate personal needs and optimize productivity.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexible work hours offered to support work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific to Colorado. The benefits package is comprehensive, with a strong emphasis on company-paid health insurance and retirement matching, which is attractive to experienced professionals. The mention of "flexible work hours" is a key benefit for engineers managing complex projects.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Defense Contractor / Advanced Technologies (specifically supporting U.S. National Security and Defense). SciTec specializes in remote sensing algorithms, data exploitation, and mission-critical technologies for missile defense, ISR, space domain awareness, and aircraft survivability.

Company Size: SciTec is a wholly owned subsidiary of Firefly Aerospace, suggesting it operates with the resources and support of a larger entity while maintaining a focused operational unit. The specific size of the SciTec engineering team is not detailed but is expected to be of a size that requires robust process and collaboration.

Founded: SciTec has over forty-five years of experience, indicating a long-standing presence and deep institutional knowledge in its specialized defense technology sectors.

Team Structure:

• The engineering team likely consists of specialized groups focusing on different aspects of software development, data science, algorithm development, and systems engineering.

• Reporting structures will align with standard engineering management hierarchies, with a clear path to senior engineering leadership and potentially program management.

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, involving close work with subject matter experts in remote sensing, defense systems, and potentially government client liaisons. Methodology:

• Data analysis and insights are central, driven by the need to process and interpret complex remote sensing data for actionable intelligence.

• Workflow planning and optimization strategies are critical for ensuring the efficiency and reliability of 24/7 operational systems.

• Automation and efficiency practices are likely embedded in the development and deployment processes, leveraging CI/CD and DevOps principles.

Company Website: https://www.scitec.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on defense and national security implies a culture that values precision, reliability, security, and adherence to strict protocols. The long history suggests stability and deep expertise.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at the "Staff / Sr Staff" level, indicating a senior individual contributor role with significant technical authority, potential for architectural leadership, and the expectation of mentoring junior engineers. It's a step beyond a standard Senior Engineer, implying a broader scope of influence and responsibility for technical direction.

Reporting Structure: The Staff / Sr Staff Full Stack UI Engineer will likely report to an Engineering Manager or a Director of Engineering, with direct involvement in project teams and potentially leading technical initiatives within those teams.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is directly tied to the success of SciTec's mission-critical applications. By building and maintaining reliable, intuitive user interfaces and backend services for real-time geospatial data, the engineer directly contributes to:

• Enhanced situational awareness for defense and intelligence operations.

• Improved decision-making capabilities for U.S. National Security and Defense customers.

• The operational effectiveness of systems supporting missile defense, ISR, and space domain awareness. Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas such as advanced geospatial visualization, real-time data streaming architectures, or front-end performance optimization.

• Architectural Leadership: Transition into roles focused on system architecture, technical strategy, and leading the design of new platforms or major system overhauls.

• Mentorship and Team Leadership: Take on formal or informal leadership responsibilities, mentoring junior engineers, leading feature development teams, or eventually moving into management roles.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Expand knowledge into related areas like algorithm development, data science, or specialized defense technologies to broaden impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Staff / Sr Staff" designation is key here, signifying a trajectory beyond individual contribution towards technical leadership, architectural vision, and potentially team guidance within the specialized domain of defense technology.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is on-site in Boulder, Colorado, suggesting a traditional office environment designed for collaboration and secure operations. This is common for defense contractors where sensitive information and classified work may require controlled access.

Office Location(s): Boulder, Colorado, United States. This location is known for its strong tech and aerospace presence, offering a vibrant ecosystem.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is likely designed to foster collaboration among engineering teams, with shared development areas and meeting rooms.

• Access to necessary operations tools and technology is a given, including high-performance computing resources, development workstations, and secure network access.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with a talented team of engineers, scientists, and domain experts are abundant, facilitating knowledge transfer and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with flexible work hours providing an advantage for managing personal commitments. Given the mission-critical nature of the applications, there may be an expectation of occasional extended hours or on-call availability, though flexibility is also noted.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is critical for roles involving defense contracts due to security protocols and the need for controlled access to systems and data. Boulder's tech hub status is a positive factor for attracting talent.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit. Be prepared to articulate your career trajectory and interest in SciTec's mission.

• Technical Interview(s): Expect one or more in-depth technical interviews focusing on full-stack development, UI/UX principles, JavaScript (React, Node.js, Redux), data handling, and system design. Case studies or live coding exercises may be used.

• Portfolio Review: Candidates will be asked to present examples from their portfolio, demonstrating their contributions to previous projects, problem-solving approaches, and technical decision-making. Focus on projects relevant to real-time data, geospatial systems, or complex UI development.

• Behavioral/Situational Interviews: These interviews will assess your collaboration skills, problem-solving approach in challenging situations, ability to work in an Agile environment, and fit with SciTec's culture and values. Questions about handling ambiguity, prioritizing tasks, and working with cross-functional teams are common.

• Final Interview: This may involve meeting with senior leadership or the hiring manager for a final assessment of technical depth, strategic thinking, and overall fit for the Staff/Sr Staff level.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Focus on 2-3 of your strongest projects that best represent your full-stack capabilities, UI/UX design thinking, and experience with real-time or geospatial data.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline the problem statement, your specific role and contributions, the technical challenges you faced, the solutions you implemented, and the quantifiable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Technical Depth: Be prepared to deep-dive into the architecture, technology choices, and specific algorithms or patterns you employed. Explain why you made certain decisions.

• Emphasize UI/UX: For this role, clearly articulate your design process, user-centric approach, and how you translated user needs into intuitive interfaces. Showcase wireframes, mockups, or live demos if possible.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics to demonstrate the value of your work (e.g., performance improvements, reduction in bugs, increased user adoption, efficiency gains).

• Tailor to SciTec: If possible, subtly connect your project experiences to SciTec's mission and the challenges of working with defense and national security data.

Challenge Preparation:

• System Design: Be ready for system design questions, particularly those involving real-time data processing, scalable web applications, and data visualization. Think about trade-offs, fault tolerance, and performance.

• Algorithmic Thinking: Review common JavaScript algorithms and data structures. While not a pure algorithmic role, foundational knowledge is expected.

• Problem Decomposition: Practice breaking down complex problems into smaller, manageable components, which is crucial for both coding challenges and portfolio discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Staff/Sr Staff role, interviewers will be looking for evidence of technical leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to mentor. The portfolio presentation is a critical component for demonstrating these capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• JavaScript Ecosystem: Deep expertise in JavaScript, React (for UI development), Node.js (for backend services), and Redux (for state management).

• Version Control: Git is essential for collaborative development and code management.

• Operating Systems: Proficiency in Linux environments is required for development and deployment.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly detailed, expect to work with tools that track application performance, user engagement, and data processing metrics. This could involve custom dashboards or integrated analytics platforms. CRM & Automation:

• CI/CD & DevOps: Experience with CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD) and containerization (Docker) is highly preferred, indicating a modern development and deployment approach.

• Messaging & Streaming: Familiarity with technologies like Protocol Buffers, ZeroMQ, Kafka, gRPC, and REST APIs is preferred for handling real-time data and microservices communication.

• Databases & Data Stores: Experience with SQL, PostgreSQL, and Redis is preferred for data management and caching.

Preferred Tools & Technologies:

• TypeScript: For enhanced type safety in JavaScript development.

• Geospatial Libraries: Cesium for advanced geospatial visualization.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma, Adobe XD, Axure for UI/UX design collaboration.

• Backend Languages: Python and/or C++ for additional backend development capabilities.

• Data Formats: Experience with remotely sensed data types (OPIR, EO/IR, SAR, Spectral, RF).

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on JavaScript, React, and Node.js is central. The preferred skills indicate a sophisticated tech stack involving microservices, real-time data streaming, and modern DevOps practices, all crucial for complex defense applications.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission Focus: A strong commitment to supporting U.S. National Security and Defense objectives, understanding the critical nature of the work.

• Technical Excellence: A drive for high-quality, robust, and reliable software solutions, characterized by meticulous engineering and attention to detail.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: An emphasis on working effectively within Agile teams, sharing knowledge, and supporting colleagues.

• Innovation & Adaptability: A willingness to explore new technologies and methodologies to solve complex problems in a rapidly evolving defense landscape.

• Integrity & Security: Upholding the highest standards of integrity and security, essential given the sensitive nature of the projects.

Collaboration Style:

• Agile & Iterative: Working within Agile ceremonies to foster continuous improvement, transparent communication, and rapid iteration.

• Cross-Functional: Engaging closely with domain experts, system engineers, and potentially client representatives to ensure software solutions meet operational requirements.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that encourages documentation, code reviews, and open discussions to disseminate technical knowledge and best practices.

• Problem-Solving Focused: A collaborative approach to tackling technical challenges, valuing diverse perspectives and collective problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's defense sector focus strongly influences its culture, prioritizing security, reliability, and a deep understanding of mission requirements. The "Staff / Sr Staff" role implies an expectation of contributing positively to this culture through leadership and mentorship.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Complexity of Data: Working with highly complex, real-time, and geospatial data streams requires sophisticated processing, visualization, and error handling techniques.

• Mission-Critical Reliability: Ensuring 24/7 uptime and flawless performance for applications directly supporting national security operations demands rigorous testing and robust architecture.

• Security Requirements: Adhering to stringent DoD security protocols and clearance requirements adds a layer of complexity to development and deployment processes.

• Rapid Technological Evolution: Staying abreast of evolving defense technologies, advanced sensing capabilities, and cutting-edge software development practices to maintain a competitive edge.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Technical Skills: Opportunities to master advanced JavaScript frameworks, explore TypeScript, delve into geospatial visualization libraries like Cesium, and gain expertise in microservices and real-time data architectures.

• Domain Expertise: Develop deep knowledge in specialized areas such as remote sensing data types (OPIR, EO/IR, SAR), space domain awareness, and missile defense systems.

• Architectural Leadership: Grow into roles responsible for defining technical strategy, designing complex systems, and influencing technology roadmaps.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Develop leadership skills through mentoring junior engineers, leading technical initiatives, and potentially guiding feature development teams.

• Industry Exposure: Potential for involvement in industry conferences, specialized training, and gaining exposure to cutting-edge defense technology applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherently tied to the high-stakes nature of defense work, requiring not only strong technical skills but also resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to quality. The growth opportunities are substantial for individuals looking to deepen their expertise in both cutting-edge software engineering and specialized defense technology domains.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Technical Design: Be prepared to discuss how you would design a scalable, real-time data visualization platform for geospatial intelligence. Consider data ingestion, processing, storage, rendering, and security.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Expect questions like: "How would you debug a performance issue in a 24/7 application that is intermittently slow?" or "How would you approach refactoring a legacy JavaScript codebase to improve maintainability?"

• Agile & Collaboration: Discuss your experience in Agile environments. How do you handle conflicting priorities? How do you collaborate with non-technical stakeholders? How do you ensure code quality within a team?

• Mentorship & Leadership: As a Staff/Sr Staff candidate, be ready to discuss how you mentor junior engineers, how you contribute to architectural decisions, and how you handle technical disagreements within a team.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Motivation: Why are you interested in SciTec and its mission in defense technology? How do your skills align with the company's goals?

• Work Environment: What are your expectations for a work environment? How do you handle working on sensitive or classified projects?

• Continuous Learning: How do you stay updated with the latest technologies and trends in full-stack development and UI engineering?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: Clearly articulate the business or mission impact of your projects. Quantify results whenever possible.

• Showcase Process: Detail your development process, including how you approached design, implementation, testing, and deployment. Highlight any contributions to architectural decisions.

• Technical Depth Demonstration: Be ready to answer deep technical questions about your chosen technologies, design patterns, and problem-solving approaches within your portfolio projects.

• Interactive Elements: If possible, prepare a live demo or interactive walkthrough of a key project component.

• Tailor to Role: Emphasize projects that demonstrate experience with real-time data, geospatial visualization, complex UIs, and robust backend services.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Staff/Sr Staff role, interviewers will probe for evidence of strategic thinking, leadership potential, and a deep understanding of software architecture beyond just coding. The portfolio presentation is a key opportunity to showcase this.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Staff / Sr Staff Full Stack UI Engineer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable. Ensure your resume and cover letter are tailored and clearly highlight your relevant experience.

• Portfolio Preparation: Curate 2-3 key projects that best demonstrate your full-stack capabilities, UI/UX design, and experience with real-time or geospatial data. Be ready to articulate your specific contributions, technical challenges, and the impact of your work.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly lists your proficiency in JavaScript, React, Node.js, Redux, Linux, and Git. Highlight any experience with TypeScript, Cesium, Python, C++, CI/CD tools, and databases. Explicitly mention any experience with 24/7 applications or real-time data visualization.

• Interview Practice: Prepare for technical interviews by reviewing JavaScript fundamentals, React concepts, Node.js backend development, and system design principles. Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely. Be ready to discuss your portfolio projects in detail.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with SciTec's mission, its role within U.S. National Security and Defense, and its history. Understand the significance of working with real-time and geospatial data in this context. Research Firefly Aerospace as well.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions. AI-generated resumes and cover letters will not be considered.