Full Stack Engineer - Contract to Hire

About Coa Solutions

Coa Solutions is a values-driven, mission-focused digital services company dedicated to making government services work better for the people who need them. As a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), we take pride in building modern, user-centered software that has a real impact on veterans, their families, and communities. We partner closely with agencies like the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create seamless, accessible digital solutions that improve lives. At Coa, our goal is always the same: to make a positive impact on people’s lives through technology, while upholding our core values of innovation, partnership, excellence, and integrity.

The Role

We are seeking a Full-Stack Software Engineer to join our team and help build innovative products that serve Veterans and advance our mission of better government services. In this role, you will work across the stack — from crafting intuitive front-end interfaces to building robust back-end APIs — to deliver features that directly improve the experience of Veterans interacting with VA services. This is a remote-first position: you’ll collaborate with a distributed team (via Slack, Zoom, etc.) and have the flexibility to work from anywhere within the United States. Your work will involve modern web technologies (JavaScript/React and Ruby on Rails). If you are excited about using your engineering skills to solve meaningful, human-centered problems and thrive in a mission-driven environment, we’d love to hear from you.

What You’ll Do

• Build and maintain full-stack web applications – Create intuitive front-end user interfaces (using React) and robust back-end services/APIs (using Ruby on Rails) that integrate with VA systems and third-party services.

• Collaborate on product development – Work closely with designers, product managers, and other engineers to plan and implement new features with a human-centered design approach. You’ll ensure the user experience is simple, accessible, and effective for Veterans and other users.

• Ensure quality and security – Write clean, well-structured, and testable code. Participate in code reviews and implement automated tests to maintain high code quality. Follow DevSecOps best practices for secure, reliable deployments (security is critical in our work with government data).

• Contribute to public repositories like the VA’s vets-website (front-end JavaScript) and vets-api (Ruby on Rails API). Your contributions will be open-source, benefiting the Veteran community at large.

• Troubleshoot and innovate – Diagnose and resolve technical issues across the full stack to ensure high availability and performance of critical applications. Continuously seek ways to improve our products, whether by optimizing page load times or refining backend processes, so that Veterans can access services without frustration.

What You Bring

• 3+ years of experience in professional software development, with a focus on full-stack web development.

• Proficiency in JavaScript and experience with modern front-end frameworks (ideally React).

• Strong back-end skills with experience developing APIs and services using Ruby on Rails (or a similar web framework). Familiarity with RESTful API design and integrating with databases and external systems.

• Experience working with relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL) including writing efficient SQL queries or using ORMs to interact with data.

• Knowledge of web accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG, Section 508) and a commitment to building products that are usable by everyone.

• Familiarity with software engineering best practices: version control (Git), code reviews, and writing unit/integration tests. Experience setting up CI/CD pipelines or using DevOps tools (Docker, AWS, etc.) is a plus. Experience with analytics including DataDog and Google Analytics will also be highly valued.

• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills – able to collaborate effectively with both technical and non-technical team members. Comfortable working in a remote team environment, communicating via online tools.

• Self-motivated and accountable – you can take ownership of projects, manage your time well in a remote setting, and drive tasks to completion without constant supervision.

• Passion for our mission – a genuine enthusiasm for improving government services and serving Veterans. You care about the end users of your software and want to make a difference through your work.

Why Join Us

• Purpose-Driven Work: Be part of a team making a real difference. Your code will directly help Veterans and others access the benefits and services they deserve. Every project we take on has a meaningful human impact.

• Remote-First Culture: We have been remote from the start. Work from anywhere in the U.S. with flexibility to balance work and life. We trust our team members to get work done in the environment where they thrive.

• Small Team, Big Impact: As a growing small business, we offer a close-knit, supportive environment. You’ll have a voice in decisions, a wide scope of responsibility, and the chance to wear many hats. Your contributions won’t get lost in the shuffle.

• Innovative Tech & Open Source: Work with a modern tech stack (React, Cypress, Ruby on Rails, AWS, etc.) and solve complex problems at scale. We embrace new ideas and continuous learning.

• Collaborative Team: You’ll join a team that values partnership and transparency. We collaborate openly, celebrate varied perspectives, and support each other’s growth. Leadership is accessible and mentorship is part of our culture.

• Mission Alignment: If you’re passionate about public service, veterans’ causes, or simply building tech for good, you’ll find a rewarding home here. We’re a team that cares about our work and each other.

Benefits

We offer competitive compensation and a range of benefits to support you (once you transition to full-time employment), including:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.

• Health, dental, and vision insurance to keep you and your family healthy.

• Paid time off (PTO) and holidays – ample time to recharge and observe important days.

• Flexible work hours – we care about results, not clock-watching. Adjust your schedule as needed, within the needs of the team.

• Paid parental leave and a supportive environment for families.

Note: Benefits apply to full-time employees. During the initial contractor period (see below), we ensure you have the resources and support needed, and full benefits will kick in once you convert to a permanent role.

Eligibility Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship & Location: Must be a United States citizen residing on U.S. soil. (Due to the security requirements of our government contracts, we cannot consider non-U.S. citizens or those living abroad.)

• Public Trust: Ability to pass a background check administered by the Department of Veteran Affairs. (This role involves working with VA systems/data, which requires a clearance process.) Click here for more info

• Contract-to-Hire: Willingness to start as a contractor. All new hires begin on a contract basis while we process your government clearance. Upon successful clearance and strong performance, you will transition to full-time employment (with all benefits) at Coa Solutions.

Our Hiring Process (What to Expect)

We strive to keep our hiring process transparent, respectful, and efficient. Here’s how it typically works for this role:

1. Apply: Submit your resume (and an optional cover letter) to us for review. We’ll reach out to qualified candidates to schedule an initial chat.
2. Initial Interview: A 30-minute video call with our team (e.g. technical lead). This is a chance for us to learn about your background and for you to ask questions about Coa and the role.
3. Technical Assessment: A practical coding exercise or technical interview. This lets you showcase your skills in a relevant scenario. We keep this step reasonable in scope – we respect your time.
4. Final Interview: A longer conversation with one or more team members or leadership. We’ll discuss your approach to work, ensure alignment with our values/culture, and give you deeper insight into our projects. You’ll have plenty of time to ask any remaining questions.
5. Offer & Onboarding: If selected, we will extend an offer. The role will start with a short contractor period during which we initiate your security clearance. Once your clearance is approved (and you’ve proven to be a great addition to the team, which we’re confident you will!), we’ll convert you to full-time. Our onboarding will set you up for success with all the tools and introductions you need.

Throughout the process, we’ll keep you informed on next steps and timelines. All interviews are conducted remotely via video call, and we’re happy to accommodate reasonable schedule needs. Our goal is to give you a positive candidate experience.

Coa Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply – especially if you are driven by our mission to serve Veterans and improve government services. Join us in building technology that makes a difference!