Associate Software Engineer (Backend)
Location: Washington, District of Columbia, US
Recruiter: Twenty
Date posted: Thursday, November 20, 2025
Job Description:
Twenty is seeking an Associate Backend Engineer in its Arlington, VA office to help build the next generation of cyber technologies that protect democracies worldwide. We're looking for someone with 3+ years of experience in developing scalable applications, particularly using Golang, graph databases, and cloud-native technologies. In this role, you'll design and develop high-throughput systems that process real-time operational data, work with complex graph schemas, and create APIs that form the backbone of our cyber and electromagnetic capabilities. You'll join a world-class product and engineering team that delivers mission-critical solutions for U.S. national security, working in both cloud and on-premises environments to build systems that operate at machine speed. If you're passionate about solving complex technical challenges while making a direct impact on national security, we want to talk to you.
About the Company
At Twenty, we're taking on one of the most critical challenges of our time: defending democracies in the digital age. We develop revolutionary technologies that operate at the intersection of cyber and electromagnetic domains, where the speed of operations exceeds human sensing and complexity transcends conventional boundaries. Our team doesn't just solve problems we deliver game-changing outcomes that directly impact national security. We're pragmatic optimists who understand that while our mission of protecting America and its allies is challenging, success is possible.
Role Details
Design and implement scalable backend solutions using Go that enhance cyber operators' decision-making and response capabilities
Develop high-performance APIs and services that process real-time operational data streams
Build and optimize database schemas and queries using graph databases (Neo4j or similar) to support complex relationship mapping
Implement event-driven architectures using NATS for real-time communication between system components
Create and maintain automated testing suites to ensure system integrity and performance
Design and implement microservices architectures deployed on AWS
Develop and maintain CI/CD pipelines that enable rapid, secure deployment of new capabilities
Work closely with cyber operations experts to understand and implement features that enhance operator efficiency
Collaborate with frontend teams to design efficient APIs and data structures
Research and evaluate new technologies that could enhance our cyber operations capabilities
Qualifications
Technical Skills & Experience
3+ years of professional software development experience with backend or full-stack applications
Strong proficiency in Go (Golang) backend development
Experience with graph databases (Neo4j, AWS Neptune, or similar)
Working knowledge of event-driven architectures and message queues
Experience with cloud platforms, preferably AWS
Experience with containerization and microservices architectures
Understanding of API design and implementation (REST and/or GraphQL)
Strong understanding of security best practices and secure coding principles
Familiarity with database optimization and query performance tuning
Experience with version control systems (Git) and collaborative development workflows
Education
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field, or equivalent practical experience
Security Requirements
Distinguishing Qualifications
Track record of delivering technical solutions in defense, security, or mission-critical contexts
Experience with AI/ML integration in operational systems
Background in developing tools for cyber operators or security analysts
Experience with large-scale data processing and analysis
Contributions to open-source projects demonstrating relevant skills
Additional Skills
Experience with Agile development methodologies
Knowledge of distributed systems and scalability patterns
Performance optimization experience
Understanding of DevOps practices and infrastructure as code
Familiarity with monitoring and observability tools
Experience with automated testing frameworks
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