Associate Software Engineer

Job Description

At Western Governors University (WGU), technology plays a critical role in advancing our mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable education. Our engineering teams build the platforms, services, and tools that support millions of student interactions and empower employees across the university.

We are looking for a Software Engineer II who is passionate about backend development and eager to grow their technical expertise while contributing to meaningful products that improve the student experience.

As a Software Engineer II, you will help build scalable backend services and APIs that power modern web and mobile applications across WGU's digital ecosystem. This role is ideal for an engineer with a strong foundation in software development who is ready to deepen their experience working on production systems alongside experienced engineers and technical leaders.

You will primarily focus on backend development using Java and Python while collaborating closely with engineers working in Angular and Flutter. You'll gain hands-on experience designing APIs, integrating systems, working with cloud-native technologies, and building reliable software solutions that support learners and employees.

What You'll Do

• Develop, enhance, and maintain backend services and APIs using Java and Python
• Build and support RESTful APIs and backend integrations across multiple platforms
• Collaborate with frontend and mobile engineers to deliver end-to-end application features
• Write clean, maintainable, secure, and testable code
• Troubleshoot issues, debug applications, and contribute to performance improvements
• Participate in code reviews and technical discussions to improve engineering quality
• Support CI/CD pipelines, deployments, and operational excellence initiatives
• Learn and apply cloud-native development principles and backend engineering best practices
• Contribute to Agile ceremonies, sprint planning, and team collaboration activities
• Continuously improve technical skills while contributing to team goals and product outcomes

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
• Professional experience developing software applications or backend services
• Experience with Java or Python development
• Understanding of backend application architecture and REST API design principles
• Familiarity with relational or NoSQL databases such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, or MongoDB
• Experience using Git and modern version control workflows
• Basic understanding of cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to learn new technologies and contribute within a collaborative engineering environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing backend applications using Spring Boot, FastAPI, Flask, or Django
• Exposure to containerization technologies such as Docker
• Familiarity with CI/CD concepts and automated deployment practices
• Understanding of frontend integration patterns and API consumption
• Experience contributing to team-based software projects in academic, internship, open-source, or professional environments
• Exposure to Agile software development methodologies