R&D Engineer — Mission Solutions (Defense)

TL;DR

R&D Engineer — Mission Solutions (Defense): Building, prototyping, and refining software and platform solutions for defense-relevant use cases with an accent on rapid iteration and technical validation. Focus on translating operational needs into practical software, developing cloud-native prototypes, and conducting technical demonstrations for stakeholders.

Location: Remote (U.S. citizenship and eligibility for security clearance required)

Company

A software consultancy focused on building mission-critical systems for the U.S. government across cloud platforms, DevSecOps, and AI/ML.

What you will do

• Build, prototype, and refine software solutions for defense use cases from concept through demonstration.
• Develop and validate prototype capabilities across cloud-native and containerized environments.
• Translate user, customer, and stakeholder feedback into clear technical requirements and engineering priorities.
• Support technical demos, R&D events, and mission-focused engagements.
• Collaborate with engineers and technical leadership to evaluate tradeoffs and troubleshoot system behavior.
• Prepare technical documentation, briefing content, and post-event feedback summaries.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.
• Technical background in software development, platform engineering, systems engineering, or DevSecOps.
• Working knowledge of APIs, cloud platforms, container technologies, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Strong communication skills to explain architectures and technical decisions to varied audiences.
• Willingness to travel approximately 15% for R&D events and customer engagements.

Nice to have

• Active Secret clearance or higher.
• Background with DoD, Air Force, Platform One, Big Bang, or similar defense technology programs.
• Proficiency with Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, React, Go, FastAPI, Postgres, AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, Helm, or Terraform.
• Exposure to AI-enabled applications, LLMs, automation, or data platforms.
• Experience collaborating directly with operators and end users in the field.

Culture & Benefits

• 401(k) with 100% match up to 6%.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage.
• Company-supported certifications in cloud, Kubernetes, DevSecOps, security, and AI/ML.
• Generous PTO, paid holidays, and home-office equipment plan.
• Weekly pay schedule and fitness/wellness reimbursement.