About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Defense and Space Manufacturing.

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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Position Overview

Confidential Client is seeking a Software Engineer II to join a data engineering team supporting U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) missions. You will design, build, and operate scalable data platforms and services (including graph-based systems) that enable analytics, machine learning, and mission decision support. This role works closely with cross-functional teams (data scientists, ML engineers, product/project managers, and domain experts) and requires experience in modern software engineering, data pipelines, and cloud-native deployment practices.

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What You’ll Do

• Design and implement core data frameworks, ETL pipelines, and APIs used by data engineers, data scientists, and consulting teams.
• Model, build, and maintain graph databases and analytic solutions (e.g., Neo4j, Gremlin) and author complex queries (Cypher, Gremlin).
• Develop backend services and integrations using Python, Java, Node.js, or Go; contribute to front-end components when needed (React + TypeScript is a plus).
• Build and operate event-driven and real-time data processing systems for high-velocity, sequential, and mission-oriented data.
• Apply software engineering best practices: unit/integration testing, CI/CD, containerization (Docker), orchestration, and infrastructure-as-code.
• Collaborate in Agile teams to convert requirements into robust, maintainable, and well-tested solutions.
• Incorporate GenAI/ML patterns (e.g., GraphRAG) and simulation-based analyses when applicable.
• Ensure data quality, observability, and performance for production workloads.

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Minimum Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance OR SCI-eligibility (candidates with past or current DoD SAP/SAR access preferred).
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, statistics, engineering, or a related quantitative field — or equivalent practical experience.
• 3+ years of professional experience in software engineering or data engineering.
• Demonstrated experience with graph databases and analytics (Neo4j, Gremlin, or similar) and the ability to model complex relationships and time-dependent processes.
• Strong programming skills in one or more of: Python, Java, Node.js, or Go. Familiarity with FastAPI and Pandas is a plus.
• Experience building backend services, APIs, and contributing to web application stacks.
• Hands-on experience with ETL/data pipelines across structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data.
• Experience with distributed computing frameworks and deploying enterprise applications to cloud environments.
• Practical knowledge of DevOps/DataOps/MLOps practices, containerization, and orchestration.
• Strong testing skills (unit tests, integration/API tests) and attention to maintainability and scalability.

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Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in a quantitative discipline or equivalent experience.
• Familiarity with aerospace, defense programs, or mission data.
• Experience with event streaming, real-time processing, and high-velocity sequential data flows.
• Experience applying GenAI/ML techniques to graph problems and building GraphRAG-style solutions.
• Background in running simulations in Python and applying advanced analytics for complex system problems.
• Experience with React + TypeScript for front-end contributions.

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Location & Work Model

• Primary location: Washington, Washington, D.C.
• This position supports work for DoD customers and may require hybrid or on-site work depending on program needs and client requirements.

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Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience and location, plus a comprehensive benefits package.
• Professional development, mentorship, and access to structured learning to accelerate your career growth.
• Supportive, high-performance culture with exposure to multidisciplinary teams and mission-driven work.

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Employment Type

• FULL_TIME

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Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.