Systems Engineer

Systems Engineer

Clearance Level: Interim secret sufficient to start. Must be willing to obtain an Top Secret Clearance.

At Aquila Technology, you will see our team’s passion every day, whether we are building a robust, policy-compliant IT system or stress-testing a system to identify gaps and security vulnerabilities. To own the advantage, we ensure our team owns results and gets the work done right the first time by deploying smart, purposeful solutions that work. Aquila is the right people with the right skills driving the right outcomes. We call this the Aquila Advantage.

Aquila Technology is seeking a Systems Engineer to support a premier defense research organization. The role focuses on designing and integrating distributed data architecture solutions, with emphasis on AI/ML, automation, and data analysis. The candidate will develop prototypes and proof-of-concepts to support secure, cloud-based data sharing and modernization initiatives across distributed environments, while evaluating emerging technologies in data engineering and observability.

Must Have:

• 5 years Building and managing databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, Redis, Mongo, InfluxDB)
• 5 years Data Analysis
• 5 years Data Visualization (display tool-kits and methodologies)
• 5 years Experience with ETL (Extract, transform, and load)
• Bachelor's Degree
• 2 years Machine Learning/AI
• 2 years AI/ML
• 2 years Experience developing and implementing algorithms for AI/ML workflows in Python
• 5 years Software programming: Java, C/C++, Python, Linux
• 2 years Familiarity with monitoring, logging, and observability tools (Prometheus, Grafana and Splunk)
• 2 years DevSec Ops experience
• 5 years Systems Analysis

Nice to Have:

• Currently holds a Secret Clearance (OR a higher clearance)
• Experience with OMS (open mission systems) and UCI (universal command and control interface)
• Containerization (Docker, podman, etc.)

What You Will Bring:

• Strong background in data analysis, identifying trends, drawing actionable insights, and evaluating data interoperability from diverse sources to support key decisions
• Experience designing and implementing distributed data architectures, including publish/subscribe messaging systems (e.g., NATS) and robust Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) pipelines
• Proficiency with high-performance database technologies (e.g., PostgreSQL, MongoDB, ClickHouseDB)
• Hands-on development experience with Python, Java, and C/C++ for high-performance data processing, analytics, and system components
• Deep understanding of observability and visualization stacks, including Grafana for dashboards, Prometheus, and VictoriaMetrics for monitoring large-scale distributed systems
• Ability to analyze complex systems, identify performance bottlenecks, debug issues, and implement efficiency improvements
• Experience gathering and analyzing system requirements, mapping them to capabilities, identifying gaps, and developing risk mitigation strategies
• Strong team collaboration using Agile methodologies, with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Familiarity with DevSecOps pipelines, practices, and tools
• Experience or strong interest in network emulation and testbed environments

Preferred Skills

• Active DoW Secret or TS/SCI Clearance
• Knowledge of architecture frameworks such as DoDAF, applied across multi-domain and cloud environments
• Understanding of Common Intelligence Picture (CIP) and Common Operational Picture (COP) concepts
• Expertise in cloud-native infrastructure and automation using Kubernetes, Ansible, and Terraform for deploying and managing scalable environments
• Additional experience with containerization (Docker / Podman), infrastructure-as-code, and observability tools (Loki, Fluent Bit, OpenTelemetry)
• Proficiency in building AI-powered analytics platforms, including natural language querying, automated reporting, root-cause analysis, cross-run comparisons, and actionable recommendations
• Hands-on experience with AI/ML workflows, and integration of AI models into data pipelines and decision-support systems
• Experience with Open Mission Systems (OMS) and Universal Command and Control Interface (UCI)
• Strong UI/UX practices for data-driven dashboards and applications
• Proficiency in designing and optimizing low-latency distributed systems

Benefits and Perks:

Aquila team members experience the opportunity to be part of a fast-paced, customer-focused, and technically innovative work environment. Aquila strives to deliver the best of the best in technical services to our customers. Candidates that possess a love for technical challenges, a desire to constantly learn, and the desire to establish themselves as critical players within a team will enjoy calling Aquila Technology home.

Our Perks Include:

PTO - 15 days (vacation/sick) 10 paid holidays - 6 standard (New Year’s, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas) - 4 floating holidays prorated based on your day of hire:

• 1.5 paid days, or 12 hours, for approved volunteer work
• 1 week of paid maternity/paternity LOA after 1 year of Full-time employment

401K with Fidelity - Eligible to participate following 90 days of employment. Company match on employee contribution:

• $1/$1 up to 3%, then .50 cents / $1 for 4th and 5th %s
• Fully vested from day one
• Company match does not apply to catch-up contribution

Buy Your Own Device (BYOD) -Team members are eligible for reimbursement of up to $1,500 every three (3) years for the purchase of electronic equipment used to access corporate services. To qualify for this benefit, employees must have completed a minimum of six (6) months of employment and must agree to and sign the Device Minimum Configuration Form prior to reimbursement. Electronic devices eligible under the Buy Your Own Device (BYOD) program are limited to cell phones, laptops, and tablets.

Work location: Candidate should be expected to be in the office 3 days/wk

Clearance Level: Interim secret sufficient to start.

Interview Process: Initial prescreening with the hiring manager and then an in person interview for a second round.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.