Senior Data Platform Engineer

New Posted:
June 25, 2026

The Senior Data Platform Engineer serves as the foundational systems engineering and modernization engine for the cloud-hosting and data-sharing infrastructure across the Air Force Intelligence Community (AF IC) Information Environment. Operating directly at the Headquarters Air Force (HAF) staff level, this role evaluates technical feasibility, designs secure target-state data architectures, and aligns commercial classified cloud platforms with evolving mission capabilities. The position is responsible for orchestrating robust Dev Sec Ops  automation frameworks and MLOps pipeline considerations to securely integrate multi-cloud hosting solutions.

By interconnecting elastic virtualized compute, storage, and software-defined network environments, this role provides the resilient digital backbone necessary to test, deploy, and scale advanced data analytics tools globally at the speed of relevance.

• Work Location:
  
  Hybrid
  - Colorado Denver/Colorado Springs or National Capital Region (NCR)
• Security Clearance: TS/SCI
• Travel Requirements: TDY’s as required by the Government

Karthik Consulting is committed to providing competitive compensation based on the responsibilities of the role, required qualifications, security clearance level, relevant experience, certifications, customer requirements, geographic location, and overall business needs. The salary range listed for this position represents a good‑faith estimate of the current compensation range for this role.

At Karthik Consulting, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the salary range. Final compensation decisions are based on the facts and circumstances of each candidate’s experience, qualifications, certifications, clearance level, contract requirements, and overall alignment with the role.

A reasonable estimate of the current salary range for this position is $165,000 to $185,000 annually
.

Employees may be eligible for company benefits and additional compensation programs, subject to company policy, contract requirements, and individual eligibility.

This role supports the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Digital Infrastructure Transformation. The mission focuses on modernizing, designing, and sustaining an integrated digital environment that transitions from historical hardware‑based industrial constraints to software‑defined digital processes. This modern enterprise architecture interconnects physical and virtual technologies across Data and Analytics, Sense‑Making, Automation, Augmentation, and Artificial Intelligence (AAA), Hybrid/Multi‑Cloud environments, Networks, and Zero Trust security frameworks to safely deliver intelligence to warfighters at the speed of relevance.

The role operates within the operational oversight of the AF IC Chief Information Officer (CIO), Chief Data Officer (CDO), IT Risk Management Framework Authorizing Official (AO), and Chief Technology Officer (CTO). The work spans the entire spectrum of Air Force ISR Information Environment operations, encompassing infrastructure layer integration, multi‑cloud optimization, platform‑level security configuration, and automated data sharing across secure NIPR, SIPR, and JWICS networks.

• Lead the evaluation of current AF IC Information Environment infrastructure capabilities against operational requirements to identify modernization and cost‑efficiency opportunities.
• Design conceptual and logical target‑state architectures for high‑capacity data integration, secure multi‑domain data sharing, and full‑lifecycle data management.
• Provide specialized engineering support to bring together, configure, and interconnect physical and virtual technologies across the data, application, compute, and storage layers.
• Conduct exhaustive technical feasibility analyses on emerging software‑defined capabilities and modern commercial tools to determine operational risk profiles.
• Create model‑based systems engineering graphical models, technical…