Database Engineer; U.S. Intelligence Community

Career Opportunities with Elder Research

A great place to work.

Location:

Ft. Meade, MD
Workplace:
On‑site (hands‑on access to high‑impact data systems)
Clearance: TS/SCI with Polygraph
Salary range: $149,000–$220,000

We are seeking mid‑ and senior‑level Database Engineers to design, develop, and optimize mission‑critical data systems that support complex national security objectives. This position focuses on the front end of the system lifecycle—from requirements development through system acceptance testing and Initial Operational Capability.

• Develop relational and object‑oriented databases, database parser software, and database loading utilities.
• Translate complex business and mission requirements into optimized database schemas and data models.
• Analyze, design, and implement database solutions from concept through deployment.
• Project long‑term requirements for database administration, design, and scalability.
• Direct development of complex systems using queries, tables, ODBC, and cloud‑based data storage and retrieval methodologies.
• Design and document data flow, data structures, and data access patterns that support analytics and operational needs.
• Develop and maintain automated scripts, macros, and ad‑hoc queries to manipulate data into master files.
• Evaluate, recommend, and implement system improvements, optimizations, and modernization initiatives.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to ensure data integrity, security compliance, and performance tuning.

• Active TS/SCI with Polygraph.
• Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Proficiency in designing and managing relational (
  SQL
  ) and non‑relational (
  No
  
  SQL
  ) databases.
• Experience with database query languages (SQL, PL/SQL, T‑SQL) and scripting languages (Python, Bash).
• Hands‑on experience developing and managing databases using cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• Experience with database parser software, ETL tools, and data migration in cloud or hybrid environments.
• Strong understanding of data modeling, normalization, indexing, and partitioning strategies.
• Experience with database security, access control, and encryption techniques.
• Familiarity with Infrastructure as Code tools such as Terraform, AWS Cloud Formation, or Ansible.
• Proven ability to collaborate across teams, document data systems, and present technical findings to non‑technical stakeholders.

• Containerized database deployments (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Big‑data technologies (Apache Spark, Hadoop, Kafka).
• Dev Sec Ops  practices and CI/CD pipelines for data infrastructure.
• Database performance tuning and query optimization in high‑volume environments.
• Background in data replication, backup, and disaster recovery planning.

• Family, dental, and vision benefits.
• Employer‑paid disability.
• Paid time off and paid parental leave.
• 401(k) plan with employer contribution.
• Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP).
• Reasonable hours, low travel, highly flexible time off.

Mission‑Driven Work: Support the U.S. Intelligence Community by building secure, scalable data systems that enable real‑time insights.
Career Stability: We hire for careers, not contracts—our work is growing.
People‑Focused Culture: We value work‑life balance, collaboration, and professional growth.
Ownership Mindset: Every employee is a shareholder through our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

Elder Research, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status. Disability discrimination is prohibited. Elder Research is a Government contractor and many positions require U.S. Citizenship.