Systems Engineer - Hadoop​/Linux​/NiFi​/XKS​/DevOps

Location

Annapolis Junction, MD

Captivation has built a reputation on providing customers exactly what is needed in a timely manner. Our team of engineers take pride in what they develop and constantly innovate to provide the best solution. Captivation is looking for software developers who can get stuff done while making a difference in support of the mission to protect our country.

Principal Data Flow Engineer is a senior technical leader responsible for designing, integrating, and sustaining enterprise-scale data‑flow architectures that support mission‑critical analytics across secure cloud and distributed environments. The role oversees high‑availability Linux and Cloudera Hadoop infrastructures, develops and maintains end‑to‑end data‑flow solutions using technologies such as Niagara files and XKS, and ensures reliable, secure, and compliant data ingestion, processing, and delivery.

The position also leads automation, monitoring, troubleshooting, and Dev Ops initiatives to improve system performance and operational efficiency while coordinating across engineering, operations, analytics, and stakeholder teams to deploy scalable, resilient, and mission‑focused data‑flow capabilities.

• Lead the design, integration, and sustainment of complex enterprise data‑flow architectures supporting mission‑critical analytics, ensuring reliable ingestion, processing, routing, and delivery across large‑scale cloud and distributed environments.
• Manage and optimize high‑availability Linux and Cloudera Hadoop cloud infrastructures, including virtual machines, storage containers, and enterprise data repositories, to support thousands of secure operational dataflows.
• Engineer and maintain end‑to‑end data‑flow solutions using technologies such as Niagara files and XKS, ensuring schema compatibility, metadata integrity, and proper data governance throughout the lifecycle.
• Develop and implement monitoring, troubleshooting, and automation strategies utilizing system instrumentation, cron scripting, logging, and operational monitoring tools to improve system continuity, performance, and incident response capabilities.
• Provide technical leadership for Dev Ops and Agile/Scrum initiatives, including task prioritization, workflow modernization, requirements management, and cross‑functional coordination to improve operational efficiency and team performance.
• Ensure compliance with enterprise security, classification, and data handling requirements by applying deep knowledge of intelligence community governance policies, access controls, and secure data routing methodologies.
• Coordinate across engineering, operations, analytics, and stakeholder organizations to deploy new capabilities, transition systems into production, establish standard operating procedures, and support enterprise‑wide mission objectives through scalable and resilient data‑flow solutions.

• Must currently hold a Top Secret/SCI U.S. Government security clearance with a favorable polygraph; therefore all candidates must be a U.S. citizen.

• Bachelor’s degree in a qualified engineering field or related discipline from an accredited college or university with twenty (20) years of systems engineering experience.
• A high school diploma or GED plus twenty‑four (24) years of general systems engineering experience.
• A master’s degree in a qualified engineering field or a related discipline from an accredited college or university plus eighteen (18) years of systems engineering experience.

• Annual salary: $130,000 - $270,000 (depends on years of experience)
• Up to 20% 401(k) contribution (vested from day 1; no matching required)
• Above‑market hourly rates
• $3,600 HSA contribution
• Company‑paid employee medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short‑term & long‑term disability, AD&D

As set forth in Captivation Software’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.