Applied Data & Software Engineer

Agile Defense
Arlington, Virginia, United StatesFull-timePosted Sep 18, 2026

About the role

About Agile Defense

At Agile Defense we know that action defines the outcome and new challenges require new solutions. That’s why we always look to the future and embrace change with an unmovable spirit and the courage to build for what comes next.

Our vision is to bring adaptive innovation to support our nation's most important missions through the seamless integration of advanced technologies, elite minds, and unparalleled agility—leveraging a foundation of speed, flexibility, and ingenuity to strengthen and protect our nation’s vital interests.

Requisition #: 1862

Job Title: Applied Data & Software Engineer

Location: Arlington, VA

Clearance Level: TS/SCI, Must Have Clearance to Start

Job DescriptionEngineers in this role will design, build, and deploy analytical tools, machine learning workflows, knowledge systems, and multi user applications that enable the customers to transform siloed data into accessible, actionable insight. This position requires a blend of modern software engineering, applied machine learning, data integration, and rapid prototyping skills. The engineers will operate in highly dynamic environments with limited supervision, adapting to customer-specific technologies and methodologies to mission specific Joint Staff challenges.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and deploy Python based natural language processing and machine learning workflows, including text analytics, topic modeling, embedding based classification, and entity extraction

Build network analysis and knowledge graph systems, including architectures similar to GraphRAG for complex, multi source analytic problems

Design and implement collaborative front end applications in TypeScript that support multiple users in real time analytic, planning, and decision environments

Build APIs, integrate data feeds, and support end to end data application pipelines within secure JS environments

Evaluate emerging tools and methods, adapting customer capabilities for Joint Staff missions with minimal supervision

Provide technical support, documentation, and iterative solution development in partnership with customer personnel and operators

Work as part of an embedded technical team, ensuring solutions align with DoW priorities and mission objectives

Uphold security and access policies while developing in SIPRNet and JWICS environments

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, data science, engineering, information systems, mathematics, or a related technical field.

Equivalent combinations of education, advanced technical certification, and relevant professional experience may be considered

4+ years of Python development experience, including application development and Git based version management OR;

4+ years of front end TypeScript experience with multi user production deployments, plus at least 2 years of Python proficiency

Demonstrated experience building in new or ambiguous environments with minimal oversight

Must have an active TS/SCI clearance (SCI eligibility)

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with modern NLP libraries and frameworks (Transformers, spaCy, HuggingFace, etc.)

Experience designing or using graph databases, GraphML, or other graph centric analytic tooling

Familiarity with deploying software in secure or classified environments

Experience adapting engineering methods to operational or analytical workflows

Knowledge of DoD data architectures, decision processes, or operational planning cycles (not required, but valuable)

Our Core Values

Employees of Agile Defense are our number one priority, and the importance we place on our culture here is fundamental. Our culture is alive and evolving, but it always stays true to its roots. Here, you are valued as a family member, and we believe that we can accomplish great things together. Agile Defense has been highly successful in the past few years due to our employees and the culture we create together.

What makes us Agile? We call it the 6Hs, the values that define our culture and guide everything we do. Together, these values infuse vibrancy, integrity, and a tireless work ethic into advancing the most important national security and critical civilian missions. It's how we show up every day. It's who we are.

Happy - Be Infectious. Happiness multiplies and creates a positive and connected environment where motivation and satisfaction have an outsized effect on everything we do.

Helpful - Be Supportive. Being helpful is the foundation of teamwork, resulting in a supportive atmosphere where collaboration flourishes, and collective success is celebrated.

Honest - Be Trustworthy. Honesty serves as our compass, ensuring transparent communication and ethical conduct, essential to who we are and the complex domains we support.

Humble - Be Grounded. Success is not achieved alone, humility ensures a culture of mutual respect, encouraging open communication, and a willingness to learn from one another and take on any task.

Hungry - Be Eager. Our hunger for excellence drives an insatiable appetite for innovation and continuous improvement, propelling us forward in the face of new and unprecedented challenges.

Hustle - Be Driven. Hustle is reflected in our relentless work ethic, where we are each committed to going above and beyond to advance the mission and achieve success.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and deploy Python based natural language processing and machine learning workflows
  • Build network analysis and knowledge graph systems
  • Design and implement collaborative front end applications in TypeScript
  • Build APIs, integrate data feeds, and support end to end data application pipelines
  • Evaluate emerging tools and methods
  • Provide technical support, documentation, and iterative solution development
  • Work as part of an embedded technical team
  • Uphold security and access policies

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in computer science, data science, engineering, information systems, mathematics, or a related technical field
  • 4+ years of Python development experience or front end TypeScript experience with Python proficiency
  • Demonstrated experience building in new or ambiguous environments
  • Must have an active TS/SCI clearance

Skills mentioned

PythonTypeScriptMachine LearningTransformersHugging FaceEmbeddingsRetrieval-Augmented GenerationFrontend DevelopmentREST APIsGit

About Agile Defense

Agile Defense: Always Evolving Agile Defense stands at the forefront of innovation, driving advanced capabilities and solutions tailored to the most critical national security and civilian missions. With operations in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, Agile Defense supports our customer missions around the globe. Whether developing specialized solutions, contextualizing data, or strengthening cybersecurity, our expertise is instrumental in safeguarding our nation's sensitive assets. Advanced National Security and Civilian Capabilities Digital Transformation  Applying advanced services, capabilities, and solutions securely to enhance mission operations and achieve optimal outcomes.   Data Analytics  Leveraging a data-driven approach, we deliver data insights that provide clarity to accelerate the decision-making process.  Cyber  Delivering Cyber Systems and Cyber Operations capabilities to defend against advanced and emerging cyber threats with certainty.

IT Services and IT Consulting1,001-5,000 employeesMcLean, Virginia

H-1B sponsorship history

Historical employer filing data was found for Agile Defense. The employer record includes 1 historical certified applications. This is employer-level history, not a guarantee that this role currently offers sponsorship.