Staff Systems Engineer

The Mission Starts Here 

TheIncLab engineers and delivers intelligent digital applications and platforms that revolutionize how our customers and mission-critical teams achieve success.  

We are where innovation meets purpose; and where your career can meet purpose as well.  We are looking for a Staff Systems Engineer to collaborate closely with system architects, engineers, and government stakeholders to tackle the intricate challenges of systems engineering to national security and defense. We encourage you to apply and take the first step in joining our dynamic and impactful company. 

Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept 

As a Staff Systems Engineer, you will gain deep insights into customer missions and leverage your technical expertise to drive innovation, problem-solving, and the development of resilent system architecture.   You will be part of a collaborative and innovative team, and a growing company that understands the development of career pathways, and the success of each of its employees, is the essential ingredient to enable it to deliver for customers.  

You will have substantial opportunities to have meaningful impact.  You will collaborate with mission stakeholders and customers, and contribute to the design of complex, resilient systems architectures that support critical defense and national security missions.  You will work at the forefront of tactical systems, communication networks, cloud infrastructures, and unmanned autonomous systems for defense applications.  

What will you do?

This is a senior, hands-on technical leadership role responsible for designing, implementing, and evolving complex software and platform systems. The Staff Systems Engineer will operate across cloud infrastructure, developer platforms, security controls, and application teams—serving as both a deep technical contributor and an architectural leader. 

The ideal candidate is a doer with architectural judgment: someone who can design systems, write code and infrastructure, lead proofs of concept, and gradually take ownership of technical roadmaps and mentoring as the organization grows. 

• Design and implement system architectures spanning cloud infrastructure, platforms, and applications. 

• Translate mission, security, and operational requirements into practical technical designs. 

• Develop and maintain reference architectures, design patterns, and system blueprints. 

• Evaluate architectural tradeoffs involving scalability, reliability, security, and cost. 

• Support architecture reviews and guide teams toward sustainable system designs. 

• Build and operate cloud-native systems using infrastructure-as-code and automation. 

• Develop prototypes and proofs of concept to validate architectural approaches. 

• Contribute directly to complex implementations when systems cross team or domain boundaries. 

• Troubleshoot and resolve high-impact production and integration issues. 

• Support database and platform-level concerns in partnership with cloud and data engineers. 

• Collaborate with Cloud Engineering and Build Platform teams to define secure, scalable platforms. 

• Help establish guardrails, golden paths, and secure-by-default patterns. 

• Integrate security, compliance, and observability requirements into system designs. 

• Partner with ISSOs to translate policy and RMF controls into implementable solutions. 

• Serve as a technical mentor and force multiplier for engineers across teams. 

• Influence technical roadmaps and platform evolution. 

• Participate in building the long-term architecture and platform function, with growth toward Principal-level scope as the team expands.  Add position bullets 

Capabilities that will enable your success 

• Bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field. 
• 8+ years of professional experience designing and delivering complex software or platform systems.
• Strong experience with cloud-native architectures and distributed systems. 
• Hands-on experience with: Cloud platforms (AWS preferred) 
• Containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes) 
• Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Helm, similar) 
• Experience designing systems with security, compliance, and operational constraints. 
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to engineers, leadership, and customers.  

Preferred Qualifications 

• Master’s degree in Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field. 

• Experience supporting Department of Defense or other regulated environments. 

• Familiarity with DevSecOps practices, CI/CD platforms (e.g., GitLab), and automated security tooling. 

• Experience with database platforms (PostgreSQL/PostGIS, managed or self-hosted). 

• Experience mentoring senior engineers or leading technical initiatives across teams. 

• GIS, geospatial, or data-intensive system experience is a plus. 

Clearance Requirements 

• Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen and willing and eligible to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance at the Secret or Top-Secret level. Existing clearance is preferred. 

At TheIncLab we recognize that innovation thrives when employees are provided with ample support and resources. Our benefits packages reflect that: 

• Hybrid and flexible work schedules 
• Professional development programs 
• Training and certification reimbursement 
• Extended and floating holiday schedule  
• Paid time off and Paid volunteer time 
• Health and Wellness Benefits include options for Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance along with access to Wellness, Mental Health, and Employee Assistance Programs. 
• 100% Company Paid Benefits that include STD, LTD, and Basic Life insurance. 
• 401(k) Plan Options with employer matching 
• Incentive bonuses for eligible clearances, performance, and employee referrals. 
• A company culture that values your individual strengths, career goals, and contributions to the team. 

About TheIncLab 

Founded in 2015, TheIncLab (“TIL”) is the first human-centered artificial intelligence (AI+X) lab.  We engineer complex, integrated solutions that combine cutting-edge AI technologies with emerging systems-of-systems to solve some of the most difficult challenges in the defense and aerospace industries.  Our work spans diverse technological landscapes, from rapid ideation and prototyping to deployment.  

At TIL, we foster a culture of relentless optimism.  No problem is too hard, no project is too big, and no challenge is too complex to tackle. This is possible due to the positive attitude of our teams.  We approach every problem with a “yes” attitude and focus on results.  Our motto, “demo or die,” encompasses the idea that failure is not an option.  

We do all of this with a work ethic rooted in kindness and professionalism.  The positive attitude of our teams is only possible due to the support TIL provides to each individual.  

At TIL, we believe that every challenge is an opportunity for growth and innovation.  Our teams are encouraged to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions to complex problems.  We understand that the path to success is not always straightforward, but we are committed to persevering and finding a way forward. 

Our culture of relentless optimism is not just about having a positive attitude; it is about taking action and making things happen.  We believe in the power of collaboration and teamwork, and we know that by working together, we can achieve great things.  Our teams are made up of individuals who are passionate about their work and dedicated to making a difference. 

Learn more about TheIncLab and our job opportunities at www.theinclab.com. 

Salary range guidance provided is not a guarantee of compensation. Offers of employment may be at a salary range that is outside of this range and will be based on qualifications, experience, and possible contractual requirements. 

This is a direct hire position, and we do not accept resumes from third-party recruiters or agencies.