Platform Engineer, Defense Unicorns
$132.3-171.5k
+ Stock Options
More information about location
Software for national security systems
Open for applications
Software for national security systems
101-200 employees
Open for applications
$132.3-171.5k
+ Stock Options
More information about location
101-200 employees
Company mission
To create software to solve the unique challenges experienced by the government.
Role
Who you are
- Hold or eligible to obtain a Top Secret security clearance
- Demonstrated ability to contribute to the product vision, strategically aligning technical solutions with long-term objectives
- Proven track record of evaluating and selecting optimal methods for solving complex business problems
- Active participant in open source projects and product repositories, showcasing a commitment to industry innovation
- Experienced at assessing and making decisions on new products, understanding their potential impact on mission objectives
- Proficient in identifying and articulating gaps in existing processes, shaping the product backlog strategically
- Expertise in solving highly technical problems that span multiple knowledge domains
- Deep knowledge in 1-2 key technologies, demonstrating proficiency in areas such as pipelines, GitOps, Kubernetes, Go, or others
- A critical thinker capable of weighing various methods for solving business problems with a focus on product excellence
- Experienced in Department of Defense work, specifically working on an Authority to Operate (ATO'd) system
- Familiar with Air Force Weapon Systems and/or Program Management Offices (PMOs)
- Knowledgeable about Cyberspace Operations or Incident Response tools/systems
- Possess a DoD 8570 IAT II certification
- Experienced with Big Bang, Iron Bank, and/or C-ATO processes
- Knowledgeable about DevSecOps/DevOps and CI/CD theory
- Experienced in working on a team following an Agile framework
- Comfortable and experienced in working on projects with compliance requirements
- An advocate for Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and Cybersecurity as Code (CaC)
- Experienced with automated testing
- Proficient with technologies such as K8s deployment & security, hardware familiarity, full-stack experience, transforming applications into K8s friendly formats, and scripting languages like Python, Go, or Ansible
- Proficient with YAML
What the job involves
- The ideal candidate will play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of our platform, demonstrating a strong understanding of system architecture, problem-solving skills, and the ability to guide junior engineers
- We are seeking an experienced professional who can not only fulfill technical responsibilities but also contribute to the strategic vision and innovation of our products
- You will join a team of talented and dedicated Unicorns who are focused on advancing freedom and independence globally. Our teams are working on architecting, building, and deploying an on-premises platform for hosting cybersecurity applications
- In this role, your primary responsibilities will include transforming cybersecurity applications into a Kubernetes-friendly format and deploying them within a Kubernetes environment hosted on a bare-metal platform
- You will be a crucial link between the Application Development team and the Production Environment, advocating best practices and facilitating communication between the application development teams and platform teams
- Contribute to the Strategic Vision: Envision and articulate the long-term vision for our products, creating a path for their evolution. Contribute to the strategic planning that aligns technological advancements with the mission objectives
- Innovate and Problem Solving: Evaluate and weigh different methods for solving complex business problems with a keen focus on product excellence. Identify innovative solutions and contribute to Defense Unicorns’ open source projects and product repositories
- Evaluate Products: Assess new products, quickly gaining a deep understanding to make informed decisions on their potential to meet mission needs. Contribute expertise in recognizing gaps in our current processes, articulating these insights for the product backlog
- Demonstrate Technical Mastery: Solve highly technical problems that span 2-3 knowledge domains, showcasing a broad understanding of diverse technological landscapes. Demonstrate expert knowledge in 1-2 key technologies such as pipelines, GitOps, Kubernetes, Go, or others, contributing to the team's technical excellence
Our take
Military defence technology is having to adapt at a quickening pace. However, innovations in the tech sector, outdated technology, varied compute environments and complex security and compliance issues create lags in new defence technology. Defense Unicorns is an open-source tech developer aiming to minimise this lag.
Founded by former Department of Defense software engineers, Defense Unicorns uses AI and innovative software to create military technology for various uses and combat landscapes. The company is particularly focused on tech that can be used in “air-gapped” areas - those that are disconnected from the internet.
In terms of the company's future position in the market, it's notable that the US annual defence budget specifically for IT and cyber has increased to just under $59 billion in 2024. This funding growth exemplifies a rapidly changing combat landscape set against an unpredictable global backdrop, one in which Defense Unicorns has the chance to be an important player.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
Company
Funding (2 rounds)
Feb 2024
$35m
SERIES A
Oct 2022
$0.5m
SEED
Total funding: $35.5m
Company benefits
- Medical/Dental/Vision (premiums are 100% company paid)
- Health reimbursement account
- Life insurance & disability insurance
- 401k with employer contribution (regardless of employee contribution)
- Company stock options
- Home office setup budget
- Unlimited paid time off, with a mandatory 10 days off on top of 11 federal government holidays
- Paid parental leave
- Reimbursement for approved trainings/subscriptions
- Conferences (travel, lodging, and fees)
Company HQ
Southeast Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO
Leadership
Robert Slaughter
(Co-Founder & CEO)Works as a Trainer at Project Blue. Previously the Director of DoD Platform One, a Counselor at SpaceCAMP, and worked in DevOps for the US Airforce.
Andrew Greene
(Co-Founder & Engineer)Previously worked for DoD Platform One. Was also a Software Engineer at Omitron and at SGT.
Jeff McCoy
(Co-Founder)Previously Co-Founder and CTO at Platform One, Was also CTO at SpaceCAMP, Senior Software Engineer at Defense Innovation Unit, and Co-Founder at DDS Rogue Squadron.
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