Expert Geospatial Data Engineer
Geo Owl · SDVOSB · Est. 2013
Expert Geospatial Data Engineer
NGA MAVEN PROGRAM · GEOINT · DATA ARCHITECTURE · EXPERT · KEY POSITION
NGA Maven's AI/ML pipeline runs on a complex, multi-domain data architecture — and keeping it operational, compliant, and scalable takes serious engineering. As a Senior Geospatial Data Engineer, you'll maintain the data backend that enables preprocessing across security domains and systems: building pipelines, managing databases, enforcing governance, and solving the hard cross-domain problems that most data engineers never encounter.
Role Overview
You'll own the data architecture layer for Maven program data — building and maintaining the databases, pipelines, APIs, and cloud infrastructure that enable data operations across security domains and systems. This role requires fluency in both SQL and NoSQL environments, strong programming skills, and experience navigating government ATO processes and enterprise tooling. You'll ensure all data activities conform to Maven's governance policies, support cross-domain data solutions, and keep training data accessible, accurate, and compliant at scale.
Source-Derived Role Summary
The Data Scientist shall support the maintenance and implementation of the data architecture for all Program data. This position requires experience with databases, cloud architectures, and compliance with data standards. This position is responsible for maintaining data backend workflows that allow for data operations across security domains and across systems.
A Day in the Life
- ✓Monitor data health alerts and pipeline availability; triage issues and ensure training data operations remain accessible and optimized
- ✓Develop and test database schemas, API workflows, and ETL pipelines to onboard emergent sensor data into existing Maven infrastructure
- ✓Conduct QC on data holdings — validating format compliance (JSON, parquet, XML, CSV), schema adherence, access controls, and metadata standards
- ✓Build and maintain government-directed computing environments: NPE connections, GitLab repositories, software environments for preprocessing development
- ✓Manage the generation, approval, and population of data into databases ensuring security compliance and customer requirements are met
- ✓Assess and report data holdings compliance status in written and oral form to government stakeholders
Why This Role Matters
Mission Impact
Without the backend infrastructure you maintain, Maven's model development pipeline stops. The data architecture you build and sustain is what makes it possible to turn overhead imagery into actionable intelligence at scale.
Geo Owl Impact
Your engineering reliability strengthens Geo Owl's position as a trusted technical partner on MAVEN — directly supporting our ability to perform on a Key Position contract that matters to national security.
Your Growth
You'll develop rare expertise in cross-domain data engineering within classified government cloud environments, including hands-on experience with NGA enterprise tooling, ATO processes, and NPE certificate management — capabilities that are genuinely scarce in the defense data engineering market.
Core Responsibilities
- ▸Build and maintain database infrastructure (tables, schemas, health alerts, data pipelines) to support ingestion of emergent sensor data
- ▸Develop API-based workflows enabling data movement between platforms; support cross-domain solutions using NGA enterprise tooling
- ▸Ensure all data activities conform to NGA Maven governance policies: data lifecycle, schema definitions, formats, access controls, and metadata standards
- ▸Clean, prepare, and transform data to support geospatial data pipelines that create curated views for IC consumption
- ▸Maintain data availability, accuracy, consistency, and reliability for all training data operations; configure and monitor data health alerts
- ▸Create and maintain government-approved software and computing environments (NPEs, GitLab repositories, development environments)
- ▸Support data pipeline setup and maintenance for preprocessing activities across all security domains
Required Qualifications
- ✓Active TS/SCI
- ✓4+ years of experience working with SQL or NoSQL databases and cloud architectures
- ✓Experience leveraging APIs to query systems and migrate data
- ✓Experience with programming languages including Python, JavaScript, or Java
- ✓Experience developing, sustaining, and monitoring operational data pipelines supporting multiple data formats and interfaces
- ✓Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to articulate complex technical concepts to both lay and expert audiences
Preferred Qualifications
- ▸Experience with NGA IT enterprise solutions (NGA CORE, NGA MLOps), Government ATO processes, and Non-Person Entity (NPE) certificates
- ▸Experience implementing processes and tools within an organization using the Scaled Agile Framework for Enterprise (SAFe)
- ▸Experience developing dynamic visualizations to monitor pipeline availability, currency, and volumetrics
Tools, Technologies & Tradecraft
What Makes Someone Successful in This Role
- ▸You're fluent across the data stack — from schema design and API development to cloud pipeline monitoring and cross-domain data movement
- ▸You take governance seriously — data that doesn't conform to schema isn't just wrong, it breaks downstream model development and you fix it before it gets there
- ▸You navigate classified environments with precision — you understand NPE certificates, ATO requirements, and security domain constraints aren't bureaucracy, they're the job
- ▸You communicate complexity clearly — you can explain a schema change to a data manager and a pipeline failure to a program office
- ▸You document as you go — data dictionaries and software comments are a professional standard for you, not an afterthought
Is This Role For You?
✔ Great Fit
You are a data engineer who thrives in structured, high-compliance environments. You want to work on infrastructure problems with real stakes — where your pipeline architecture choices directly enable intelligence products. You have experience in government cloud or cleared environments and want to deepen it.
✘ May Not Be For You
This may not be the right fit if you prefer rapid-iteration commercial environments with minimal compliance overhead, or if working within classified government IT governance feels constraining rather than professionally interesting.
Career Growth & Professional Value
This role builds expertise in geospatial data engineering at a scale and security level that few commercial roles can match. You'll gain hands-on experience with NGA enterprise architecture, cross-domain data solutions, and AI/ML training data pipeline management — skills in high demand across the defense and intelligence community. Experience delivering data infrastructure on a Key Position government contract is a recognized differentiator for engineers pursuing senior or architect-level roles in the national security space.
About Geo Owl
Geo Owl is a mission-first geospatial intelligence and national security company supporting defense, intelligence, and Government missions. We value tradecraft, humility, precision, service, accountability, and people who care deeply about the mission and the team. On roles like this, our goal is to give serious professionals work that is technically meaningful, operationally relevant, and connected to outcomes that matter.
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) • Wilmington, NC • Est. 2013 • Military Friendly Employer
Benefits:
Health Insurance (Geo Owl pays 80%+ of the premium).
401k matching.
Dental, Vision, and other supplemental insurance plans available.
Company-paid short-term and long-term disability and life insurance.
Peer-to-Peer spot bonuses.
120 hours of PTO per year plus federal holidays.
Fully Paid Military Leave: *You make your full Geo Owl salary while you are on military duty*
Exiting the Military? Apply to our Military Transition Program for key insights into making the transition to civilian life from people who have been there before!
Engage with Your Team!
About Us:
Our mission is to empower EVERYONE with geospatial technologies.
Geo Owl is a premier provider of geospatial intelligence services, delivering cutting-edge solutions to the Department of Defense, intelligence agencies, and enterprises around the globe. Our comprehensive products and services include advanced geospatial analysis, imagery intelligence, remote sensing analysis, data science, and space-based custom intelligence solutions. At Geo Owl, we are dedicated to leveraging the latest analytic principles and technology to support and enhance the missions of our clients.
Our core values—innovation, integrity, and excellence—drive everything we do. We are committed to pushing the boundaries of geospatial intelligence to ensure our clients receive the most accurate, timely, and actionable intelligence possible. Integrity is at the heart of our operations; we uphold the highest standards of ethics and accountability in our work. Striving for excellence is not just a goal but a standard; we consistently aim to exceed expectations in every project.
Geo Owl's culture is built on collaboration, continuous learning, and respect. We cultivate an environment where team members can grow both personally and professionally. Our team is composed of passionate, dedicated experts who are always ready to support each other. We value work-life balance, offering flexible working arrangements and a supportive workplace where everyone feels valued.
At Geo Owl, we invest in our employees' growth and development. We provide ongoing training, career advancement opportunities, and a platform to work on impactful projects that make a real difference. Our team enjoys a strong sense of camaraderie and purpose, knowing that their work contributes to national security and global stability. If you are looking for a dynamic, rewarding career in geospatial intelligence, Geo Owl is the place for you. Join us and be part of a team that is shaping the future of geospatial intelligence.
A Note From Our CEO:
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Equal Opportunities
Geo Owl is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, marital status, military status, genetic predisposition, or any other basis protected by law.
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