ATAK Developer - Clearance Required

Worky; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

LMI is seeking an ATAK Plugin Developer to design, develop, and deploy mission-critical plugins for the Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK). You will create edge-enabled components and ensure seamless integration with military systems for real-time decision-making and enhanced situational awareness.

Candidates should have 3–5 years of software development experience, including Android (Kotlin/Java), API integrations, and secure, DoD-compliant architectures.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of software development experience, including mobile apps or backend systems.
• 2+ years developing for Android platforms (Kotlin/Java).
• Familiar with edge computing and low-bandwidth environments.
• Strong API integration and secure software architectures.
• Active Secret clearance or ability to obtain one.
• Experience with DoD cybersecurity guidelines and RMF/STIG practices is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deliver ATAK plugins for field-deployable applications.
• Enable Edge MLOps workflows and on-device ML for real-time decisions.
• Work with geospatial data and overlays to improve mapping in ATAK.
• Ensure TAK Server integration and robust data exchange with central components.
• Adhere to cybersecurity standards and document designs for repeatable deployments.

Skills

Android development

Edge computing

API integration

DoD cybersecurity

Troubleshooting distributed systems

Clearance (Active Secret)

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS

GCP

Job description

Overview

LMI is seeking a skilled ATAK Plugin Developer to support the design, development, and deployment of mission-critical plugins for the Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK). This role focuses on designing cutting-edge ATAK plugins and systems capable of operating at the tactical edge while enabling seamless integration with broader military systems, creating solutions to support military operations, situational awareness, and real-time decision-making. This position offers the opportunity to innovate at the intersection of software development, edge computing, and tactical applications. Candidates must be self-motivated, collaborative, and comfortable working in fast-paced, mission-oriented environments with a focus on operating in contested and resource-constrained environments.

LMI is a new breed of digital solutions provider dedicated to accelerating government impact with innovation and speed. Investing in technology and prototypes ahead of need, LMI brings commercial-grade platforms and mission-ready AI to federal agencies at commercial speed.

Leveraging our mission-ready technology and solutions, proven expertise in federal deployment, and strategic relationships, we enhance outcomes for the government, efficiently and effectively. With a focus on agility and collaboration, LMI serves the defense, space, healthcare, and energy sectors—helping agencies navigate complexity and outpace change. Headquartered in Tysons, Virginia, LMI is committed to delivering impactful results that strengthen missions and drive lasting value.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deliver custom ATAK plugins that enhance field-deployable tactical applications in disconnected, contested, or low-bandwidth environments
• Leverage advanced techniques to enable Edge MLOps workflows and support distributed, on-device machine learning (ML) for real-time decision support and situational awareness
• Work with geospatial data, real-time location services, and operational overlays to improve mapping and data visualization capabilities within ATAK
• Support and extend functionality for TAK Server integration and ensure seamless data exchange between mobile applications and central server components
• Optimize software to ensure efficient performance on low-resource devices in harsh or contested environments
• Implement and maintain robust and secure API-based integrations (REST, WebSocket, gRPC, or similar) to support real-time collaboration and data sharing
• Troubleshoot complex integration challenges, including data synchronization in environments with intermittent or limited connectivity
• Ensure plugins align with military cybersecurity and STIG compliance requirements, providing DoD-compliant solutions
• Document technical designs, workflows, and processes to ensure replicable, high-quality development and deployment efforts
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams, including software engineers, data scientists, and military stakeholders, to define and refine requirements

Percentage of Travel Required: Up to 10%

Minimum Qualifications:

• 3-5 years of software development experience, including mobile applications, plugin development, or backend systems
• 2+ years of experience developing for Android platforms (using Kotlin and/or Java)
• Familiarity with edge computing concepts, including resource optimization on low-powered devices and intermittent or contested network environments
• Proficiency in API integration and building highly-performant, secure software architectures
• Understanding of military systems, particularly related to aTAK/Tactical Assault Kits
• Knowledge of system security, particularly DoD cybersecurity guidelines and frameworks (e.g., STIGs, RMF compliance)
• Strong debugging, troubleshooting, and performance optimization skills for distributed systems and mobile apps
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within multi-disciplinary teams
• Active Secret clearance (or ability to obtain one)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience implementing machine learning models for edge devices (e.g., TensorFlow Lite, ONNX Runtime, or PyTorch Mobile)
• Familiarity with Distributed Deep Learning (DDL) techniques and frameworks optimized for edge networks or contested environments
• Understanding of MLOps pipelines for deploying, monitoring, and retraining models at scale on decentralized systems
• Strong understanding of DoD cybersecurity standards and best practices, particularly surrounding STIG requirements and RMF processes
• Experience hardening applications and infrastructure for deployment in classified environments or contested tactical settings
• Familiarity with accompanying web applications (e.g., mission command dashboards or admin portals) to visualize and manage analytics, location, or operational data
• Skills in modern frontend frameworks (React, Angular, Vue) and backend/API development in frameworks like Flask, Django, or FastAPI
• Experience with geospatial software and tools, including GIS standards and libraries such as GDAL, GeoServer, or Mapbox
• Familiarity with TAK Server configurations, architectures, and plugins
• Background working in defense/DoD environments or direct experience supporting military operations
• Knowledge of tactical data link protocols (e.g., Link 16) and secure communication standards
• Strong scripting abilities in Python, Bash, or similar languages
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively to non-technical stakeholders or military leadership
• Experience with DevOps practices such as CI/CD automation, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and cloud deployments (AWS, Azure, GCP)

Target salary range: 110,000 - 160,000

Disclaimer: The salary range displayed represents the typical salary range for this position and is not a guarantee of compensation. Individual salaries are determined by various factors including, but not limited to location, internal equity, business considerations, client contract requirements, and candidate qualifications, such as education, experience, skills, and security clearances.

Applicants must meet eligibility requirements for a U.S. Government security clearance. Only US Citizens are eligible for a security clearance. For this position, LMI will only consider applicants with security clearances or applicants who are eligible for security clearances, due to the nature of the work.

Job Locations

US-PA-Pittsburgh US-Remote