Cleared Hybrid Technical Lead (5536)

Socket.dev; Hanover (MD); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid leave

Retirement

Job summary

SMX is seeking a Technical Lead to guide a team of engineers in the design, development, and delivery of mission-critical solutions. This hybrid role balances leadership with hands-on coding, architecture, and systems work.

You will translate complex requirements into actionable plans, engage with customers, and drive technical strategy while mentoring engineers and managing project execution in an agile environment. A focus on security and scalable design is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field is required.
• Minimum 5+ years in software development or systems engineering.
• 3+ years in a technical leadership role with mentoring responsibilities.
• Hands-on proficiency in Python, Java, Go, or C#; containerization with Docker/Kubernetes; cloud-native services.

Responsibilities

• Develop technical vision and translate requirements into actionable plans.
• Lead, mentor, and organize a team of engineers; manage workloads and risk.
• Engage with customers as technical lead; communicate project status and expectations.
• Drive project lifecycle using Agile methodologies; conduct sprint planning and reviews.
• Contribute hands-on to solution development, architecture, and design; ensure security and scalability.

Skills

Python

Java

Go

C#

Agile methodologies

Customer engagement

Strong communication

CompTIA Security+

AWS Certification

CI/CD pipelines

DoD/ national security experience

Cloud architecture

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Cloud-native services

AWS

Azure

Google Cloud

Tableau

Qlik

Job description

SMX is seeking a dynamic and experienced Technical Lead to guide a team of talented engineers in the design, development, and delivery of mission-critical solutions. This is a hybrid role for a leader who is passionate about both high-level technical strategy and hands-on implementation. The ideal candidate will spend approximately 50% of their time on project leadership, customer engagement, and team organization, and 50% on direct technical work, including coding, design, and system architecture.

As a Technical Lead at SMX, you will be responsible for developing the technical vision and working closely with your team and customers to execute it. You will translate complex requirements into actionable plans, ensuring that we deliver targeted, effective capabilities that solve real-world problems, in line with our motto: "Shared Vision. Outcome Assured."

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership & Project Management (50%)

• Technical Strategy & Planning: Develop and articulate the technical approach, architecture, and work plan for successful project execution.
• Team Organization & Mentorship: Lead, mentor, and support a team of engineers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment. Delegate tasks, manage workloads, and ensure the team has the resources needed to succeed.
• Customer Engagement: Serve as the primary technical point of contact for stakeholders. Effectively communicate project status, manage expectations, and build strong, trusted relationships with customers.
• Project Execution: Drive the project lifecycle using Agile or other appropriate methodologies. Organize and lead key meetings, including sprint planning, daily stand‑ups, and retrospectives.
• Risk Management: Proactively identify, track, and mitigate technical risks and dependencies to ensure smooth and timely delivery.

Hands-On Technical Execution (50%)

• Solution Development: Actively contribute to the development of the solution through hands‑on coding, system configuration, and infrastructure design.
• Architecture & Design: Design and implement core system components, ensuring solutions are scalable, secure, and maintainable.
• Technical Quality: Set and maintain high standards for code quality, performance, and security. Conduct code reviews, provide constructive feedback, and champion engineering best practices.
• Complex Problem Solving: Serve as the team's senior technical expert, providing guidance and hands‑on support to troubleshoot and resolve the most challenging technical issues.

Required Skills & Experience

• Active Secret clearance
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years of experience in software development, systems engineering, or a related technical field.
• 3+ years of experience in a technical leadership or team lead capacity, with demonstrated ability to manage technical projects and mentor junior engineers.
• Proven hands‑on proficiency in modern programming languages and technologies (e.g., Python, Java, Go, C#; containerization with Docker/Kubernetes; cloud‑native services).
• Strong understanding of project management principles (e.g., Agile, Scrum, Kanban) and experience applying them in a technical environment.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to clearly explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated experience in customer‑facing roles, with a track record of successful engagement and management.
• CompTIA Security+
• Cloud Certification: Any recognized AWS certification

Desired Skills & Experience

• Experience working with major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), leveraging our status as a premier partner.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines, DevOps practices, and infrastructure‑as‑code (IaC).
• Relevant industry certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Certified ScrumMaster, PMP).
• Experience in the DoD or national security sectors.
• Experience with Data Visualization tools such as Tableau or Qlik

The SMX salary determination process takes into account a number of factors, including but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories, relevant prior work experience, specific skills, education and certifications. At SMX, one of our Core Values is to Invest in Our People so we offer a competitive mix of compensation, learning & development opportunities, and benefits. Some key components of our robust benefits include health insurance, paid leave, and retirement.

The proposed salary for this position is: $120,000—$180,000 USD

At SMX®, we are a team of technical and domain experts dedicated to enabling your mission. From priority national security initiatives for the DoD to highly assured and compliant solutions for healthcare, we understand that digital transformation is key to your future success.

We share your vision for the future and strive to accelerate your impact on the world. We bring both cutting edge technology and an expansive view of what’s possible to every engagement. Our delivery model and unique approaches harness our deep technical and domain knowledge, providing forward-looking insights and practical solutions to power secure mission acceleration.

SMX is an Equal Opportunity employer including disabilities and veterans.

Selected applicant may be subject to a background investigation and/or education verification.

SMX does not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization or immigration related support for this position (i.e. H1B, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, J-1, TN, E-2, E-3, L-1 and O-1, or any EADs or other forms of work authorization that require immigration support from an employer).