Digital Forensics Capability Development with Python - (TS Cleared)

MITRE; McLean (VA); In loco; USD 159.000 - 238.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

MITRE in McLean, Virginia seeks a senior Python developer to join the Digital Investigations Department. You will translate sponsor problems into technical solutions, lead development, and mentor teammates while working hands-on on Python-based tools and data processing capabilities.

The role requires strong Python expertise, experience guiding technical direction, and the ability to interact with sponsor stakeholders in a fast-paced, on-site environment.

Competenze

• Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years with a Master’s; or a PhD with 3 years’ experience; or equivalent.
• Strong software development experience using Python, including debugging, testing, and maintaining non-trivial software.
• Ability to independently solve complex technical problems and make sound design decisions.
• Experience leading the technical direction of a project or capability.
• Ability to provide technical guidance, mentorship, or reviews to other engineers.
• Experience translating user or mission needs into technical requirements and solutions.
• Experience developing software that handles complex datasets.
• Understanding of software engineering practices (version control, testing, docs, code reviews).
• Strong written and verbal communication and ability to work with sponsor stakeholders.
• Position is based in McLean, VA and requires on-site work; access to vehicle required.

Mansioni

• Lead Python-based development, analysis tools, automation, and data processing for digital investigations.
• Set technical direction and design architecture for team deliverables.
• Remain hands-on: develop and review production-quality Python code.
• Solve complex technical problems with practical, innovative approaches.
• Collaborate with sponsors to understand workflows and operational needs.
• Provide mentorship and conduct code/design reviews for junior staff.
• Build reusable capabilities, tools, and documentation for long-term use.
• Collaborate across disciplines to integrate capabilities and solve problems.
• Explain technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Evaluate technologies and approaches to improve investigative capabilities.

Conoscenze

Python

Leadership

Problem Solving

Communication

Linux

Git

CI/CD

APIs

Formazione

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

Strumenti

Git

SQL

FastAPI/Flask

Pandas/NumPy

Docker

Descrizione del lavoro

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We’re a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies – collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation’s health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose — and help shape the future.

Department Summary:

MITRE is seeking an experienced technical professional to join our Digital Investigations Department in support of a high-impact sponsor mission in the McLean, Virginia area.

Our department transforms digital data into actionable understanding by combining technical analysis, investigative tradecraft, software development, data analytics, and mission context. Our work spans digital evidence and forensics, digital intelligence and OSINT, investigative analytics, target and activity analysis, operational investigations, and the development of new investigative tools and capabilities.

This position requires a strong Python developer who can work directly with sponsor personnel to understand mission problems, develop and evolve technical solutions, and provide technical leadership to other members of the team. The successful candidate will be comfortable moving between hands‑on development, technical problem solving, solution design, and direct sponsor interaction.

This is an on‑site position supporting a sponsor location in the McLean, VA area. Regular presence at the sponsor site is required.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Lead Technical Development: Design, develop, test, and maintain Python‑based applications, analytical tools, automation, and data‑processing capabilities supporting digital investigations and related mission needs.
• Set Technical Direction: Translate complex or ambiguous sponsor problems into technical approaches, make architecture and implementation decisions, and help establish the direction of work performed by other team members.
• Remain Hands‑On: Personally develop and review production‑quality Python code while contributing to troubleshooting, debugging, integration, testing, and deployment activities.
• Solve Complex Technical Problems: Analyze difficult technical and mission challenges, evaluate possible solutions, and apply sound engineering judgment to develop practical and innovative approaches.
• Work Directly with Sponsors: Build a strong understanding of sponsor workflows, priorities, constraints, and operational needs and use that understanding to shape technical solutions.
• Guide and Elevate the Team: Provide technical guidance and mentorship to more junior staff, conduct code and design reviews, share technical knowledge, and help improve the quality and effectiveness of the team’s work.
• Build Sustainable Capability: Develop reusable tools, libraries, workflows, documentation, and engineering practices that improve work beyond an individual task or project.
• Connect Across Disciplines: Collaborate with investigators, analysts, data scientists, engineers, and other technical experts to integrate capabilities and solve multidisciplinary problems.
• Communicate Technical Concepts: Explain complex technical issues, design decisions, risks, and recommendations clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Evaluate Technologies and Approaches: Assess existing and emerging software, data sources, platforms, and analytical techniques and identify opportunities to improve investigative capabilities and mission outcomes.

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Strong software development experience using Python, including demonstrated experience developing, debugging, testing, and maintaining non‑trivial software or analytical capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to independently solve complex technical problems and make sound technical design and implementation decisions.
• Experience leading the technical direction of a project, task, capability, or significant body of work.
• Demonstrated ability to provide technical guidance, mentorship, or review of work performed by other engineers or analysts.
• Experience translating user or mission needs into technical requirements and working solutions.
• Experience developing software that interacts with, processes, transforms, or analyzes complex datasets.
• Strong understanding of software engineering practices, including version control, testing, documentation, code review, and maintainable software design.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly.
• Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary technical teams and directly with sponsor or customer stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently in an environment where requirements may be incomplete, evolving, or operationally driven.
• Position is based in the McLean, Virginia area and requires regular on‑site work at the sponsor location.
• Access to a vehicle is required to support work at the sponsor site and associated local mission activities.
• Must have an active Top Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 4 days a week on‑site.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience developing software or analytical capabilities supporting digital investigations, cybersecurity, intelligence, law enforcement, national security, or other operational missions.
• Experience with Python data and analytical libraries and frameworks such as pandas, NumPy, SQLAlchemy, FastAPI, Flask, or similar technologies.
• Experience designing and implementing data pipelines, APIs, backend services, automation, or analytical workflows.
• Experience working with structured and unstructured datasets, including data normalization, entity resolution, correlation, enrichment, or visualization.
• Experience with relational and/or non‑relational databases and strong SQL skills.
• Experience working in Linux environments and with command‑line tools and scripting.
• Experience with Git‑based development workflows, automated testing, CI/CD, containerization, or related DevSecOps practices.
• Experience integrating software with external APIs, data services, investigative platforms, or mission systems.
• Familiarity with one or more digital investigation areas such as digital forensics, OSINT, cyber threat intelligence, network analysis, malware analysis, cryptocurrency analysis, investigative analytics, or target/activity analysis.
• Experience rapidly prototyping technical approaches and transitioning successful prototypes into sustainable capabilities.
• Demonstrated experience identifying opportunities to improve technical practices or capabilities beyond an individual's assigned work.
• Experience working directly with government sponsors in a classified environment.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s): Top Secret

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s): Top Secret

Salary compensation range and midpoint: $158,800 - $198,500 - $238,200 Annual

Work Location Type: Onsite

Commitment to Non-Discrimination All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

MITRE intends to maintain a website that is fully accessible to all individuals. If you are unable to search or apply for jobs and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of MITRE’s employment process, please email [e-mail] for general support and [e-mail] for intern positions. This service is for individuals requiring reasonable accommodation requests. Please note that vendor solicitations will not receive a reply.

Benefits information may be found here.

Copyright © 1997-2026, The MITRE Corporation. All rights reserved. MITRE is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation. Material on this site may be copied and distributed with permission only.