MSS Developers (Various Locations)

Agile Defense; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Agile Defense in Arlington, VA is seeking an MSS Developer to build mission-critical analytics and Palantir-powered platforms on-site at multiple locations, including Falls Church and Fort Meade. The role requires US citizenship and an active Secret clearance, with potential TS/SCI depending on project.

You will develop dashboards, data pipelines, ontologies, and AI/ML workflows, partner with mission leaders, and ensure data quality and performance across MSS deliverables.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a quantitative discipline; extensive Palantir experience will substitute.
• 4+ years of software or data engineering experience with 1.5+ years hands-on with Palantir Foundry, Gotham, AIP, or MSS
• Demonstrated experience building dashboards, applications, or pipelines for operational end users
• Working proficiency in ontology design, pipeline authoring using PySpark, Code Repositories, or Pipeline Builder
• Active US government security clearance

Responsibilities

• Build mission-critical dashboards, applications, and decision surfaces aligned to J7 mission workflows
• Create intuitive, self-service capabilities for operators to explore data
• Build automated workflows delivering timely insights to stakeholders
• Ensure data accuracy and consistency across MSS deliverables
• Develop and maintain data pipelines, ontology, and access controls on MSS and Palantir stack
• Integrate external data sources into a well-modeled data foundation
• Ensure AI/AIP workflows have a well-modelled data foundation and surfaced in operations
• Partner with mission leaders to translate requirements into technical solutions
• Create compelling data visualizations and interactive tools for scenario analysis
• Design alerting/monitoring to identify opportunities and risks
• Establish KPIs and success metrics to drive mission performance
• Develop efficient data models and query optimization; implement caching and aggregation
• Build scalable MSS solutions and provide day-to-day operator support

Skills

Palantir Foundry

Palantir Gotham

Palantir AIP

Palantir MSS

Dashboard development

Ontology design

PySpark

Code repositories

Pipeline Builder

Security clearance

Python

SQL

JavaScript/TypeScript

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science or engineering

Tools

Palantir Foundry

Palantir Gotham

Palantir AIP

Palantir MSS

PySpark

SQL

Job description

At Agile Defense we know that action defines the outcome and new challenges require new solutions. That’s why we always look to the future and embrace change with an unmovable spirit and the courage to build for what comes next.

Our vision is to bring adaptive innovation to support our nation's most important missions through the seamless integration of advanced technologies, elite minds, and unparalleled agility—leveraging a foundation of speed, flexibility, and ingenuity to strengthen and protect our nation’s vital interests.

Job Title: MSS Developer

Location: On-Site, Various Locations (see below)

• Peterson Space Force Base, CO
• Stuttgart, Germany: Patch Barracks, Kelley Barracks
• Falls Church, VA
• Ft. Meade, MD
• Tampa, FL: MacDill AFB
• Doral (Miami), FL: SOUTHCOM HQ
• Honolulu, HI: Camp H.M. Smith

Clearance Level: This position requires candidates to be U.S. citizens and to possess, at minimum, an active Secret security clearance. Roles under this requisition may require higher-level clearances, including TS/SCI, which candidates must be able to obtain and maintain based on project assignment.

Job Description

Build Mission-Critical Analytics and Applications

• Build and maintain operator-facing dashboards, applications, and decision surfaces aligned to J7 mission workflows
• Create intuitive, self-service capabilities that empower operators to explore data independently
• Build automated workflows that deliver timely insights to stakeholders across the directorate
• Ensure data accuracy and consistency across all MSS deliverables

Drive Hands-On Platform Engineering

• Develop and maintain data pipelines, ontology, and access controls on MSS and the underlying Palantir stack
• Integrate external data sources into a well-modeled data foundation
• Ensure AI/AIP workflows have a well-modeled data foundation and that model outputs are surfaced in operationally useful ways
• Partner with mission leaders to understand analytical needs and translate requirements into technical solutions

Enable Data-Driven Decision Making

• Create compelling data visualizations that communicate complex insights to diverse audiences
• Build interactive tools that allow operators to drill down into data and explore different scenarios
• Design alerting and monitoring systems that proactively identify mission opportunities and risks
• Collaborate with teams to establish KPIs and success metrics that drive mission performance

Optimize Platform Performance

• Develop efficient data models and query optimization strategies for fast, reliable reporting Implement caching and aggregation strategies to ensure optimal dashboard and application performance
• Build scalable MSS solutions that can handle growing data volumes and user bases
• Provide day-to-day operator support and elevate complex platform issues to senior engineers as appropriate

Foster Analytics Excellence

• Contribute reusable platform content, including ontology patterns, dashboard templates, and integration recipes, to support continuous curriculum refresh Document data sources, metrics definitions, and analytical methodologies for organizational knowledge
• Support validation of the FDE&T model for potential extension to additional Combatant Commands, Service components, and functional commands
• Stay current with MSS/Palantir technologies and advocate for new tools and approaches that improve mission analytics

Required Skills

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a quantitative discipline; extensive Palantir experience will substitute.
• 4+ years of software or data engineering experience (data analysis or data science experience considered), including 1.5+ years hands-on with Palantir Foundry, Gotham, AIP, or MSS
• Demonstrated experience building dashboards, applications, or pipelines for operational end users
• Working proficiency in ontology design, pipeline authoring using PySpark, Code Repositories, or Pipeline Builder
• Active US government security clearance

Preferred Skills

• Prior Palantir FDE/FDSE or comparable customer-embedded role
• Hands-on MSS experience AIP agent or large language model workflow exposure
• Familiarity with DoD data environments and classified networks
• Prior Combatant Command support
• Solid Python and SQL skills with familiarity in JavaScript/TypeScript

Working Conditions

Must be able to work onsite in a SCIF

Our Core Values

• Happy - Be Infectious.
• Helpful - Be Supportive.
• Honest - Be Trustworthy.
• Humble - Be Grounded.
• Hungry - Be Eager.
• Hustle - Be Driven.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.