Lead Data & Backend Engineer (Python, Java, AI) – National Security Mission Hybrid – McLean, VA Active TS/SCI with Full Scope Polygraph Required US Citizen Required Are you a data and backend expert who wants to architect systems that solve problems of national importance? Are you ready to move beyond conventional data roles and build the intelligent backbone for next-generation AI applications serving the US Intelligence Community? @Orchard LLC has been retained to assist a leader in AI/ML Software Development of products for the Intelligence and National Security Sector. A firm that operates at the unique intersection of advanced AI software development and vital national security missions. We are seeking an elite Lead Data & Back-End Engineer to join our client’s product team. This is a pivotal, senior individual contributor role for someone who thrives on complex technical challenges. You will be the architect of our data ecosystem—designing the critical data pipelines, warehousing solutions, and high-performance backend services that power our mission-critical identity intelligence products. This is a unique opportunity to work with agentic AI workflows, NLP, and distributed systems at scale, all while directly supporting the safety and security of our nation. If you are a builder with a "let's figure it out" attitude and a passion for creating order from chaos, we want to talk to you. Your Impact & Responsibilities Architect the Data Backbone: Lead the design and implementation of our entire data strategy, from scalable ETL/ELT pipelines and dimensional data models to robust data warehousing solutions. Build Intelligent, High-Performance Services: Develop and optimize the core backend APIs and microservices using FastAPI (Python) and Spring Boot (Java) , ensuring they are scalable, resilient, and secure. Operationalize AI and NLP: Integrate, develop, and refine data science models and algorithms, with a specific focus on building and enabling agentic workflows and Natural Language Processing (NLP) capabilities within our systems. Master a Modern, Serverless AWS Stack: Leverage your deep AWS expertise to build and manage solutions using AWS Lambda , EKS , SQS, CloudWatch, and other services, all provisioned and managed through Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC). Engineer for Scale and Speed: Implement advanced data replication strategies (CDC), build powerful search capabilities with Elasticsearch/OpenSearch , and utilize distributed computing frameworks like Apache Ray for large-scale processing. Drive Technical Excellence: Champion best practices across the board, from data architecture and microservice design to containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and data security in a classified environment. The Essentials (Non-Negotiable Requirements) Security Clearance: You must possess an active TS/SCI clearance with a Full Scope Polygraph. US Citizenship: Required for this position. Location: Ability to work in a hybrid capacity on-site in a SCIF for high-side delivery, and remotely for low-side development. What You Bring (Required Qualifications) Core Experience: 8+ years of progressive experience in data engineering and backend development, with a proven history of technical leadership on complex projects. Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or a related technical discipline. AWS Cloud Mastery: Deep, hands-on expertise designing and deploying solutions with AWS Lambda , EKS , CloudWatch , and SQS . Strong familiarity with the broader AWS data ecosystem (e.g., S3, RDS, Glue, Bedrock, Kinesis). Data Engineering & Warehousing: Expertise in dimensional data modeling, data warehousing, and implementing ETL/ELT processes. Practical experience with data replication (CDC) and distributed processing frameworks ( Apache Ray , Spark). Backend & API Development: Expert-level proficiency in both Python and Java . Demonstrated mastery of building scalable, robust APIs with FastAPI and Java Spring Boot . Hands-on experience with Elasticsearch or OpenSearch and strong SQL skills. Data Science & AI Integration: Solid understanding of data science principles, particularly as they apply to deploying NLP models. Experience implementing or integrating agentic workflows into data pipelines or applications. Architecture & DevOps: In-depth knowledge of microservice architecture, Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC), and containerization ( Docker, Kubernetes ). Desired Skills Experience with streaming data platforms (e.g., Apache Kafka, AWS Kinesis). Knowledge of MLOps practices and tooling. Familiarity with data governance frameworks or identity intelligence concepts. Experience with other NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra). This is not another Federal contracting gig Be part of inventing a whole new class of software products, driven by a passion for removing friction from data analysis and a deep commitment to our customers' success. Impactful Mission: Your work directly contributes to the safety and security of the United States. You will build tools that make a tangible difference every single day. Product-Driven Innovation: Work for a product company building groundbreaking AI software, not some consulting “body-shop”. You will have autonomy and ownership to innovate and shape the future of our offerings. Commitment to People: Our client fosters a culture of growth, recognition, and genuine work-life balance, giving the same high level of commitment to their team as they do to their clients. Ready to Build What's Next? Compensation for the Lead Front-End Developer is based on experience and qualifications. It is expected to be in the range between $180,000 and $230,000. Established in 2010, @Orchard LLC has an exceptional reputation, providing staffing solutions to time-sensitive, talent scarcity issues to deliver better talent management ROI. Our specialty lies in the critical area of program talent acquisition and resource management, not in one narrow skillset, but across many areas of technical and functional delivery. To learn more about our other exciting opportunities, visit our Jobs Page at www.atOrchard.com .