Principal Data Operations Lead / CASPIAN JCRS-D Subject Matter Expert (SME)

The Principal Data Operations Lead / CASPIAN JCRS-D Subject Matter Expert (SME) will perform advanced statistical analysis, develop ML models, and conduct operational research to support cyber defense decision-making and threat characterization. This role will require technical authority for Data Acquisition, Standards, and Governance, ensuring all incoming data streams comply with DCDC/ARCYBER standards. The candidate will design complex engineering pipelines, oversee compliance with metadata tagging requirements and standards, and innovate and implement JCRS-D Optimization & Innovation workflows.

What You Will Do

The primary responsibilities of this role include performing as technical authority for Data Acquisition, Standards, and Governance, designing complex engineering pipelines, and conducting Performance Optimization (Output and Speed). The candidate will also conduct quantitative and qualitative analyses to identify operational trends, collaborate with mission partners to translate requirements into analytic solutions, and document analytic workflows and methodologies for knowledge transfer.

Why It Might Be a Fit

This role requires a candidate with minimum 12 years of experience, including 5+ years of leading cross-functional Data Operations teams in high-tempo, mission-critical environments. The candidate must possess verifiable, authoritative-level expertise in the CASPIAN architecture, including its underlying data schemas, integration nodes, and security compliance constraints. The candidate should also demonstrate prior success in innovating and implementing custom JCRS-D analytical workflows, rather than just operating existing ones.

Requirements

• Minimum of 12 years with BS/BA; Minimum of 10 years with MS/MA; Minimum of 7 years with Ph.D.
• Minimum of 5+ years of demonstrated experience leading cross-functional Data Operations teams in high-tempo, mission-critical environments.
• Proven experience serving as the primary technical decision-maker for a large-scale data enterprise, with specific authority over data architecture, infrastructure scaling, and operational data pipelines.
• Authoritative CASPIAN Knowledge: Must possess verifiable, authoritative-level expertise in the CASPIAN architecture, including its underlying data schemas, integration nodes, and security compliance constraints.
• JCRS-D Optimization & Innovation: Deep, hands-on technical proficiency in JCRS-D data technologies.
• System Integration: Proven ability to engineer and deploy custom API integrations and data bridges specifically tailored to JCRS-D platforms and upstream/downstream DoD analytics systems.
• Data Acquisition, Standards, and Governance: Technical authority to define, enforce, and iterate data acquisition standards, ensuring all incoming data streams comply with DCDC/ARCYBER governance, data tagging, and metadata tagging requirements.
• Expert-level proficiency in designing complex ETL/ELT pipelines using industry-standard enterprise tools (e.g., Apache NiFi, Kafka, Spark) to automate data ingestion from disparate, disconnected tactical and strategic sources.
• Demonstrated capability to implement automated data quality checks, anomaly detection, and schema validation before data enters the CASPIAN/JCRS-D environment.
• Must have direct experience engineering low-latency, high-throughput data processing architectures capable of handling massive volumes of structured and unstructured DoD data.
• Advanced proficiency in technical decision-making regarding distributed compute resource allocation, query optimization, and storage tiering to maximize analytical output speed.
• Proven track record of identifying and remediating critical data flow bottlenecks within complex, classified or secure unclassified network enclaves.
• Must have DoD 8570.01-M / 8140 certification compliance (e.g., IAT Level III or IASAE Level II/III).
• Active TS with ability to obtain SCI.

Benefits

• Target Salary Range: $146,000 - $234,000
• Overtime
• Shift differential
• Discretionary bonus
• Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law