Full-Time

Platform Engineer

Python/Java/AWS/Linux

Captivation

Captivation

11-50 employees

Software engineering for mission-focused teams

Compensation Overview

$130k - $270k/yr

No H1B Sponsorship

Columbia, MD, USA

Hybrid

Hybrid role; 1-2 days per week in the Columbia, MD office.

US Citizenship, US Top Secret Clearance Required

Bachelor's, Master's

Category
DevOps & Infrastructure (1)
Required Skills
Bash
Python
Java
AWS
Linux/Unix

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Requirements
  • 9+ years of experience in Platform Engineering or Software Development (Python or Java) with Bachelors in related field; OR 7 years relevant experience with Masters in related field; OR High School Diploma or equivalent and 13 years relevant experience.
  • Must have experience developing infrastructure in Amazon Web Services.
  • Have a solid understanding of Linux systems, hosts, networks, security, applications and proficiency in shell scripting (Shell/Bash).
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Must be able to obtain Security+ certification within 60 days of hire.
  • Must be able to work in a hybrid environment, spending an average of 1-2 days per week at our Columbia, MD office.
  • Security Clearance: A current U.S. Government Security clearance is not required at start, but will be processed for a Secret level clearance; U.S. citizenship required.
Responsibilities
  • The ideal candidate is a strong systems integrator with an eye for opportunity to enhance, optimize, or increase robustness of an existing code base.
  • The candidate should have experience with infrastructure as code and be able to leverage modern tools to define, build and manage virtual infrastructure in the cloud.
  • Design and implement core architecture and capabilities for software from prototype to operational applications.
  • Other duties as assigned.
Desired Qualifications
  • A TS/SCI level security clearance preferred.
  • Prior experience or familiarity with DISA’s Big Data Platform or other Big Data systems (e.g. Cloudera’s Distribution of Hadoop, Hortonworks Data Platform, MapR, etc..) is a plus.
  • Experience with Kubernetes (or vendor flavor of Kubernetes)
  • Experience with CI/CD pipelines (e.g. Gitlab-CI, Travis-CI, etc.)
  • Understanding of agile software development methodologies and use of standard software development tool suites. (e.g., JIRA, Confluence, Github, Gitlab, etc.)
  • Experience with puppet, ansible, maven, virtualization (ovirt, proxmox, vmware, etc)
  • DoD 8140 / 8570 IAT Level II compliance certifications may be required in this position as directed by the customer.

Captivation builds digital software for mission makers by delivering engineering services across a wide range of disciplines. The work is collaborative, with teams that move quickly like a small business and take pride in what they develop. The company emphasizes transparency, a flat organizational structure, and a developer-focused culture, which enables engineers to work directly and iteratively with clients. Compared with larger firms, Captivation differentiates itself through its focus on timely delivery, practical problem solving, and actively pursuing challenging projects for the Intelligence Community, using modern software technologies. The goal is to produce solutions that clients value, on time, while growing the team and empowering its engineers to take ownership of their work.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Columbia, Maryland

Founded

2014

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Greenhouse listed 75 openings on August 28, 2026, signaling active demand.
  • Haystack posted a DevOps role on August 14, 2026 with $130,000-$270,000 pay.
  • Captivation launched AI machine learning, platform, and network roles in August 2026.

What critics are saying

  • Captivation had 55-75 openings in 2026, suggesting constant contract-driven hiring churn.
  • Most roles require Top Secret/SCI and favorable polygraph, shrinking the candidate pool immediately.
  • A single program loss in Annapolis Junction would hit revenue and trigger rapid headcount cuts.

What makes Captivation unique

  • Captivation serves Armed Forces and Intelligence Community customers from Baltimore and Annapolis Junction.
  • Captivation hires cleared engineers across Java, AWS, Kubernetes, and DevOps roles in 2026.
  • Captivation offers direct-hire roles with 20% 401(k), 6 weeks PTO, and paid insurance.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

Unlimited Paid Time Off

401(k) Retirement Plan