Systems Engineer 3 - Watch Desk, Jira/Confluence/Rancher/Redis/Nifi/Docker/Kubernetes/AWS/Nagios/Prometheus
About the job
- Must currently hold a Top Secret/SCI U.S. Government security clearance with a favorable polygraph; candidates must be U.S. citizens.
- Twenty years of experience as a Systems Engineer in programs and contracts of similar scope, type, and complexity is required.
- Demonstrated experience planning and leading Systems Engineering efforts is required.
- A bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering Science, Engineering Management, or a related discipline from an accredited college or university is required; five additional years of Systems Engineering experience may substitute for the degree.
- Security+ certification, or willingness to attain it within six months.
- Experience operating and using RTRG Mission analytics.
- Experience monitoring operating systems and applications.
- Experience troubleshooting operating systems and applications and escalating as required.
- Experience troubleshooting dataflow and escalating as required.
- Experience troubleshooting network issues and escalating as required.
- Ability to read and interpret system-information graphs to discern correct operations.
- Ability to dissect complex issues and generate concise, accurate status updates.
- Ability to generate customer metrics and reports using disparate data sources.
- Ability to generate SOPs for Watch Desk personnel and/or customers.
- Ability to lead a small team of Watch Desk shift personnel and provide meaningful guidance to teammates.
- Ability to maintain schedules as required.
- Linux and command-line proficiency; hardware, software, network, and data-flow troubleshooting; clear communication and documentation; ability to follow and maintain SOPs, prioritize incidents, and work independently in a 24×7 environment.
- Experience with Jira, Confluence, Rancher, Elasticsearch, Redis, NiFi, Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, virtualization, and monitoring tools such as Nagios, Grafana, and Prometheus.
- Monitor system health, availability, performance, and data pipelines on the watch floor.
- Investigate alerts and incidents, perform authorized recovery actions, and escalate unresolved issues.
- Maintain tickets, shift logs, SOPs, metrics, and reports.
- Provide concise status updates and effective shift handoffs.
About the company
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's Take
What believers are saying
- Greenhouse showed 72 openings in October 2026, signaling sustained program demand.
- Recent roles target AI/ML, Rust, cloud, and 508 accessibility modernization.
- Federal award history and active hiring suggest sticky relationships with cleared government customers.
What critics are saying
- Captivation's dependence on classified Annapolis Junction programs creates single-contract revenue shock risk.
- TS/SCI polygraph hiring shrinks the talent pool and slows scaling across 72 openings.
- A 2025-2026 contract loss could force rapid headcount cuts and damage clearance trust.
What makes Captivation unique
- Captivation serves TS/SCI-cleared mission software for DoD, USCYBERCOM, and DISA.
- Its 72-job 2026 slate spans DSP, AI, Kubernetes, and geospatial reporting tools.
- Direct-hire, developer-owned culture with 20% 401k and six weeks PTO differentiates recruiting.
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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