Deputy Chief Engineer - TS/SCI

Insight Global is seeking a Deputy Chief Engineer for a top national security and intelligence client supporting a large‑scale, mission‑critical operational software system. This individual will serve as the senior technical authority for a complex, real‑time platform focused on global situational awareness, data fusion, tracking, geospatial workflows, and operational decision support.
This role sits at the intersection of software architecture, cloud infrastructure, DevOps, and operations, requiring someone who can seamlessly move from deep technical design to executive‑level communication. The Deputy Chief Engineer will lead technical direction across dozens of engineers, guide architectural modernization, support 24/7 operational environments, and work directly with highly technical government stakeholders.
The ideal candidate thrives in fast‑paced, high‑stakes environments, is comfortable making disciplined technical decisions under pressure, and is motivated by the real‑world impact of their work on mission success and safety. This role offers a clear growth path into the Chief Engineer position with full ownership of system delivery and technical strategy.
- Act as the technical bridge between customer requirements and system architecture/design decisions
- Partner closely with the current Chief Engineer to absorb system knowledge and progressively assume ownership
- Provide technical leadership across 70–80+ engineers and subcontractors spanning multiple agile teams
Own architectural decisions across:
- Backend services
- Real‑time data pipelines
- Cloud infrastructure & DevOps
- User interface (map‑based UI) integrations
- Lead architecture trade studies balancing performance, resiliency, scalability, and delivery speed
- Oversee high‑volume data platforms handling millions of records per minute with strict uptime requirements
- Guide DevOps and hosting strategies across AWS, Azure, and Kubernetes
- Support 24/7 operational environments, including rapid decision‑making during off‑hours incidents
- Advise on third‑party software integrations and prototype technical solutions (often within weeks)
- Drive 6‑month and longer‑term technical roadmaps in partnership with product and solutioning program leadership
- Interface regularly with long‑standing government customers (6–7 year relationships)
- Manage and mentor ~5 direct reports, cascading leadership across the broader engineering organization
- Represent the program in technical reviews, customer briefings, and executive discussions
- Prepare to transition into Chief Engineer with full end‑to‑end system ownership

We are a company committed to creating diverse and inclusive environments where people can bring their full, authentic selves to work every day. We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer that believes everyone matters. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment regardless of their race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, genetic factors, age, disability, protected veteran status, military or uniformed service member status, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to HR@insightglobal.com.To learn more about how we collect, keep, and process your private information, please review Insight Global's Workforce Privacy Policy: https://insightglobal.com/workforce-privacy-policy/.

- 10–15+ years of hands-on software development experience with progression into senior technical leadership, including leading large-scale programs (30–80+ engineers across multiple agile teams)
- Bachelor's degree
- Strong software architecture expertise across backend, data platforms, and system integration, with experience building high-availability, high-throughput systems supporting large user bases (10K–30K+ users)
- Deep understanding of the full SDLC and modern cloud/DevOps environments, including AWS/Azure, Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud-hosted data platforms
- Proven experience operating mission-critical systems with 24/7 support models, including on-call rotations and real-world production environments
- Ability to interface with highly technical government stakeholders, including strong executive communication skills (briefings, presentations)
- Eligibility to obtain a CI-Poly clearance

Experience supporting DoD, Intelligence Community, or national security missions
Experience with:
Real‑time data processing & streaming architectures
Data fusion, tracking, or sensor‑integrated systems
Geospatial or map‑based user interfaces
Background with large‑scale data technologies such as:
Hadoop ecosystem, NiFi, Cloudera
Iceberg, Trino
Open‑source data engineering frameworks
Experience leading technical modernization efforts in a legacy operational environment
Prior experience as a Chief Engineer, Deputy Chief Engineer, Principal Engineer, or Technical Director
Experience owning or influencing multi‑year technical roadmaps
Comfortable mentoring senior engineers and building technical bench strength

Benefit packages for this role will start on the 1st day of employment and include medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as HSA, FSA, and DCFSA account options, and 401k retirement account access with employer matching. Employees in this role are also entitled to paid sick leave and/or other paid time off as provided by applicable law.