Senior Technical Lead — R&D Mission Platforms

Senior Technical Lead — R&D Mission Platforms

Location: United States
Work Model: Remote
Travel: Approximately 15% for R&D events, technical demos, and collaboration sessions
Clearance: U.S. citizenship required. Active Secret clearance preferred; candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance.

Role Overview

Rackner is seeking a Senior Technical Lead — R&D Mission Platforms to help design, prototype, demonstrate, and advance mission-relevant software capabilities within our internal R&D environment.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role for someone who can move from concept to working software quickly, operate in ambiguity, and communicate technical ideas clearly to engineering and non-engineering stakeholders. You will work closely with Rackner’s technical leadership and R&D team to build modern platform capabilities, support technical demos, and help translate operational needs into practical software solutions.

The right candidate will be comfortable balancing deep technical work with customer-facing interaction. This role is not a traditional heads-down engineering position. It is designed for someone who can build, explain, iterate, and represent technical work in mission-focused environments.

What You'll Do

Lead the design, prototyping, and development of mission-relevant software and platform capabilities

Build backend services, APIs, full-stack applications, and cloud-native components using modern engineering practices

Translate ambiguous mission needs, user workflows, and technical concepts into working software

Support rapid build, demo, feedback, and iteration cycles for R&D initiatives

Collaborate directly with technical leadership, R&D engineers, and stakeholders on architecture and implementation decisions

Participate in technical demos, customer-facing discussions, and mission-focused events

Help shape system design, platform direction, and technical tradeoffs across emerging capabilities

Guide or mentor other engineers through architecture decisions, prototyping efforts, and implementation challenges

Deploy and support applications in cloud-native, containerized, or Kubernetes-based environments

Use modern development workflows, including AI-assisted tools where appropriate, to accelerate prototyping, testing, and delivery

Represent Rackner’s technical work with clarity, professionalism, and credibility in collaborative settings

Minimum Qualifications

U.S. citizenship required due to federal contract requirements

Professional background developing software systems, backend services, APIs, full-stack applications, or platform capabilities

Proficiency with Python, JavaScript / TypeScript, or similar modern programming languages

Hands-on knowledge of cloud platforms, containers, Kubernetes, DevSecOps, or cloud-native deployment environments

Ability to work independently in ambiguous, prototype-driven, or fast-moving technical settings

Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences

Demonstrated ownership of engineering outcomes from concept through implementation

Willingness to travel approximately 15% for R&D events, technical demos, collaboration sessions, or mission-focused engagements

Preferred Qualifications

Active Secret clearance or higher

Background supporting DoD, Air Force, Platform One, Big Bang, DevSecOps, mission planning, C2, ISR, autonomy, or defense software programs

Ability to engage with operators, mission users, customers, or non-engineering stakeholders to understand workflows and translate needs into technical solutions

Familiarity with Python, TypeScript, JavaScript, React, Go, FastAPI, Postgres, AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, Helm, Terraform, or CI/CD tooling

History of leading engineering projects, serving as an informal technical lead, or guiding architecture decisions

Involvement in technical demos, pilots, field events, customer-facing discussions, or live exercises

Background building in R&D, prototype-heavy, startup-like, defense tech, or mission-focused environments

Exposure to AI-enabled systems, LLMs, automation-heavy software, data-driven decision tools, or autonomy-adjacent technologies

Familiarity with secure software delivery, observability, infrastructure-as-code, or compliance-aware engineering practices

Travel & Event Support

This role requires approximately 15% travel for R&D events, technical demos, collaboration sessions, and mission-focused engagements. Travel is planned in advance whenever possible and may include participation in customer-facing or internal engineering events.

About Rackner

Rackner is a software consultancy focused on building mission-critical systems for the U.S. government. Our teams work across cloud platforms, DevSecOps, AI/ML, distributed systems, and modern software engineering initiatives supporting federal agencies and national security missions.

Rackner engineers collaborate closely with technical leadership, program teams, and mission stakeholders to design, build, and improve software systems that address complex operational challenges.

Benefits & Perks

Rackner invests in its people, because when you grow, we all win.

Company-supported certifications aligned to current and future program work, including cloud, Kubernetes, DevSecOps, security, AI/ML, project management, and related technical areas

Clear advancement tracks and future leadership opportunities

401(k) with 100% match up to 6%

Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage

Generous PTO and paid holidays

Home-office equipment plan and remote work support

Fitness and wellness reimbursement

Weekly pay schedule and modern perks, including team events

Equal Opportunity

Rackner is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other protected characteristics.