Imagery Database Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Imagery Database Engineer 

Clearance Required: Active TS/SCI with eligibility to obtain a CI Polygraph

Position Overview

We are seeking a Database Engineer / Imagery Data Administrator to support critical National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) imagery database operations. In this role, you will manage, maintain, and support multi-system imagery databases, ensure reliable database backups, handle international partner data requests, and facilitate the end-to-end distribution of incoming geospatial intelligence imagery. You will play a key role in developing a data-request tracking dashboard while contributing to modern DevSecOps deployment practices within a collaborative technical environment.

Key Responsibilities

Core Database Operations & Partner Support

• Perform routine and emergency database maintenance, system backups, and health checks across various NGA imagery databases.
• Verify incoming imagery data feeds, ensuring accurate processing, indexing, and redistribution to designated downstream systems and foreign partners.
• Process, validate, and track technical imagery requests submitted by foreign intelligence partners.
• Design, build, and support an internal data request tracking dashboard using HTML, CSS, SQL, and database management applications.
• Interoperability and system integration using specialized applications (e.g., IEC, MARGE, and customer-specific management platforms).

Enterprise Systems & Software Engineering

• Research, design, develop, test, and modify database-driven applications and enterprise systems in alignment with customer strategic objectives.
• Analyze user/business application requirements, identify operational needs, and execute systematic software/database upgrades over time.
• Establish, expand, and improve automated system monitoring while strictly adhering to security protocols across development, testing, and production environments.
• Support agile development workflows—participating in sprint planning, story definition, and effort estimations alongside a small, collaborative team.
• Write automated unit test cases and integration tests, evaluate code quality via automated tools, and resolve defects during formal system testing.
• Maintain clear documentation supporting software development standards, system policies, operational procedures, and release packages.
• Utilize and align with the customer’s enterprise DevSecOps pipeline for seamless software releases and infrastructure maintenance.

Required Qualifications

• Clearance: Active TS/SCI security clearance with eligibility to obtain a CI Polygraph .
• Experience: 3+ years of professional experience in database administration, database maintenance, or software systems engineering.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related technical/business field.
• Database & Querying Skills: Hands-on experience managing and maintaining imagery databases and SQL data stores .
• Deployment & Infrastructure: Experience deploying, maintaining, and supporting applications within on-premise / data center environments .
• Analytical & Interpersonal: Strong problem-solving, troubleshooting, and communication skills with a proven track record of working collaboratively in small technical teams.

Desired Qualifications

• Hands-on scripting experience using Python (e.g., running automated queries, data pipeline processing, or system utility scripts).
• Basic front-end web development skills ( HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React ) for dashboard UI construction.
• Operational understanding of modern DevSecOps processes and software release cycles.
• Experience with containerization technologies ( Docker, Kubernetes ) and deployment to Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform .
• Exposure to enterprise CI/CD tools ( GitLab, Jenkins, Nexus ).
• Experience with search/analytics engines ( Elasticsearch ).
• Familiarity with Infrastructure as Code frameworks ( Terraform, Helm ).

Location: On-site