Architecture & Data Lead

About Us

Red Cell Partners is an incubation firm building and investing in rapidly scalable technology-led companies that are bringing revolutionary advancements to market in three distinct practice areas: healthcare, cyber, and national security. United by a shared sense of duty and deep belief in the power of innovation, Red Cell is developing powerful tools and solutions to address our Nation’s most pressing problems.

ABOUT DEFCON AI

RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF DISRUPTION. DEFCON AI is an insights company that leverages artificial intelligence, mathematical optimization, data analytics, and software engineering for resilient optimization of complex systems.
In today’s dynamically changing world, DEFCON AI’s technology aligns outcomes with operational goals, better decision making, and empowers customers to anticipate assess, and mitigate the impacts of disruptions.

About the Role

This is a rare opportunity to define how data moves across the U.S. military’s logistics ecosystem.

As the Architecture and Data Lead, you will own one of the most critical integration challenges in modern DoW software: enabling data to flow reliably across platforms, classification levels, and operational environments — and transforming it into usable, decision-ready information.

You will design and build the integration platform that connects DEFCON AI’s software to the broader logistics C2 ecosystem. This includes developing adapters, common data models, translation layers, synchronization mechanisms, and classification-aware data architecture that ensure systems remain coherent from headquarters to the tactical edge.

This is a senior role combining  deep technical execution and system-level architecture leadership . You will define the architecture, build key components, and guide a team of engineers and partners to deliver production-ready integrations across disconnected environments, varied data models, and multi-enclave deployments.

Key Responsibilities

Cross-Platform Integration Architecture

• Design and implement the bidirectional data layer connecting major DoW C2 platforms (Palantir and Anduril)
• Develop common data models and translation layers to resolve schema and vocabulary mismatches
• Build and validate production-grade adapters (e.g., Foundry, Lattice) in live government environments
• Advance integration concepts into fully implemented, tested system-level data flows

Data Integration & Authoritative Source Onboarding

• Own end-to-end data flow from authoritative DoW systems into and across the platform
• Lead onboarding of key data sources (logistics, personnel, maintenance, DoW data platforms)
• Extend existing government data pipelines into DEFCON AI production without disrupting delivery
• Coordinate with security and DevSecOps teams to enable compliant, reliable data ingestion

Classification-Aware & Cross-Domain Data Architecture

• Architect data flows across IL-5, IL-6, and tactical environments with proper segmentation
• Implement classification-aware controls (e.g., NOFORN, REL_TO) with fail-safe enforcement
• Enable “classify the data, not the network” operations across multi-enclave systems

Interoperability, Standards & Field Execution

• Align architecture with JADC2 and Service C2 interoperability standards
• Produce and maintain interface control documents (ICDs), schemas, and API contracts
• Lead technical execution at exercises: operate integrations, validate flows, and troubleshoot in real time
• Capture lessons learned and continuously improve architecture and integration design

Platform Scalability, DDIL & Modernization

• Design and implement resilient data synchronization for DDIL environments
• Enable bandwidth-aware operation, conflict resolution, and graceful degradation to low-connectivity states
• Identify and resolve data architecture bottlenecks (e.g., geospatial scaling constraints)
• Lead refactoring and modernization as systems transition into DEFCON AI ownership

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of software/systems architecture experience including at least one system-of-systems integration effort delivered to production
• 5+ years of data architecture or data engineering experience on DoW, logistics, or complex-enterprise systems
• Hands on experience building production integration adapters between systems that were not designed to talk to each other
• Demonstrated experience operating across multiple classification levels (IL-4, IL-5, IL-6) or equivalent regulated multi-enclave environments.
• US Citizenship Required
• Active Secret Clearance
• Willingness to travel up to 25% to USMC sites, Defcon AI HQ, and industry vendor facilities as required

Preferred Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI Clearance
• Experience with Palantir and/or Anduril platforms in production environments
• Experience with DoW cross-domain solutions
• Experience onboarding authoritative DoW data feeds (logistics, readiness, etc.)
• Experience with geospatial data architecture (e.g., PostGIS)
• Familiarity with USMC or Service-level logistics domains
• Experience building systems for DDIL / edge environments

What Success Looks Like

• Cross-platform integrations operate successfully in live exercises, with real-time data flowing between systems
• Architecture is delivered as working, tested system-level integrations — not just concepts
• Authoritative DoW data sources are onboarded with clear lineage and governance
• Production data pipelines are extended seamlessly without disrupting existing government workflows
• The platform scales effectively, supports DDIL operations, and establishes the program’s standard data model and interfaces

What We Offer: 

• A fully remote, results-based environment
• Competitive salary, bonus, and equity package
• 100% employer paid, comprehensive health insurance including medical, dental, and vision for you and your family
• Unlimited PTO, with your manager’s approval
• Flexible work environment where you manage your work day
• 14 weeks of fully-paid parental leave

Salary Range: $175,000-$225,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience, skills, and other factors.

Our Red Cell Partners Benefits:

For full-time roles

• Career track opportunity with potential for rapid advancement with strong performance as the firm grows 
• 100% employer paid, comprehensive health care including medical, dental, and vision for you and your family.
• Paid maternity and paternity for 14 weeks at employees' normal pay.
• Unlimited PTO, with management approval.
• Opportunities for professional development and continued learning.
• Optional 401K, FSA, and equity incentives available.
• Mental health benefits are available through Tara Mind .
• Cost effective GLP-1 solutions available through  Crux .

We’re an Equal Opportunity Employer: You’ll receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or on the basis of disability.

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