Python Developer - Digital Forensics

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Department Summary:

MITRE is seeking an experienced technical professional to join our Digital Investigations Department in support of a high-impact sponsor mission in the McLean, Virginia area.

Our department transforms digital data into actionable understanding by combining technical analysis, investigative tradecraft, software development, data analytics, and mission context. Our work spans digital evidence and forensics, digital intelligence and OSINT, investigative analytics, target and activity analysis, operational investigations, and the development of new investigative tools and capabilities.

This position requires a strong Python developer who can work directly with sponsor personnel to understand mission problems, develop and evolve technical solutions, and provide technical leadership to other members of the team. The successful candidate will be comfortable moving between hands-on development, technical problem solving, solution design, and direct sponsor interaction.

This is an on-site position supporting a sponsor location in the McLean, VA area. Regular presence at the sponsor site is required.

Roles & Responsibilities:

In this role, the selected candidate will:

• Lead Technical Development: Design, develop, test, and maintain Python-based applications, analytical tools, automation, and data-processing capabilities supporting digital investigations and related mission needs.
• Set Technical Direction: Translate complex or ambiguous sponsor problems into technical approaches, make architecture and implementation decisions, and help establish the direction of work performed by other team members.
• Remain Hands-On: Personally develop and review production-quality Python code while contributing to troubleshooting, debugging, integration, testing, and deployment activities.
• Solve Complex Technical Problems: Analyze difficult technical and mission challenges, evaluate possible solutions, and apply sound engineering judgment to develop practical and innovative approaches.
• Work Directly with Sponsors: Build a strong understanding of sponsor workflows, priorities, constraints, and operational needs and use that understanding to shape technical solutions.
• Guide and Elevate the Team: Provide technical guidance and mentorship to more junior staff, conduct code and design reviews, share technical knowledge, and help improve the quality and effectiveness of the team's work.
• Build Sustainable Capability: Develop reusable tools, libraries, workflows, documentation, and engineering practices that improve work beyond an individual task or project.
• Connect Across Disciplines: Collaborate with investigators, analysts, data scientists, engineers, and other technical experts to integrate capabilities and solve multidisciplinary problems.
• Communicate Technical Concepts: Explain complex technical issues, design decisions, risks, and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Evaluate Technologies and Approaches: Assess existing and emerging software, data sources, platforms, and analytical techniques and identify opportunities to improve investigative capabilities and mission outcomes.

Basic Qualifications:

• Strong software development experience using Python, including demonstrated experience developing, debugging, testing, and maintaining non-trivial software or analytical capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to independently solve complex technical problems and make sound technical design and implementation decisions.
• Experience leading the technical direction of a project, task, capability, or significant body of work.
• Demonstrated ability to provide technical guidance, mentorship, or review of work performed by other engineers or analysts.
• Experience translating user or mission needs into technical requirements and working solutions.
• Experience developing software that interacts with, processes, transforms, or analyzes complex datasets.
• Strong understanding of software engineering practices, including version control, testing, documentation, code review, and maintainable software design.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly.
• Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary technical teams and directly with sponsor or customer stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently in an environment where requirements may be incomplete, evolving, or operationally driven.
• Position is based in the McLean, Virginia area and requires regular on-site work at the sponsor location.
• Access to a vehicle is required to support work at the sponsor site and associated local mission activities.
• Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Must have an active Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance and must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Top Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance . Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 4 days a week on-site.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience developing software or analytical capabilities supporting digital investigations, cybersecurity, intelligence, law enforcement, national security, or other operational missions.
• Experience with Python data and analytical libraries and frameworks such as pandas, NumPy, SQLAlchemy, FastAPI, Flask, or similar technologies.
• Experience designing and implementing data pipelines, APIs, backend services, automation, or analytical workflows.
• Experience working with structured and unstructured datasets, including data normalization, entity resolution, correlation, enrichment, or visualization.
• Experience with relational and/or non-relational databases and strong SQL skills.
• Experience working in Linux environments and with command-line tools and scripting.
• Experience with Git-based development workflows, automated testing, CI/CD, containerization, or related DevSecOps practices.
• Experience integrating software with external APIs, data services, investigative platforms, or mission systems.
• Familiarity with one or more digital investigation areas such as digital forensics, OSINT, cyber threat intelligence, network analysis, malware analysis, cryptocurrency analysis, investigative analytics, or target/activity analysis.
• Experience rapidly prototyping technical approaches and transitioning successful prototypes into sustainable capabilities.
• Demonstrated experience identifying opportunities to improve technical practices or capabilities beyond an individual's assigned work.
• Experience working directly with government sponsors in a classified environment.
• Active Top Secret or TS/SCI clearance.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

Secret

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Top Secret

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$158,800 - $198,500 - $238,200 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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