Data Engineer - SWE3 at Link, LLC (Columbia, MD)

Link, LLC· Columbia, MD·3d ago

Role details

Work type

Onsite

Job description

Responsibilities:

Design schemas and models in OLAP, graph (Neo4j), and document (Elastic) databases.
Optimize queries and data structures for performance and scalability.
Work with analytics engineers to shape how data supports customer missions.
Implement governance rules to ensure data quality and compliance.

Skills Requirements:

Nice to Haves:

Experience analyzing cyber security-related data sets (network traffic, OS events).
Knowledge of end-to-end SIGINT collection and analysis systems.
Experience with production CNO capabilities and operations.
General software engineering skills (devops, web applications, ETL, etc.)
Familiarity with Git and GitLab.
Atlassian Tools (Jira, Confluence).

12 yrs, B.S. or 4 additional yrs in place of B.S.

Culture: Mission‑driven environment focused on protecting national security. Employees are described as part of a team that “enables missions and engineers lasting solutions.”
Work Environment: On‑site work at secure government facilities (Ft Meade, MD; Annapolis Junction, MD; Columbia, MD; Honolulu, HI). No remote/hybrid options evident from job postings.
Perks & Benefits:
- 14% employer retirement contribution (no employee match required)
- 75% of medical costs covered for entire family (plus Fringe Benefit to subsidize further)
- 100% of Long‑Term, Short‑Term, AD&D, and Life Insurance paid by employer
- $10,000 annual training budget
- 5 weeks PTO + 12 holidays + 40 hours personal time + 40 hours professional training
- 10 days parental leave
- Monthly morale events: happy hours, go‑karting, axe throwing, brewery tours, curling
Engineering culture: Focus on innovation, reverse engineering, and hands‑on technical work. High investment in training and professional development.

One-liner: Link, LLC is a defense and cybersecurity services company that enables Computer Network Operations (CNO) and provides intelligence solutions to protect U.S. national security information and infrastructure.
Entity Type: Private (no public funding rounds found)
Headquarters: Not explicitly disclosed, but primary operations appear to be in the Maryland area (Fort Meade, Annapolis Junction, Columbia) – USA
Founded: ~1999 (based on “over 25 years of experience” as of 2024 – 2025)
Founders: Not publicly available

Primary industry: Defense, Cybersecurity, Intelligence (DoD contractor)
Target customers: U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), other government agencies, and commercial clients requiring national‑security‑grade cyber and intelligence services
Mission statement: “Enabling mission with innovation” – partnering with clients to protect the nation’s security information, systems, and infrastructure.

Link offers a range of technical capabilities, delivered as professional services and engineering support:

Data Science: Study data and extract intelligence; machine learning, deep learning, NLP.
Cryptography Engineering: Maintain security and integrity of digital communications, including quantum‑computing era challenges.
High Performance Computing (HPC): Process data and perform complex calculations at high speeds.
Full Stack Software Engineering: Architect and develop analytic and AI/ML solutions.
Malware Analysis: Dissect code to understand how it works; identify vulnerabilities.
Exploitation Analysis: Uncover and exploit security vulnerabilities in support of Signals Intelligence.
CNO Tool Development: Develop tools to enable actions and intelligence collection; apply reverse engineering.
Systems Administration / DevOps: Engineer virtual infrastructures, optimize and automate solutions, deploy new systems.
Systems Engineering & Test: Collaborate on designs, validate solutions, automate testing capabilities.

Valuation: Not publicly available (private company)
Key Metric: Not publicly available (revenue not disclosed); however, the company maintains a substantial hiring pipeline with multiple open positions across all levels.
Notable Investors/Partners: Not publicly available (no external investment rounds found)
Growth Signals: Active, ongoing hiring across multiple locations (Ft Meade, MD; Annapolis Junction, MD; Columbia, MD; Honolulu, HI) for roles ranging from entry‑level to senior engineers. The company’s 25‑year tenure and continuous contract work with the DoD indicate stable, long‑term growth.

Deep domain expertise: Over 25 years of experience exclusively in national security, CNO, and signals intelligence.
Strong benefits package: Offers a 14% retirement contribution (no match required), 75% of family medical costs covered, $10,000 annual training budget, and a unique “Fringe Benefit” that can be applied to medical subsidies, HSA, 529 plans, hobbies, tech, gaming, etc.
High retention incentives: 5 weeks PTO, 12 holidays, 40 hours personal time, 40 hours professional training, 10 days parental leave, and 24 hours emergency leave — all designed to attract and retain cleared talent.

Current priorities: Continue to support DoD and intelligence community missions with cutting‑edge CNO, cryptography, AI/ML, and exploitation capabilities.
Direction for growth: Expanding into advanced AI/NLP, cloud exploitation, and quantum‑resistant cryptography while maintaining a strong pipeline of cleared technical talent.

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