--- title: 'Mission Data Engineer at Spear AI' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/mission-data-engineer-spear-ai-washington-1jf4j2zf7v3x' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-10' --- # Mission Data Engineer at Spear AI - **Company:** Spear AI - **Location:** Washington, DC - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2025-04-22 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-10 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/spear-ai/4e50e2da-425b-4be2-9196-73acbded48d3 ## Job description Data Engineer – Spear AI Location: On-site, Washington, DC Clearance Required: Secret (active) Employment Type: Full-time, salaried, benefits-eligible About Spear AI: Spear AI delivers cutting-edge artificial intelligence solutions tailored specifically for maritime defense and national security operations. Leveraging advanced data management, AI-driven decision intelligence software, and innovative sensor technologies, Spear AI provides mission-critical capabilities to government, defense, and intelligence customers. Founded by maritime and technology experts with extensive operational experience, Spear AI is positioned to be a leading provider of scalable, integrated AI solutions for defense applications. About the Role: Spear AI seeks a Data Engineer to build robust, secure data infrastructure supporting the an IC Task Force. The role involves creating resilient pipelines to power analytics and decision support systems. Primary Responsibilities: Design and manage secure data pipelines enabling ML and analytics workflows. Handle data ingestion, transformation, and validation with auditable, secure processes. Collaborate with mission engineers and data scientists to align infrastructure with operational objectives. Optimize data processing and storage for real-time and batch operations. Ensure compliance with DIA’s data governance and cross-domain security standards. Required Experience: Active Secret clearance. 3–7 years in data engineering, preferably within secure, high-side environments. Proficiency in Python, Spark, SQL, and data orchestration tools (e.g., Airflow). Experience with classified data management, secure networking, and infrastructure optimization. Preferred Experience: Familiarity with IC standards (UDS, IC ITE) and secure cloud environments (AWS GovCloud, C2S). Strong troubleshooting and optimization skills within complex operational settings. ## About Spear AI ## Company Overview- **One-liner**: Spear AI delivers advanced AI/ML software, maritime sensing systems, and engineering services purpose-built for contested maritime and undersea environments to strengthen U.S. national defense and homeland security. - **Entity Type**: Private (Seed stage – raised $2.3M in first outside funding) - **Headquarters**: Washington, D.C., United States (with satellites in Falmouth, MA; Groton, CT; Duluth, MN) - **Founded**: 2021 - **Founders**: Michael Hunter (Co-Founder, CEO) and John McGunnigle (Co-Founder, Executive Chairman) ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Defense and Space Manufacturing; National Security AI/ML - **Target customers**: U.S. Navy, joint forces, interagency operations (B2G); also commercial maritime surveillance (underwater pipelines, cables) - **Mission or purpose**: “Give maritime and defense teams the technology that actually helps them see what’s happening and respond quickly with confidence.” ## Products & Services - **Passive Acoustic Sensors**: Hardware sensors that can be attached to buoys or vessels to collect underwater acoustic data. - **AI Data Labeling & Preparation Software**: A software tool that labels and sorts passive acoustic data, making it ready for AI algorithms. (Awarded a $6M Navy contract for this tool.) - **Consulting & Engineering Services**: AI/ML integration, cloud architecture, reinforcement learning, and acoustic ML support – modeled after defense tech firms like Palantir. ## Market Standing - **Valuation / Funding**: $2.3 million Seed round led by Cortical Ventures and Scare the Bear Capital (July 2025). - **Key Metric**: $6 million U.S. Navy contract for data-labeling tool (awarded July 2025). - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Cortical Ventures (AI-focused VC), Scare the Bear Capital (private equity). - **Growth Signals**: ~69 employees (LinkedIn) as of late 2025/early 2026; planning to double headcount to support government contracts and commercial expansion; active job postings (13 open positions); offices in 4 U.S. locations. ## Competitive Advantages - **Deep domain expertise**: Founders are former Navy intelligence analyst (Hunter) and retired submarine commander / Project Harbinger co-founder (McGunnigle). - **Hardware + software integration**: Proprietary sensors combined with AI-ready data pipelines – a rare combination in the undersea domain. - **Early Navy traction**: $6M contract and ongoing relationships with naval and special operations units. - **Clear mission focus**: Purpose-built for contested maritime environments, not generic defense AI. ## Strategic Focus - **Scale headcount**: Use seed funding to double the team and support growing government contracts. - **Expand commercial verticals**: Monitor underwater pipelines, cables, and other critical infrastructure. - **Deepen AI capabilities**: Continue developing reinforcement learning and acoustic ML for submarine and surface vessel operations. ## Why Work Here - **Culture & Mission**: “We take care of our crew” – strong emphasis on impact, autonomy, and solving hard national security problems. - **Work flexibility**: Remote / onsite / flexible arrangements; relocation assistance if onsite is required. - **Compensation & perks**: Performance bonuses, comprehensive health/dental/vision, 401(k) matching, unlimited PTO. - **Growth opportunities**: Employees shape the company’s future; direct access to founders during hiring process. - **Engineering culture**: Practical coding exercises (GitHub, online assessments), hands-on hardware exercises, and team interviews that reflect real work. - **Hiring process**: Transparent multi-step process including recruiter screen, technical exercise, team meetings, and founder conversation. ## Sources 1. [spear.ai/about](https://www.spear.ai/about) 2. [spear.ai/careers](https://www.spear.ai/careers) 3. [linkedin.com/company/spear-ai](https://linkedin.com/company/spear-ai) 4. [thestar.com.my](https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2025/07/26/spear-ai-raises-first-round-of-funding-to-apply-ai-to-submarine-data) 5. [jobs.lever.co/spear-ai](https://jobs.lever.co/spear-ai) ## Other roles at Spear AI - [AI IC Mission Engineer - Mid](https://feeny.ai/job/ai-ic-mission-engineer-mid-spear-ai-bolling-afb-jm6fmz2z82d4) — Bolling AFB, DC - [Software Engineer (SWE) - Senior](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-swe-senior-spear-ai-bolling-afb-3qpx52bf8rv7) — Bolling AFB, DC - [Data Engineer - Mid](https://feeny.ai/job/data-engineer-mid-spear-ai-bolling-afb-rne3v75v0ywn) — Bolling AFB, DC - [Cybersecurity Engineer - Senior](https://feeny.ai/job/cybersecurity-engineer-senior-spear-ai-bolling-afb-6fcht3frwff9) — Bolling AFB, DC - [RAI Implementation Engineer - Senior](https://feeny.ai/job/rai-implementation-engineer-senior-spear-ai-bolling-afb-0xbgr4mdfyzy) — Bolling AFB, DC - [Machine Learning Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/machine-learning-engineer-spear-ai-washington-0ant2kbxvxha) — Washington, DC - [Data Engineer - Senior](https://feeny.ai/job/data-engineer-senior-spear-ai-bolling-afb-3jx8xgqf40kk) — Bolling AFB, DC - [Software Engineer (SWE) - Mid](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-swe-mid-spear-ai-bolling-afb-99p943fc6xdz) — Bolling AFB, DC - [Mission Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/mission-engineer-spear-ai-washington-pfshakmwgb4a) — Washington, DC - [Full-Stack Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/full-stack-engineer-spear-ai-washington-a9tannn73q44) — Washington, DC