About Databricks
At Databricks, we are passionate about enabling data teams to solve the world's toughest problems — from making the next mode of transportation a reality to accelerating the development of medical breakthroughs. We do this by building and running the world's best data and AI infrastructure platform so our customers can use deep data insights to improve their business. Founded by engineers — and customer obsessed — we leap at every opportunity to solve technical challenges, from designing next-gen UI/UX for interfacing with data to scaling our services and infrastructure across millions of virtual machines. And we're only getting started.
The Role
As data and Generative AI applications become increasingly foundational to public sector modernization and national security, safeguarding the infrastructure that powers them is paramount. Databricks is looking for a Staff Technical Solution Engineer to join our Cleared Engineering team in McLean, VA. This team sits at the critical intersection of core infrastructure operations and active platform reliability, ensuring our multi-cloud data enclaves and advanced AI software run flawlessly inside highly secure, air-gapped partitions. In this role, you will move beyond reactive ticketing to tackle complex system and network environment blocks, serving as a primary technical pillar for our secure GovCloud operations.
This position offers a unique opportunity to own the operational integrity of high-side platform interactions. You will be responsible for executing sophisticated debugging, deep-dive environment analysis, and running specialized tooling and scripts to unblock internal engineering teams. Operating within a high-consequence compliance framework, you will navigate evolving operational models—including dedicated secure facility operations—while directly engineering out systemic roadblocks. If you are a sharp systems or cloud specialist looking to apply your technical expertise to the world's leading Data and AI platform within the intelligence and defense space, this role offers unmatched technical scope and mission-critical impact.
The Impact You’ll Have
- Ensure Platform Reliability: Drive the technical triage, infrastructure visibility, and incident resolution for Databricks’ multi-cloud data enclaves and Generative AI software running inside air-gapped environments.
- Unblock Secure Engineering Pipelines: Serve as the essential secure-zone operational interface, unblocking complex GovCloud system interactions and taking on the analysis and triage burden for internal engineering teams.
- Execute Advanced Tooling & Scripting: Safely execute and adapt infrastructure scripts, automation tools, and diagnostic workflows natively within secure boundaries, adhering strictly to modern access guidelines.
- Optimize Environment Patching: Identify and resolve systemic environment blocks, reviewing infrastructure configurations to ensure streamlined, compliant patch deployment pipelines.
- Maintain Guardrails & Compliance: Navigate and implement evolving operational frameworks within secure facilities (SCIF), ensuring all GovCloud interactions strictly meet rigorous federal security benchmarks.
What We're Looking For
- Minimum Qualifications
- Required: Candidates have active Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance.
- Nice to have: Possession of a current polygraph (Counterintelligence or Full Scope) is highly desired and considered a significant plus.
- 7+ years of experience in Systems Engineering, Cloud Infrastructure, Support Engineering, DevSecOps, or a related technical operational role.
- High-level proficiency in at least one modern language (Python, Go, Bash, or Java) with the technical aptitude to read, edit, and troubleshoot software and infrastructure code natively.
- Solid baseline familiarity with Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) tools such as Terraform or CloudFormation.
- Hands-on debugging and systems administration experience inside major public cloud boundaries (specifically AWS, Azure, or GCP platforms).
- Strong foundation in Linux/Unix systems engineering, containers (Docker/Kubernetes orchestration mechanics), and automated patch deployment pipelines.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
- Ability to work out of our McLean, VA secure facility, including flexibility to support 24x7 operational coverage frameworks within a SCIF environment as required.
- Preferred Qualifications
- Prior experience supporting AWS World Wide Public Sector (WWPS), Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) Federal Support, or specialized high-side defense integration environments.
- Demonstrated history of navigating complex federal compliance frameworks, GovCloud boundaries, or air-gapped environment constraints.
- Strong professional tenure, showing a track record of stability and ownership within complex engineering or defense-intelligence spaces.
Pay Range Transparency
Databricks is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The pay range(s) for this role is listed below and represents the expected salary range for non-commissionable roles or on-target earnings for commissionable roles. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job-related skills, depth of experience, relevant certifications and training, and specific work location. Based on the factors above, Databricks anticipates utilizing the full width of the range. The total compensation package for this position may also include eligibility for annual performance bonus, equity, and the benefits listed above. For more information regarding which range your location is in visit our page here.
Local Pay Range
$153,400—$210,850 USD
About Databricks
Databricks is the Data and AI company. More than 20,000 organizations worldwide — including adidas, AT&T, Bayer, Block, Mastercard, Rivian, Unilever, and 70% of the Fortune 500 — rely on the Databricks Data + AI Platform to build and scale data and AI apps, analytics and agents. Headquartered in San Francisco with 30+ offices around the globe, Databricks offers a unified platform that includes Genie, Lakebase, Agent Bricks, Lakeflow, Lakehouse, and Unity Catalog. To learn more, follow Databricks on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, and Instagram.
Benefits
At Databricks, we strive to provide comprehensive benefits and perks that meet the needs of all of our employees. For specific details on the benefits offered in your region click here.
Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
At Databricks, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone can excel. We take great care to ensure that our hiring practices are inclusive and meet equal employment opportunity standards. Individuals looking for employment at Databricks are considered without regard to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other protected characteristics.
Compliance
If access to export-controlled technology or source code is required for performance of job duties, it is within Employer's discretion whether to apply for a U.S. government license for such positions, and Employer may decline to proceed with an applicant on this basis alone.