Database Engineer (TS/SCI)

Vantor is forging the new frontier of spatial intelligence, helping decision makers and operators navigate what’s happening now and shape what’s coming next. Vantor is a place for problem solvers, changemakers, and go-getters—where people are working together to help our customers see the world differently, and in doing so, be seen differently. Come be part of a mission, not just a job, where you can: shape your own future, build the next big thing, and change the world.

To be eligible for this position, you must be a U.S. Citizen. This position requires an active U.S. Government security clearance; applicants who do not currently hold the required clearance will not be eligible for consideration. Employment for cleared roles is contingent upon verification of clearance status. Certain roles may be subject to U.S. export control laws, requiring U.S. person status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

About the role

The Database Engineer serves as the technical authority for the design, implementation, optimization, and administration of relational, graph, and semantic database technologies that enable ontology-driven data integration and knowledge management. This position develops scalable data architectures that support Semantic Web technologies, knowledge graphs, and AI/ML-enabled analytics while ensuring high availability, security, performance, and data integrity across enterprise object-management systems. Working closely with ontology engineers, software developers, data architects, and Government stakeholders, the Database Engineer enables efficient storage, retrieval, and management of structured and unstructured data supporting mission operations.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, administer, and optimize relational, graph, and semantic database environments supporting Object-Based Intelligence mission requirements.
• Develop logical and physical data models that support ontologies, taxonomies, knowledge graphs, and enterprise metadata management.
• Design and implement scalable database architectures that support Semantic Web technologies, including RDF triple stores, graph databases, and SPARQL query endpoints.
• Develop and maintain Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) and Extract, Load, Transform (ELT) processes that integrate heterogeneous data sources into enterprise knowledge management platforms.
• Collaborate with ontology engineers, software developers, data scientists, analysts, and Government stakeholders to translate mission requirements into efficient database designs and data integration solutions.
• Optimize database performance through indexing strategies, query optimization, partitioning, replication, and capacity planning to support large-scale analytics and semantic reasoning workloads.
• Implement database security controls, encryption, access management, backup and recovery procedures, and auditing capabilities in accordance with Government cybersecurity requirements.
• Develop database automation, monitoring, and maintenance processes to ensure high availability, reliability, and operational efficiency.
• Support AI/ML initiatives by providing scalable data infrastructure and optimized access to structured, semi-structured, and semantic data repositories.
• Produce and maintain technical documentation, database standards, data dictionaries, configuration management artifacts, and operational procedures.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and knowledge transfer activities to Government personnel and project team members regarding database architecture, administration, and data management best practices.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen and have an active TS/SCI with CI polygraph.
• 12 years of experience and an advanced degree or 17 years of experience with a bachelor's degree.
• Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, and administering enterprise database solutions supporting mission-critical applications.
• Experience with relational database management systems (e.g., PostgreSQL, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server) and graph database technologies (e.g., Neo4j, Amazon Neptune, Stardog, GraphDB, or equivalent).
• Experience designing and optimizing databases supporting Semantic Web technologies, RDF data stores, or knowledge graph platforms.
• Experience developing ETL/ELT processes and integrating structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data from multiple enterprise sources.
• Knowledge of database performance tuning, indexing, backup and recovery, replication, security, and high-availability architectures.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting enterprise ontology or knowledge graph initiatives within Government or Intelligence Community environments.
• Experience implementing RDF triple stores, SPARQL endpoints, and semantic data integration frameworks.
• Familiarity with AI/ML data pipelines and the use of semantic data architectures to support advanced analytics and decision support.
• Experience with cloud-based database platforms and containerized deployment environments, including Kubernetes and OpenShift.
• Experience automating database deployment, configuration management, and monitoring using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools.
• Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP), Oracle Certified Professional (OCP), Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate, AWS Database Specialty, or equivalent database certification.
• Experience providing technical leadership, mentoring, and formal knowledge transfer to Government personnel or large multidisciplinary teams.

Pay

Starting pay for this role will fall within the listed range and will be based on factors such as experience, qualifications, skills, location, and market conditions. The base pay for this position within the Washington, DC metropolitan area is $140,000.00 - $187,000.00 - $205,700.00 annually. For all other states, geographic cost of labor is used to develop market-driven ranges.

Benefits

Vantor offers a competitive total rewards package that includes:

• Robust 401(k) with company match
• Mental health resources
• Student loan repayment assistance
• Adoption reimbursement
• Pet insurance