Product Operations Engineer

Bridge Defense•Washington, DC

11h•$90,000 - $125,000•Onsite

About The Position

Bridge Defense is seeking a full-time Product Operations Engineer to support the deployment, operation, and continuous improvement of FarSpan, a platform for taking mission workflows from prototype to production on government networks, including classified networks. The role combines hands-on delivery in secure environments with direct contributions to product improvement. The engineer deploys and supports FarSpan where customers use it, executes requests using documented procedures, verifies results, and maintains visibility into system health. Working closely with the product team, the engineer turns operational observations into actionable improvements. Recurring tasks, workarounds, and deployment challenges identified in operation help shape the platform’s development. The position requires hands-on technical work in secure government environments, careful documentation, prompt escalation, and the ability to adapt to changing priorities. Work is based in an office in Washington, D.C., with daily work in a secure facility. Travel may be required up to 10%, potentially including occasional trips to Tampa, Florida. Depending on project requirements, work on a compressed schedule and overtime may be expected.

Requirements

Experience writing code and the ability to read a script and explain its function; professional software engineering experience is not required.
Ability to follow documented procedures precisely and identify when instructions need correction.
Ability to produce clear, accurate tickets, reports, and procedural documentation.
Ability to navigate modern software and perform standard technical tasks involving files, processes, networks, and permissions.
Active Secret security clearance required; clearance sponsorship is not available.
Legally authorized to work in the United States.
Ability to work in an office in Washington, D.C., with daily work in a secure facility.
Willingness and ability to travel when needed, up to 10%.
Ability to sit or stand at a desk for long periods and occasionally lift 20 pounds.
Ability to multitask and rapidly change priorities with limited notice.
Employment is contingent upon applicable background investigations, verification of employment eligibility, customer approval, and maintenance of the required security clearance.

Nice To Haves

TS/SCI security clearance.
Experience operating on DoD or Intelligence Community networks, including SIPR, JWICS, or similar environments.
Military communications or information technology experience.
Familiarity with terminal-based work, including navigating Linux systems and reviewing log files.
Help desk, systems administration, or operations center experience.
Experience using Bash, Python, or PowerShell to automate routine tasks.
Exposure to Kubernetes, containers, or continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD).
Experience with Palantir Foundry or similar platforms.

Responsibilities

Manage the high-side product request queue, including deployments, configuration changes, data transfers, access requests, and health checks.
Execute requests using written runbooks, verify successful completion, and document results before closing each request.
Monitor deployed software and provide a daily system status report.
Immediately escalate unexpected behavior, system issues, or other concerns requiring attention.
Maintain accurate runbooks and update procedures when documented steps do not match the operating environment.
Recognize requests outside documented procedures and seek guidance before proceeding.
Maintain an improvement backlog documenting recurring tasks, inefficient processes, and workarounds.
Capture operational context and potential approaches for resolving or automating recurring issues.
Collaborate with the product team to prioritize and address improvements.
Participate in product standups to understand development priorities and contribute operational insight.
Identify environmental constraints early and explain when proposed changes may not work in the deployed environment.
Produce clear tickets and reports that help the development team understand and address operational gaps.
Perform hands-on technical work in secure government environments, maintain accurate records, and promptly escalate issues.