Senior Software Systems Engineer

ANVIL•Ottawa, ON

28d•$137,000 - $152,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a knowledgeable and versatile Software Systems Engineer to join our professional services team, focused on delivering mission-critical software solutions to our defence, public safety, and national security customers. In this role, you will install, configure, and integrate our software on secure, government-operated infrastructure, develop custom integrations, and ensure compliance with stringent security and operational standards. You will work closely with defence contractors, military personnel, and technical authorities to architect and deploy foundational infrastructure solutions, implement secure containerized deployments, and develop automated integration systems. In this role, you will champion the technical deployment process for our professional services team, develop and execute integration strategies that validate critical functionality, identify potential infrastructure issues before they impact operations, and maintain clear documentation of deployment processes. At Anvil, we are fundamentally in the relationship business. Technical excellence is table stakes. What sets our team apart is the ability to build trust with customers, communicate with clarity and confidence, and represent Anvil with professionalism in every interaction. Exceptional customer-facing communication skills are not a nice-to-have in this role; they are essential to your success and to ours. We are looking for a knowledgeable and versatile professional who can lead deployment initiatives, build robust infrastructure solutions, and drive operational excellence in environments where precision, reliability, and mission success are paramount. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work on software that serves defence and public safety organizations, where quality and reliability are not just business requirements, they're mission-critical imperatives. This is a full-time position based in Ottawa with up to 30% travel (domestic and international) to work with customers and partners. Eligible candidates must either possess or be eligible to obtain a Government of Canada Top Secret security clearance.

Requirements

Eligible for Government of Canada Top Secret security clearance
Minimum of 10+ years of software development and deployment experience, preferably in defence or related industry
A minimum of 3+ years of experience with containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes/OpenShift)
A minimum of 3+ years of experience with Linux server deployment and administration
Demonstrated experience deploying and securing production-level systems in government or enterprise environments
Proven track record of integrating complex software systems and data pipelines
Demonstrated experience leading customer-facing technical discovery sessions, including requirements gathering, solution scoping, and value-driven conversations that build customer trust and accelerate adoption
Strong knowledge of Linux server deployment, networking, logging, and troubleshooting tools (e.g., ssh, tcpdump, iproute2)
Expertise with Docker, Kubernetes/OpenShift, and hypervisors (e.g., KVM, VMware ESXi)
Proficiency in creating pipelines for ingesting data from diverse sources (flat files, databases, APIs, message queues, streams)
In-depth understanding of TLS, HTTP/2-3, and PKI integration
Familiarity with enterprise hardware (servers, racks, storage) and production-level systems
Knowledge of supply chain security, government compliance standards, and authentication/authorization mechanisms
Strong analytical mindset with exceptional attention to detail
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate technical issues to both technical and non-technical audiences
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across development teams and with customer stakeholders
Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple deployment initiatives simultaneously
Proven ability to troubleshoot complex infrastructure issues and drive efficient resolution

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with software systems used by defence organizations such as SitaWare HQ, TAK, Esri AllSource, NATO Common Operational Picture (NCOP), and others
Experience deploying and maintaining Web-based applications
Proficiency in Python and web frameworks (e.g., Django, Flask)
Experience with database and data storage technologies such as SQL, Elasticsearch, and S3
Experience with workflow management and automation solutions such as Apache Airflow
Prior experience working with or for defence, public safety, law enforcement, and national security organizations

Responsibilities

Partner with customers and internal teams to understand infrastructure requirements and develop comprehensive deployment strategies for the organization
Create and maintain detailed deployment plans and integration documentation to ensure successful implementations across all customer environments
Document deployment approaches based on security assessments and regulatory requirements
Advise on and implement infrastructure strategies and containerization frameworks across the entire platform
Travel to customer and partner sites to participate in requirements gathering, software deployment, integration testing, and hands-on support
Build and manage containerized applications using Docker, Docker Compose, and Kubernetes/OpenShift
Deploy, secure, and monitor Linux-based containerized applications, services, and machine learning models in both cloud-hosted and on-premise networks
Develop and test integrations with external systems, including data pipelines for ingesting and transforming data
Streamline software installation processes, configurations, and documentation for repeatable deployments
Provide regular status updates on deployment progress and system health metrics
Ensure all deployments meet strict government security and operational standards
Implement appropriate processes for data protection, disaster recovery, and failover procedures
Diagnose and resolve technical infrastructure issues leveraging deep knowledge of Linux, networking, and security principles
Provide documentation and technical specifications to IT staff for planning and implementing infrastructure upgrades
Champion security standards and best practices across all deployment environments
Work directly with stakeholders, including defence contractors and military personnel, to ensure solutions align with operational requirements
Participate actively in customer meetings, technical reviews, and deployment planning sessions
Review and provide detailed feedback on infrastructure requirements, specifications, and security documents
Customize software deployments to meet unique customer operational needs
Communicate deployment results and system metrics to stakeholders at all levels