Cyber Capability Engineer: Red Team Operations

Dark Wolf is seeking a Cyber Capability Engineer to lead the development of specialized mission tools for a high-priority DoD customer. This role is designed for an offensive security professional who prioritizes the underlying engineering and architectural development of custom capabilities over standard tool operation. Operating at the nexus of adversarial tradecraft and robust software engineering, the selected candidate will design, build, and maintain the critical infrastructure and software required for high-stakes environments.

Rather than developing conventional enterprise applications, this position focuses on the creation of bespoke capabilities and automated workflows within an agile framework. The role requires a deep technical understanding of Linux environments and the utilization of Python as a primary language to solve complex engineering challenges and deliver resilient, mission-ready solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop custom software (capabilities) in Python, ensuring they are reliable and effective for operational use.


• Manage our CI/CD pipelines (GitLab/GitHub) to make sure the tools we build are tested, secure, and ready for the field.


• Engineering solutions that bypass technical hurdles and automate complex tasks.


• Participate in workshops and technical meetings to help translate mission needs into functional code.


• Use Test-Driven Development (TDD) because the people using our tools rely on them to work the first time, every time.

Required Qualifications

• Develop backend services, custom automation, or specialized tools using Python as a primary programming language.


• Operate and troubleshoot within Debian-based Linux distributions (e.g., Debian, Ubuntu, or Kali Linux).


• Apply software engineering best practices to write clean, maintainable code and utilize version control (Git) effectively.


• Manage GitLab/GitHub CI/CD pipelines and navigate core AWS services such as EC2, VPC, and S3.


• Collaborate with developers, security operators, and stakeholders to solve complex technical puzzles and meet mission requirements.


• Maintain US Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility.

Desired Qualifications

• Integrate offensive security concepts into software development, such as red team tooling or penetration testing automation.


• Possess a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, IT Security, or a related field (equivalent hands-on experience is highly valued).


• Implement Infrastructure-as-Code (Terraform, Ansible) or manage containerized workloads (Docker, Kubernetes).


• Hold relevant certifications in development (e.g., AWS Certified Developer) or security (e.g., Security+, OSCP, or similar).


• Navigate regulated or high-security DoD environments, applying knowledge of RMF, NIST 800-53, or specialized impact levels.

The estimated salary range for this position is $155,000.00 - $180,000.00, commensurate on experience and technical skillset. 

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories.