Principal CNO Engineer

Clarity Innovations is a trusted national security partner, dedicated to safeguarding our nation’s interests and delivering innovative solutions that empower the Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of Defense (DoD) to transform data into actionable intelligence, ensuring mission success in an evolving world.

Our mission-first software and data engineering platform modernizes data operations, utilizing advanced workflows, CI/CD, and secure DevSecOps practices. We focus on challenges in Information Warfare, Cyber Operations, Operational Security, and Data Structuring, enabling end-to-end solutions that drive operational impact.

We are committed to delivering cutting-edge tools and capabilities that address the most complex national security challenges, empowering our partners to stay ahead of emerging threats and ensuring the success of their critical missions. At Clarity, we are people-focused and set on being a destination employer for top talent, offering an environment where innovation thrives, careers grow, and individuals are valued. Join us as we continue to lead innovation and tackle the most pressing challenges in national security.

Position Summary:

We are seeking an experienced Computer Network Operations (CNO) Engineer to join our elite team supporting critical missions within the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC). This is a key role that will represent several of our company’s primary capabilities across operational environments and directly influence mission success for high-impact customers. The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise, strong mission awareness, and a proven track record in CNO/CNE development or operations. You’ll be working in a dynamic hybrid setting—primarily onsite at Fort Meade, Maryland, with occasional travel (10-15%) to San Antonio, Texas to support a U.S. Air Force customer.

Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and deploy CNO/CNE capabilities in support of DoD and IC mission needs.


• Integrate with operational teams to understand and enhance end-to-end CNO/CNE workflow execution. Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior, mid-level, engineers in customer spaces, assisting them in their professional growth and development.


• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure mission requirements are met.


• Support live operations through rapid capability enhancements and mission-tailored solutions.


• Represent core technical capabilities and provide subject matter expertise to DoD/IC customers.


• Identify opportunities to enhance platform stability and reduce latency, implementing effective strategies to achieve these goals.


• Research and recommend technologies, tools, and methodologies to improve system performance, scalability, and reliability.


• Stay updated with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices related to full-stack web development.


• Collaborate with stakeholders to gather requirements and translate them into scalable and reliable technical solutions.

Required Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or related fields.


• Minimum of 5 years of operational experience supporting the DoD or IC.


• Proficient in scripting languages such as Python, Ruby, or Golang.


• Strong understanding of computer networking(TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, VPNs, firewalls, routing, NAT). Solid grasp of end-to-end networking, including protocol analysis and session tracking


• Experience with Linux systems, particularly in system internals, kernel modules, and networking stack


• Familiarity with network packet capture and analysis tools (e.g., Wireshark, tcpdump)


• Familiarity with cyber exploitation tools, techniques, and operations.


• Demonstrated ability to operate within and support tactical or strategic cyber missions.

Highly Desirable Qualifications:

• Direct hands-on experience in building CNO capabilities or conducting CNO operations within the DoD/IC.


• Working knowledge of container technologies (Docker, Kubernetes) and their networking models


• Knowledge of end-to-end cyber exploitation processes and operational lifecycles.


• Experience with proxies, traffic tunneling, and network obfuscation techniques


• Experience supporting mission operations at Fort Meade or Lackland AFB (San Antonio).


• Experience/Familiarity with SIGINT, HUMINT, or related IC collection/processing frameworks.

Why Join Us:

• Work with a mission-driven, tight-knit team solving real-world cyber challenges.


• Flexibility with hybrid work arrangements.


• Opportunity to lead and shape mission-critical projects in the national security space.


• Competitive salary, benefits, and professional growth opportunities.

This is a rare opportunity to take on a high-impact, high-visibility role supporting a critical Department of Defense (DoD) customer. As the primary point of contact for our company, you will be at the forefront of cutting-edge cyber operations, working directly with organizations driving the most advanced and mission-critical capabilities in U.S. Government (USG) cyber. You won’t just be writing code—you’ll be shaping the tools and tactics used in real-world national security missions. If you're looking for meaningful, technically challenging work where your contributions directly support U.S. cyber superiority, this is the role for you.