Protagonist

Join Our Talented Team at Protagonist

We fuse rigorous, methodologically sound analysis with our cutting-edge technology platform, Narrative Analytics®. This powerful combination enables us to quantitatively analyze open-source media, deliver strategic recommendations, and craft executive-level communication strategies for clients with missions that matter.

Why Us?

Our team is a vibrant mix of communication specialists, data scientists, and subject matter experts with extensive experience across U.S. Government agencies, non-profit organizations, and Fortune 500 companies. By joining Protagonist, you’ll immerse yourself in a collaborative environment where innovation thrives, and your contributions truly matter.

What We Do

• Innovative Solutions: We co-develop cutting-edge solutions with our clients to address tough communication problems and capitalize on opportunities to make a tangible impact.
• Data-Driven Insights: Our tools and methodologies provide actionable insights that help clients meet their communication objectives and stay ahead of global challenges.
• Applied Expertise: We integrate our solutions within client organizations, leveraging our profound expertise to address critical issues and ensure sustainable success.

Be Part of Something Bigger

At Protagonist, you’ll work on compelling projects that make a real difference. We seek talented individuals eager to contribute to our mission and grow alongside us. If you’re passionate about communication, data analysis, and making an impact, we invite you to explore a career with Protagonist.

Explore Your Future with Us!

Ready to take the next step in your career? Join us at Protagonist and be part of a team that's making a difference.

Job Description

You are a technically hands-on engineering leader who thrives at the intersection of software development, cloud infrastructure, and team leadership. You're equally comfortable architecting complex systems, writing production code, and mentoring junior engineers. With significant experience in full stack development and a strong background in cloud infrastructure (particularly AWS and Kubernetes), you're ready to take ownership of critical technical decisions while remaining actively involved in implementation.

You excel in ambiguous, fast-paced environments and are passionate about building scalable, reliable systems that process large amounts of data. As someone who has successfully led engineering teams and initiatives, you understand how to balance technical excellence with pragmatic delivery.

Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Development (60%)

• Design and implement core components of our Narrative Analytics® platform using Python, React, and related technologies
• Make critical architectural decisions about our technology stack and infrastructure, balancing immediate needs with long-term scalability
• Contribute directly to the codebase, setting the standard for code quality and engineering best practices
• Architect and optimize our AWS cloud infrastructure and Kubernetes orchestration systems
• Lead the integration of machine learning models and algorithms into production systems
• Design and implement data processing pipelines that can efficiently handle large-scale text analysis
• Work with Elasticsearch to optimize search capabilities and analytics for narrative data
• Partner with Data Science team to implement and scale NLP solutions in production environments

Team Leadership (40%)

• Provide technical mentorship and guidance to junior and mid-level engineers
• Lead code reviews, technical discussions, and architectural decision-making processes
• Work closely with the VP of Technology to align engineering efforts with business objectives
• Help define and implement engineering processes that enable the team to deliver high-quality software consistently
• Collaborate with data scientists to translate research prototypes into production-ready applications
• Contribute to hiring and team growth initiatives

Requirements

• Must be able to work on US Government contracts that may prohibit or restrict the use of foreign nationals
• Must be eligible to obtain a US Government security clearance
• BS or MS in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field
• Bachelor's degree with 7+ years of work experience or advanced degree with 5+ years of work experience in software engineering experience, with at least 3+ years in a technical leadership role
• 5+ years of experience with Python development in production environments
• 4+ years of experience with modern web application development (React, TypeScript)
• Extensive experience with AWS cloud services; AWS Certified Solutions Architect or Developer preferred
• Strong practical experience with Kubernetes and container orchestration
• Experience with PostgreSQL or similar SQL database systems
• Proven track record of leading technical initiatives and mentoring junior engineers
• Experience with machine learning frameworks and libraries (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn) is a plus
• Experience with Natural Language Processing (NLP) technologies and techniques is highly desirable
• Experience with Elasticsearch or similar search and analytics engines
• Strong track record of successful collaboration with Data Scientists to operationalize models and insights
• Solid understanding of security best practices, particularly in the context of government contracts
• Experience working in Agile/Scrum development processes

Location & Work Arrangement

This position is based in our Washington, DC office with a hybrid work arrangement. We value in-person collaboration and team building, so we expect regular office presence, while offering flexibility for remote work. Our collaborative environment thrives when we can work together in person, particularly for technical discussions, and architectural planning.

Join Us

If you’re passionate about technology and making an impact, apply today! Protagonist is dedicated to fostering a welcoming and innovative environment where everyone’s voice can make a difference.

Protagonist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Salary Range: $120,000-$170,000 based on education and level of relevant experience.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.