Systems Engineer (Forward Deployed)
About Anvil
Anvil is a trusted partner in the defence industry, delivering cutting-edge solutions that enhance military capabilities and operational effectiveness. We extend our expertise to public safety, law enforcement, and national security organizations, accelerating mission-critical decision-making through analytical tools, automations, and game-changing machine learning capabilities. ANVIL helps organizations discover, manage, enrich, fuse, and exploit the information available to them in support of Information Dominance and Decision Advantage.
Job Type: Full Time (Ottawa / Hybrid / up to 30% Travel)
Total Compensation: CAD $140,000 - $180,000 - Placement within range based on experience and qualifications
Vacancy Status: This posting is for an existing vacancy at Anvil. We are actively hiring for this role
The Role
We are seeking a versatile Systems Engineer to join our team, focused on delivering mission-critical software to our defence, public safety, and national security customers. You will install, configure, and deploy our software on secure, government-operated infrastructure, and design the integrations and data pipelines that connect our platform to the systems our customers depend on. This role owns both sides of the deployment lifecycle - the infrastructure it runs on and the data flowing through it.
Working closely with defence contractors, military personnel, and technical authorities, you will architect and deploy foundational infrastructure, implement secure containerized deployments, build integration pipelines, and stand up reliable production systems end to end. You will own the technical deployment process for our professional services team, from setting strategy through validating functionality, catching issues early, and keeping documentation current.
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.
This is a full-time position based in Ottawa with up to 30% travel (domestic and international). Candidates must either possess or be eligible to obtain a Government of Canada Top Secret security clearance.
Required Qualifications
Security Clearance
Eligible for Government of Canada Top Secret security clearance
Experience
- Minimum of 4+ years of software deployment, infrastructure, or systems integration experience, preferably in defence or related industry
- A minimum of 2+ years of experience with containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes/OpenShift)
- A minimum of 2+ years of experience with Linux server deployment and administration, or building integrations against external systems (REST APIs, message queues, streaming interfaces)
- Demonstrated experience deploying, securing, or integrating production-level systems in government or enterprise environments
- Demonstrated experience or strong aptitude for leading customer-facing technical discovery sessions, including requirements gathering, solution scoping, and value-driven conversations that build customer trust
Skills & Competencies
- Strong knowledge of Linux server deployment, networking, logging, and troubleshooting tools (e.g., ssh, tcpdump, iproute2)
- Working knowledge of Docker, Kubernetes/OpenShift, and hypervisors (e.g., KVM, VMware ESXi)
- Familiarity with pipelines that ingest data from diverse sources (flat files, databases, APIs, message queues, streams)
- Working understanding of TLS, HTTP/2-3, and PKI as they relate to secure deployment and data exchange
- Working knowledge of IAM standards and protocols (e.g., OIDC, OAuth 2.0, SAML)
- Strong analytical mindset with exceptional attention to detail
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to explain technical issues to technical and non-technical audiences
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across development teams and customer stakeholders
- Strong organizational skills; able to manage multiple deployment and integration initiatives simultaneously
- Proven ability to troubleshoot complex infrastructure or data/interface issues and drive efficient resolution
Nice to Have…
- Familiarity with software systems used by defence organizations such as SitaWare HQ, TAK, Esri AllSource, and others
- Experience packaging, templating, and deploying applications with Helm charts for Kubernetes/OpenShift Proficiency in Python and web frameworks (e.g., Django, Flask)
- Experience with message brokers and streaming platforms (e.g., Kafka, Redpanda)
- Experience with data and storage technologies such as SQL, Elasticsearch, and S3
- Experience deploying and monitoring machine learning models in cloud-hosted and on-premise networks
- Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code and configuration management tooling for repeatable deployments
- Proficiency in scripting for automation (e.g., Bash, Python) Prior experience working with or for defence, public safety, law enforcement, and national security organizations
What You’ll Do
Deployment & Integration Strategy and Planning
- Partner with customers and internal teams to understand infrastructure and data requirements, and develop comprehensive deployment and integration strategies
- Create and maintain detailed deployment plans, integration designs, and documentation to ensure successful implementations across all customer environments
- Document deployment and integration approaches based on security assessments, data sensitivity, and regulatory requirements
- Advise on and implement infrastructure strategies, containerization frameworks, and integration patterns across the entire platform
Software Deployment, Infrastructure, and Integration
- Travel to customer and partner sites to participate in requirements gathering, software deployment, integration development, 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
- Design, build, and test integrations with external systems, including pipelines for ingesting, transforming, and validating data
- Develop custom connectors and adapters for diverse customer data sources
- Streamline installation, configuration, and integration processes and documentation for repeatable deployments
- Provide regular status updates on deployment and integration progress and system health metrics
Infrastructure, Data Quality, and Security
- Ensure all deployments and integrations meet strict government security and operational standards Implement appropriate processes for data protection, validation, disaster recovery, and failover procedures
- Diagnose and resolve technical infrastructure, data, or interface issues leveraging deep knowledge of Linux, networking, APIs, and security principles
- Provide documentation and technical specifications to IT staff for planning and implementing infrastructure upgrades
- Champion security and data quality standards and best practices across all deployment and integration environments
Customer Support and Communication
- 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/integration planning sessions
- Review and provide detailed feedback on infrastructure requirements, interface specifications, and security documents
- Customize software deployments and integrations to meet unique customer operational needs
- Communicate deployment and integration results and system metrics to stakeholders at all levels
Why Join Us?
Our Mission
This is more than just a job; you'll be part of a team of dedicated professionals who share a common goal: to increase the safety and security of western democracies through the effective use of data. Our workplace is not just a job, it's a community of like-minded people working together to make a positive impact on the world we live in.
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive salaries
- Flexible health benefits package through Equitable
- Industry-leading employer retirement contributions match
Work Environment
- Hybrid (Ottawa market) work model combining remote flexibility with meaningful in-person collaboration *this role requires 30% Travel
- Modern office in the historic Carriageway building in beautiful downtown Ottawa
- Access to downtown amenities, transit, and Ottawa's vibrant cultural scene
What You'll Experience
- Work alongside dedicated professionals who value excellence and collaboration
- Contribute to projects with real-world security impact
- Join a culture where your expertise and ideas matter
Application Process
To apply for this role, please submit your CV and cover letter. The application process will likely include:
- A preliminary call with our HR team which will be a chance for you to find out more about Anvil and the role.
- An initial interview to discuss your experience and suitability for the role.
- A technical interview to assess your competencies.
Use of AI in Recruitment: Anvil does not use artificial intelligence to screen, assess, or select applicants for this position. All applications are reviewed by members of our recruitment team. However, we do use AI for scheduling, note taking and other administrative functions.
Anvil is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you require accommodation during the selection process, please let us know.