Senior Software Systems Engineer

Senior Software Systems Engineer

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 Hybrid (Ottawa - 55 Murray Street Office) 

Total Compensation: CAD $137,000 - $152,000 base salary - Placement within range based on experience and qualifications Vacancy Status: This posting is for an existing vacancy. Anvil is actively recruiting to fill this position.

Role (Description)

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.

Required Qualifications

Security Clearance

Eligible for Government of Canada Top Secret security clearance

Experience

• 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

Skills & Competencies

• 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, 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

Preferred Qualifications

• 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

Key Responsibilities

Deployment Strategy and Planning

• 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

Software Deployment and Integration

• 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

Infrastructure Management and Security

• 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

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 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

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 work model combining remote flexibility with meaningful in-person collaboration


• 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 building the team behind technologies with real-world security impact


• Ground-floor opportunity to shape people operations as Anvil scales


• 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 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 practical exercise to assess your approach to common scenarios in the role.

Anvil welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates participating in all aspects of the selection process.

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.