ATAK/Kotlin Developer

Overview

Iron EagleX (IEX), a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics Information Technology, delivers agile IT and Intelligence solutions. Combining small-team flexibility with global scale, IEX leverages emerging technologies to provide innovative, user-focused solutions that empower organizations and end users to operate smarter, faster, and more securely in dynamic environments.

Responsibilities

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Hybrid ATAK / Kotlin Developer with expertise in ATAK plugins to design, implement, and maintain mission-critical Android applications. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in the development and maintenance of ATAK plugins and adhering to the TAK SDK structure with proficiency in UI conventions, and plugin lifecycles to include Map Overlay Manager, Broadcast Receiver and Plugin template. This position is Hybrid, on-site at Fort Bragg, Fayetteville, NC.

Job Duties Include (but not limited to):

• Implement TakUI-based UIs using the declarative DSL (-Row, -Column, -Button, -Text, etc.) for mission control interfaces and operator workflows.
• Collaborate with AI / autonomy engineers to display mission state data (swarm tracking, flight path, etc.) on the ATAK map overlay.
• Contribute to UI/UX design for operational efficiency under field constraints (low light, glove mode, DDIL conditions).
• Write robust, modular, and testable Kotlin code aligned with ATAK's plugin packaging requirements and a DevSecOps pipeline.
• Participate in mission rehearsals and live exercises to gather feedback and refine plugin functionality.
• ability to collaborate with end-users, testers, and operators to iterate on plugin design and usability.

Qualifications

Required Skills & Experience:

• Proficient in Kotlin and Java (for interoperability with legacy ATAK SDK code).
• Demonstrated experience building and debugging ATAK plugins using the TAK SDK (v4.6+).
• Experience with TAK Data Packages, MapItems, and Cursor-on-Target (CoT) message handling.
• Knowledge of protobuf serialization, JSON handling, and network comms within ATAK contexts.
• Ability to implement custom overlays and symbology for tactical data visualization.
• Experience integrating with PostgreSQL, MQTT, or ZeroMQ messaging layers preferred.
• Familiarity with ATAK build processes (Gradle, Maven, or TAK repo builds).
• Experience using Android Studio / IntelliJ, Git, and Docker for plugin development and testing.
• Prior work experience with military (SOF) / government ATAK integrations.
• Strong understanding of DevSecOps workflows, CI/CD pipelines, and secure Android build practices for TAK deployments.
• Due to US Government Contract Requirements, only US Citizens are eligible for this role.

Education & Certifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science is preferred

Security Clearance:

• An active Secret clearance is required with ability to obtain TS/SCI security clearance

Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans