Quantitative Analyst – Complex Adaptive Systems

Quantitative Analyst – Complex Adaptive Systems

Job Description

INCA Engineering is seeking a Quantitative Analyst to support DARPA program managers in the development, integration, and scaling of complex adaptive systems modeling and data-intensive analytical capabilities.

This role will work with complex, multi-source intelligence, commercial, and open-source data and help integrate those sources into graph-based and network analytical frameworks supporting strategic competition analysis, industrial base resilience, and national security decision-making.

The successful candidate will bring strong quantitative modeling and data science experience together with an understanding of Intelligence Community mission environments. We are looking for someone who can work across economics, data engineering, software development, and intelligence analysis while translating complex analytical approaches and findings for senior defense stakeholders.

This is a 100% onsite position in Arlington, VA, with up to 15% travel.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the design, evaluation, and application of quantitative economic models, network analysis frameworks, and graph-based data integration architectures.
• Oversee the integration of complex, multi-source intelligence and economic datasets into scalable, operational analytical pipelines.
• Serve as the primary technical liaison among academic researchers, software engineering teams, and Intelligence Community stakeholders to ensure analytical tools align with operational requirements.
• Advise DARPA leadership on program execution risks, data architecture scalability, and capability transition strategy.
• Develop technical documentation, program roadmaps, executive briefings, and analytical products to communicate program progress and findings to senior decision-makers.
• Basic Qualifications
• Master’s degree or PhD in Economics, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• 5+ years of relevant experience in quantitative economic modeling, advanced econometrics, and network data science or data engineering applied to complex adaptive systems.
• Experience with large-scale data processing, multi-source data pipeline integration, and structured and unstructured data architectures.
• Practical experience with graph analytics, network modeling tools, and interconnected data architectures, including tools such as Python or R quantitative libraries, graph databases, or network science frameworks.
• Experience working within or alongside the U.S. Intelligence Community, including familiarity with IC mission environments, data workflows, and intelligence-derived datasets.
• Understanding of diverse data sources spanning global economics, financial networks, trade flows, defense industrial supply chains, and multi-INT sources.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to develop executive PowerPoint briefings and explain complex econometric and data models to senior defense stakeholders.
• Active Top Secret clearance with eligibility for SCI access.
• Preferred Experience
• Active Special Access Program (SAP) eligibility and experience working at TS/SCI and SAP levels.
• Experience with defense industrial base analysis, economic statecraft, strategic competition modeling, or macroeconomic resilience metrics.
• Hands-on experience building decision-support tools, AI/ML-enabled analytical tools, cloud data engineering workflows, or large language model research pipelines.
• Experience supporting new program start-ups, pilot demonstrations, and transition pathways within defense or intelligence organizations.
• Experience in a high-paced private-sector quantitative production environment, such as systematic investing or trading, real-time advertising technology development, or pharmacological optimization and customization.
• Demonstrated ability to bridge communication and technical execution across academic economists, data engineers, software developers, and operational intelligence analysts.
• Location: Arlington, VA
• Work Arrangement: 100% onsite
• Travel: Up to 15%
• #CJ
• INCA Engineering is a small, mission-focused engineering and R&D company supporting challenging national security and government technology programs. Since 2008, we have combined deep technical expertise with practical systems thinking to help customers evaluate emerging technologies, solve complex engineering problems, and transition new capabilities toward operational use.
• Our work spans advanced sensing and data exploitation, software and AI/ML, systems engineering, technical analysis, and research and development support. We work closely with Government and industry teams in environments where technical judgment, clear communication, and the ability to work across disciplines matter.
• INCA Engineering offers a competitive benefits package and a flexible, professional work environment designed to support both technical growth and a healthy work-life balance. Benefits include paid time off, medical insurance, paid holidays, and a 401(k) plan with employer contributions.
• INCA Engineering is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other status protected by applicable law.