Data Engineer

Overview

We are seeking Data Engineers to build, refine, and maintain the core data pipelines that enable enterprise AI, analytics, and mission systems. This role is essential for making data accessible, reliable, and usable across the agency. You will work with cloud engineers, data architects, and AI developers to ensure data is clean, connected, secure, and optimized for advanced analytics and AI/ML workflows.

This role is remote supporting a Quantico, VA customer and onsite work is required at the client site full-time.

• Design, build, and maintain scalable data pipelines, ETL/ELT workflows, and integrations across cloud and on-prem systems.
• Prepare and optimize data for AI/ML models, semantic search, analytics, and mission applications.
• Implement data quality checks, validation, lineage tracking, and metadata management.
• Collaborate with AI engineers and analysts to ensure datasets meet requirements.
• Automate ingestion and transformation processes using industry-standard tools and patterns.
• Support API strategy, data modeling, and domain-driven data structures.
• Troubleshoot pipeline issues and optimize for performance and cost.

• 3+ years of hands-on data engineering experience.
• 10+ years of technical professional experience.
• Strong proficiency in building data pipelines using tools such as Python, Spark, Databricks, Azure Data Factory, AWS Glue, or similar.
• Experience integrating structured and unstructured data sources.
• Knowledge of SQL, schema design, data modeling, and cloud-based storage patterns.

• Experience supporting AI/ML pipelines, vectorization, or embedding generation.
• Experience with data governance, access controls, or sensitive data protection.
• Exposure to Dev Ops/CI-CD patterns for data workflows.

Final date to receive applications: 03/27/2026

The SMX salary determination process takes into account a number of factors, including but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories, relevant prior work experience, specific skills, education and certifications. At SMX, one of our Core Values is to Invest in Our People so we offer a competitive mix of compensation, learning & development opportunities, and benefits. Some key components of our robust benefits include health insurance, paid leave, and retirement.

The proposed salary for this position is: $135,100 USD - $227,000 USD

At SMX®, we are a team of technical and domain experts dedicated to enabling your mission. From priority national security initiatives for the DoD to highly assured and compliant solutions for healthcare, we understand that digital transformation is key to your future success.

We share your vision for the future and strive to accelerate your impact on the world. We bring both cutting edge technology and an expansive view of what’s possible to every engagement. Our delivery model and unique approaches harness our deep technical and domain knowledge, providing forward-looking insights and practical solutions to power secure mission acceleration.

SMX is an Equal Opportunity employer including disabilities and veterans.

Selected applicant may be subject to a background investigation and/or education verification.

SMX does not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization or immigration related support for this position (i.e. H1B, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, J-1, TN, E-2, E-3, L-1 and O-1, or any EADs or other forms of work authorization that require immigration support from an employer).