Data Engineer​/Data Architect III

The Lead Data Engineer / Data Architect will spearhead the creation of our next-generation “Analytics Core” within a closed, classified, on-premises environment. This mission-critical project will unify our 30-year legacy archive of diverse data—including reports, sensor data, imagery, and heavily geospatial intelligence—into a single, query-able, and AI-ready ecosystem.

• Data Architecture & Modeling
  • Design the foundational multidimensional data models for complex, multi-modal data.
  • Untangle 30 years of complex historical data to resolve attribution issues and establish a clean, authoritative data model.
• Foundational Engineering
  • Act as the hands-on technical lead to build initial ETL/ELT pipelines using Python, SQL, and on-premises infrastructure.
  • Develop programmatic solutions to clean, parse, and ingest legacy unstructured and structured data.
• Geospatial Integration
  • Given that nearly all database records contain coordinate data, lead the integration between our on-premises ESRI portal and the new Analytics Core.
  • Ensure spatial data seamlessly aligns with the multidimensional model.
• AI/ML Data Preparation
  • Establish standards for feature engineering, ensuring the database architecture is optimized for future Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning applications within a classified environment.
• Governance & Compliance
  • Enforce data governance, metadata tagging, and access control protocols in strict alignment with the DoD Data Strategy and classified network handling requirements.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Integration
  • Software Engineers:
    Interface with engineers transitioning into data engineering. Provide clear technical specifications, architectural blueprints, and constructive code reviews as they take over building scalable ETL/ELT pipelines.
  • GIS Specialist:
    Collaborate closely to integrate their programmatic GIS outputs into the broader AI-ready database. Bridge the gap between standard data engineering and specialized geospatial analytics.
  • Junior Data Manager:
    Partner to operationalize data governance. Define data rules and interface with them as they manage the Data Dictionary, enforce quality control, and properly tag legacy metadata.
  • General:
    • Work independently and as a team member.
    • Lead and mentor less experienced employees.
    • Ensures work given and completed is within compliance with processes, standards and policies of the organization.
    • Lead projects within department or job functions.
    • Lead individual contributors to ensure the work completion is as per set standards and procedures.

• Other duties as assigned.
• Support occasional travel as required.
• Scheduled weekly hours: 40
• Day shift – With occasional after hours and weekends (< 3%)

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems or a related technical field. Equivalent work experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Must have 5-9 years of real-world experience in data management (preferably in support of federal government programs).
  • Policy development
  • Organizational goals for handling and using data
  • Having led a data analysis team
  • Ability to query a database
• Advanced proficiency in Python and SQL.
• Proven hands-on experience building ETL/ELT pipelines and designing databases to clean and structure complex, messy legacy data.
• Experience with on-premises infrastructure is required.
• At minimum, stellar core engineering skills paired with a solid working knowledge of GIS data structures.
• Demonstrated understanding of the DoD Data Strategy.
• Proven ability to act as a technical anchor, interface with cross-functional teams, and establish standards for adjacent staff.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Security+ Certification.
• Active DoD Security Clearance is required.
• Must have or be able to obtain and maintain a TS security clearance, be able to take/pass a polygraph, and be able to maintain both for the tenure of this position.
• Position tenure ship is dependent on completing the full security clearance application process successfully within 1-2 years of accepting position.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen.

• Active TS/SCI security clearance is strongly preferred.
• Hands-on experience with geospatial data (coordinates, spatial querying) and integration with ESRI portals is strongly preferred.
• Experience architecting and engineering data solutions on classified systems (SIPR/JWICS) is highly desirable.

The salary range for this position is $118,600 - $177,800