Data Engineer – Data Architecture Data Science & Machine Learning

Position: Data Engineer – Data Architecture for Data Science & Machine Learning

Data Engineer – Data Architecture for Data Science & Machine Learning

Join the Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University.

Position specifics

We are seeking a Senior Data Engineer with deep expertise in database design, optimization, and data access strategies to support our growing data science and machine learning initiatives within the Visualization and Decision Support Division of Penn State ARL.

Location:

State College, PA or Reston, VA (ARL is an authorized DoD Skill Bridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.)

You will:

• Design and maintain scalable, high‑performance database solutions to support data science workflows and ML experimentation
• Partner with data scientists to understand data access patterns and develop storage strategies that accelerate analysis and model training
• Serve as the internal subject matter expert on Postgre
  
  SQL—including schema design, indexing, partitioning, and query optimization
• Evaluate and integrate alternative database technologies (e.g., Mongo
  
  DB, Neo4j, Redis, Cassandra) where they provide clear advantages
• Lead efforts to optimize data pipelines for both structured and unstructured data used in algorithm development
• Ensure data integrity, security, and governance across storage systems
• Implement monitoring, automation, and performance‑tuning tools for all database environments
• Advise on data lifecycle management—balancing accessibility for R&D with efficiency and compliance requirements

Required skills/experience includes:

• 5+ years of experience in data engineering, database architecture, or related technical roles
• Expert‑level proficiency in Postgre
  
  SQL (query tuning, schema design, indexing, partitioning, replication)
• Strong understanding of data modeling, normalization vs. denormalization tradeoffs, and query optimization
• Experience with non‑relational databases (e.g., Mongo
  
  DB, Cassandra, Neo4j, Redis, or Dynamo
  
  DB)
• Familiarity with machine learning workflows and how data is consumed for training, evaluation, and deployment
• Experience with cloud database services (AWS RDS/Aurora, GCP Cloud SQL, Azure Database)
• Proficiency in SQL and one or more scripting languages (Python preferred)
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills—comfortable working closely with data scientists, ML engineers, and software developers

Preferred skills/experience includes:

• Experience architecting hybrid data ecosystems spanning relational, No
  
  SQL, and analytical databases
• Knowledge of data lake, warehouse, and feature store architectures (e.g., Snowflake, Redshift, Big Query, Feast)
• Familiarity with ETL/ELT frameworks and data orchestration tools (e.g., Airflow, dbt)
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, or a related field

Minimum Education & Experience

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or Science.

Experience requirements vary by rank:

• Senior Professional: 5+ years of relevant experience
• Principal Professional: 14+ years of relevant experience
• Advanced Professional: 5+ years of relevant experience
• Principal Professional: 19+ years of relevant experience

Background checks / Clearances

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. All positions at ARL require candidates to possess the ability to obtain a government security clearance; you will be notified during the interview process if this position is subject to a government background investigation. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply. Employment with the ARL will require successful completion of a pre‑employment drug screen.

Salary

& Benefits

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $ – $. The proposed salary range may be impacted by geographic differential.

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full‑time employees designed to support both personal and professional well‑being. Benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage; robust retirement plans; substantial paid time off (holidays, vacation, sick time); and a generous 75 % tuition discount for employees and eligible spouses/children.

EEO Statement

Penn State is an equal‑opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814‑865‑1473.

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