Job Description

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.

Because our historical data is highly complex with deep attribution challenges, this is a "roll-up-your-sleeves" role. We expect a balance of approximately 60% hands-on data engineering (ETL pipeline construction, data cleaning, and mapping) and 40% data architecture (strategic design and governance).

As our management team upskills our dedicated in-house staff to execute the broader data migration, this role will act as the technical anchor. The Lead Data Engineer / Data Architect will build strong relationships, set clear technical standards, and seamlessly interface with transitioning staff to ensure the project's success.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL
• Data Architecture & Modeling

o Design the foundational multidimensional data models for complex, multi-modal data.

o Untangle 30 years of complex historical data to resolve attribution issues and establish a clean, authoritative data model.
• Foundational Engineering

o Act as the hands-on technical lead to build initial ETL/ELT pipelines using Python, SQL, and on-premises infrastructure.

o Develop programmatic solutions to clean, parse, and ingest legacy unstructured and structured data.
• Geospatial Integration

o Given that nearly all database records contain coordinate data, lead the integration between our on-premises ESRI portal and the new Analytics Core.

o Ensure spatial data seamlessly aligns with the multidimensional model.
• AI/ML Data Preparation

o 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

o 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

o While management will handle direct personnel training, you must establish effective working relationships and technical interfaces with our evolving internal team:

§ 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.

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

Qualifications

REQUIRED
• 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).

o Policy development

o Organizational goals for handling and using data

o Having led a data analysis team

o 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.

DESIRED
• 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.

We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package. Employee benefits vary by role, however, may include Health and Wellness, Mental Health, Retirement Savings, Life and Disability, Paid Maternity and Parental Leave, Paid Time Off, Tuition Reimbursement, and an Employee Assistance Program.

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