Senior Data Engineer

Location: Ashburn, VA (Onsite 2-3 days/week, non-negotiable)

Clearance Requirement: U.S. Citizenship required; must currently hold or have previously held a Public Trust clearance

Overview:

We're hiring a Senior Data Engineer to join a long-term federal program supporting high-impact, mission-driven data initiatives. This is a hands-on, engineering-heavy role that requires deep technical expertise and a strong commitment to on-site work in Ashburn, VA. The project is now in year 2 of a 5-year engagement with long-term conversion expected.

What You'll Do: Build and maintain high-volume data pipelines and ETL workflows Write and optimize complex SQL queries for large-scale data sets Design robust data models using star schemas, fact and dimension tables Work with Apache Spark and the Hadoop ecosystem to process large data sets Develop real-time streaming pipelines using Kafka Use AWS tools such as S3, EMR, Redshift, and DynamoDB Automate tasks with bash scripting Use Python for ad hoc data engineering support Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver scalable, secure solutions (Bonus) Leverage Databricks and Delta Tables for advanced analytics Required Skills (No Exceptions): 7+ years of professional experience in data engineering Strong Java development experience Advanced SQL expertise with performance tuning skills Bash scripting proficiency Extensive AWS experience (S3, EMR, Redshift, DynamoDB) Hands-on with Apache Spark and Kafka Strong understanding of data warehousing (star schemas, fact/dimension modeling) Proven success building and supporting production-grade pipelines Experience with Python Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field Must be a U.S. Citizen and hold or have held Public Trust clearance Must be able to work onsite 2-3 days/week in Ashburn, VA (no exceptions) Nice to Have: Experience with Databricks and Delta Tables Background working on federal or public-sector programs Compensation & Terms: $70/hr (C2C or 1099) - rate is firm 1-year contract with planned conversion to direct hire Long-term work expected (multi-year program already underway)