AWS Data Engineer for Mission-Critical Systems

KDA CONSULTING INC; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consulting firm in Herndon, Virginia is seeking a highly skilled Data Engineer to design and maintain scalable data pipelines and architectures. The ideal candidate will have experience with AWS cloud services and big data technologies, focusing on delivering reliable data solutions. Responsibilities include developing ETL/ELT pipelines, optimizing data workflows, and ensuring data quality across systems. A Bachelor's degree and TS/SCI with Polygraph are required.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI with Polygraph required.
• Demonstrated experience in data engineering and pipeline development.
• Experience working with large-scale data sets and big data technologies.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain scalable ETL/ELT pipelines.
• Optimize data workflows for batch and real-time processing.
• Ensure data accuracy and consistency across systems.

Skills

AWS cloud services

Data engineering best practices

Big data technologies

SQL

Python

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

Tools

AWS services (S3, Glue, Redshift, Lambda, EMR)

Job description

KDA Consulting Inc. is seeking a highly skilled Data Engineer to design, build, and maintain scalable data pipelines and architectures supporting mission-critical programs within the Intelligence Community (IC). This role focuses on enabling efficient data processing, analytics, and decision-making by delivering reliable, high-quality data solutions in cloud environments.

The ideal candidate will have strong experience with AWS cloud services, data engineering best practices, and big data technologies, with the ability to operate in a fast-paced, collaborative environment supporting complex mission systems.

Data Pipeline Development & Engineering

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable ETL/ELT pipelines to ingest, transform, and load data from multiple sources
• Build and optimize data workflows supporting both batch and real-time processing
• Ensure high availability and reliability of data pipelines across enterprise systems
  
  

AWS Cloud & Data Services

• Leverage AWS services such as S3, Glue, Lambda, Redshift, EMR, and Kinesis to support data engineering solutions
• Design and manage cloud-based data architectures that are secure, scalable, and cost-efficient
• Implement best practices for data storage, partitioning, and lifecycle management
  
  

Data Optimization & Performance

• Optimize data storage and retrieval for performance, scalability, and cost efficiency
• Implement indexing, partitioning, and query optimization strategies
• Monitor and troubleshoot data pipeline performance issues
  
  

Data Quality & Governance

• Ensure data accuracy, consistency, and integrity across all data pipelines and systems
• Implement validation, monitoring, and error-handling mechanisms
• Support data governance practices and compliance with security and IC standards
  
  

Collaboration & Integration

• Work closely with data scientists, software engineers, and mission stakeholders to support analytics and operational needs
• Integrate data solutions with enterprise applications, APIs, and downstream analytics platforms
• Participate in Agile development processes and contribute to continuous improvement efforts
  
  

Requirements

Active TS/ SCI W/ Polygraph Required.

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience)

Demonstrated experience in data engineering and pipeline development

Strong experience with AWS data services (e.g., S3, Glue, Redshift, Lambda, EMR)

Proficiency in SQL and Python for data processing and transformation

Experience working with large-scale data sets and big data technologies

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills