Data Engineer, Journeyman

Sierra Management and Technologies Inc; California (MD); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work schedules

Remote/Hybrid opportunities

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Education reimbursement

Life + AD&D insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Sierra Management and Technologies, Inc. is seeking a Data Engineer to support the NAWCAD Readiness & Fleet Analytics (R&A) Division at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Lexington Park, MD.

The role focuses on migrating code from CDSW to Databricks and building scalable data pipelines for analytics and decision support across DoD programs. You will leverage Python, SQL, and cloud platforms to ensure data flow between systems is robust, secure, and accessible, enabling data-driven insights for

Qualifications

• Proficiency in Python and SQL with ETL pipeline development.
• Experience migrating workflows from CDSW to cloud-based environments.
• Strong understanding of relational and non-relational databases.

Responsibilities

• Migrate HiveQL and Python workflows from CDSW to Databricks.
• Design, build, and maintain robust data pipelines and architectures.
• Develop and optimize ETL pipelines and data flows.

Skills

Python

SQL

ETL pipelines

Cloud platforms

Databricks

HiveQL

GitLab

JIRA

Data engineering

Data quality

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Information Systems, or related field

Tools

AWS

Databricks

CDSW

Job description

The Organization: Sierra Management and Technologies, Inc.

Sierra Management and Technologies, Inc. (Sierra), provides unparalleled logistics and program management, cutting-edge software and IT system development, and innovative data science and analytics services to our Department of Defense clients as well as superior support to Government Contracting Facility Security Officers (FSO).

As a disadvantaged, minority-owned, small business, we are committed to exceeding expectations and fostering excellence within our workforce. Sierra has a proud history of hiring veterans and encourages those who have served in the armed forces to apply.

Sierra is an honored recipient of the following awards:

• HIRE Vets Medallion Award
• VETS Indexes Employer Award

About the Role:

Sierra Management and Technologies is recruiting for a Data Engineer to provide support for the NAWCAD Readiness & Fleet Analytics (R&FA) Division’s Advanced Analytics and Innovation (AA&I) Branch at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Lexington Park, MD. This Data Engineer will primarily support migrating code for data science projects from Cloudera Data Science Workbench (CDSW) to Databricks. The Data Engineer will design, build, and maintain robust data pipelines and architectures that support advanced analytics and decision-making across the Naval Aviation Enterprise. The Data Engineer will focus on data engineering tasks, including data extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL), database management, and optimizing data workflows. Your work will directly support Program Management Air (PMA) offices, Air Systems Group, Command, Fleet Readiness Centers, and other Department of Defense (DoD) services. As a Data Engineer, you will leverage Python, SQL, and cloud-based platforms to ensure the seamless flow of data between systems and applications. You will play a critical role in enabling data-driven solutions by ensuring data integrity, scalability, and accessibility for analytics teams and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

Code Migration & Translation

• Migrate existing HiveQL and Python-based workflows from Cloudera Data Science Workbench (CDSW) to Databricks.
• Translate existing workflows to the new environment while ensuring results are consistent or improved in terms of performance, scalability, and data quality.
• Refactor and optimize code to leverage Databricks features and capabilities effectively.
• Collaborate with analytics teams to validate migrated workflows and ensure functionality aligns with project requirements.

Cloud-Based Data Engineering

• Leverage cloud platforms such as AWS, Databricks, or similar tools to manage and process large-scale datasets.
• Implement CI/CD workflows for data engineering projects to streamline development and deployment.

Data Pipeline Development

• Design, develop, and maintain ETL pipelines to extract, transform, and load data from various sources into centralized databases or data warehouses.
• Automate data workflows and processes to ensure efficient and reliable data delivery.
• Optimize data pipelines for scalability, performance, and fault tolerance.

Database Management

• Build and manage relational and non-relational databases to support analytics and reporting needs.
• Write and optimize complex SQL queries for data extraction and manipulation.
• Ensure data integrity, security, and accessibility across all systems.

Collaboration & Support

• Work closely with stakeholders, including product owners and analytics teams, to understand data requirements and deliver solutions that meet business needs.
• Provide technical guidance and support to team members on data engineering best practices.

What Makes a Successful Candidate:

Must Have:

• Education: A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field with 3+ years of related academic or professional experience.
• Technical Expertise: Proficiency in Python and SQL, with hands-on experience in developing ETL pipelines and managing databases.
• Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Databricks, or similar tools.
• Strong understanding of relational and non-relational database systems.
• Code Migration & Translation Experience: Proven experience migrating workflows and code from legacy platforms (e.g., CDSW) to modern cloud-based environments (e.g., Databricks).
• Ability to translate existing workflows to new environments while ensuring results are consistent or improved in terms of performance and data quality.
• Proficiency in HiveQL and Python for data engineering tasks.
• Project Management Tools: Proficiency in GitLab and JIRA for project management and version control.
• Problem‑Solving & Adaptability: High‑level problem‑solving and interpersonal skills.
• Flexible and able to work effectively in dynamic environments.
• Collaboration Skills: Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to interact professionally across all levels of management.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with cross‑functional teams to deliver data solutions.
• Secret security clearance

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship and be able to obtain a security clearance.

Nice to have:

• Dashboard Development: Experience with Tableau, Qlik, or Power BI for creating advanced visualizations and interactive dashboards.
• Data Modeling: Experience with schema design and data modeling.
• Big Data Technologies: Familiarity with Apache Spark or Hadoop.
• CI/CD Workflows: Experience implementing CI/CD pipelines for data engineering projects.
• Aerospace and Defense Experience: Familiarity with aviation industry data and experience in the aerospace and/or defense industries.
• Adaptability to work effectively in dynamic environments

What to expect in our process

• Interview with the Hiring Manager
• Reference checks and degree verification
• Offer

We take care of our employees by providing the following benefits:

• Flexible work schedules and remote/hybrid opportunities (depending on the role)
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible spending account and health savings account options
• Dependent care flexible spending account
• Education reimbursement
• Voluntary insurance such as short‑term disability, hospital indemnity, critical illness, and accident insurance
• 100% company‑paid life + AD&D and long‑term disability insurance
• Generous paid time off policy
• 11 paid holidays
• 401(k) retirement plan with matching contributions
• Employee assistance program

Equal Opportunity Statement

Building an inclusive, high‑performing team that is diverse across lines of personal identity is integral to our success, and we are proud to be an equal‑opportunity employer.

This means we do not discriminate against any job applicant or employee because of their race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment.

E-Verify Statement

This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the I-9 Form.