Data Engineer - Multiple Levels (TS/SCI with Poly Required)

Red Alpha; Dayton (MD); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 10% 401(k) contributions

5 weeks of personal time off

100% coverage of health insurance premiums

$5,250 per year for education and training

Up to $300 per year for branded merchandise

Fun company events throughout the year

Job summary

Red Alpha is looking for a Data Engineer in Dayton, Maryland, to influence and add value in several areas across the data science life cycle. Duties include integrating systems, conducting research with large datasets, and employing advanced analytics.

The ideal candidate has a B.S. degree in a relevant field, proficiency in scripting languages, and can demonstrate experience in data science techniques. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance and professional development support.

Qualifications

• 0-3 years of experience for entry-level data scientists.
• 3-6 years of experience for mid-level data scientists.
• At least 6 years of experience for senior-level data scientists with at least 3 years managing teams.
• A TS/SCI with Polygraph security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Integrate systems using various languages and tools.
• Conduct research and leverage large data volumes.
• Employ sophisticated analytics and statistical methods.
• Explore data for hidden patterns.
• Automate data collection and analysis processes.

Skills

Proficiency with scripting languages (R, Python)

Experience with data science techniques (classification, clustering, etc.)

Exceptional interpersonal skills

Education

B.S. Degree in Data Science, Mathematics, Computer Science or related field

Tools

SQL/NoSQL

Spark

Docker

GitLab

Job description

A little about us

The Red Alpha Data Science practice grew out of Red Alpha's reputation in Software and System Engineering with our Department of Defense clients. As sometimes happens, customers who trust our expertise in adjacent areas asked Red Alpha to assist with some of their burgeoning Data Science problems.

Culturally, it probably suffices to say that we take our work seriously, but not ourselves. Our leaders have spent time in the trenches and have cursed daylight savings time changes and trailing whitespace as many times as you have. We like to say that we spend 80% of our time cleaning the data and 20% of our time complaining about cleaning the data. Joking aside, our voices matter, and it is easy to see how our decisions affect the Data Science practice and Red Alpha as a whole. We have a clear vision of where we are headed.

Our team takes a pragmatic approach to Data Science, defining it loosely as the intersection of technical expertise, business acumen, and soft skills to solve business problems with data. We spend a lot of time trying to understand the problem before we set about building a solution, and we prefer lower‑tech useful solutions over shiny algorithms and dust on the shelf. We have a diverse set of skills across our team, and whether you are a traditional Data Scientist, an Applied Research Mathematician, a Database Engineer, a Full‑Stack Developer, or something else in that neighborhood, if you have a knack for picking apart data to make sense of it, we would enjoy having a conversation with you.

A day in the life

Despite the title of this role being “Data Engineer” (which sounds very specific), it is actually a great opportunity to demonstrate the diversity of your skills across the data science spectrum. From procurement, consolidation, and cleansing to modeling and presentation, you will influence and add value in several areas across the data science life cycle in order to answer mission and business questions. Subject areas include but are not limited to the following:

• Employ a variety of languages and tools (e.g., scripting languages) to integrate systems.
• Conduct research and leverage large volumes of data from multiple sources to answer mission and business questions.
• Employ sophisticated analytics, programs, machine learning, and statistical methods to prepare data for use in analytical processes and prescriptive modeling.
• Explore and examine data for hidden patterns.
• Automate work through the use of predictive and prescriptive analytics.
• Develop processes to extract/transform/load (ETL) data between different systems.

What you bring to the table

We are actively hiring data professionals for roles across a broad range of skill levels and projects. Our goal is to find the best fit for you so please note that if you apply to one of them and we see a fit elsewhere we will let you know. Do not worry about applying initially for every position you might be interested in.

• Proficiency with a scripting language such as R or Python
• Experience with data science techniques and algorithms such as classification, clustering, random forests, deterministic forests, hierarchical modeling, deep learning, Markov Chain Monte Carlo, and others. You do not need to have all of these, but you should be comfortable with several of them and know some others not on this list.
• A B.S. Degree in Data Science, Mathematics, Computer Science or related field.
• For entry‑level data scientists: 0‑3 years of experience on Data Science projects.
• For mid‑level data scientists: 3‑6 years of experience on Data Science projects.
• For senior‑level data scientists: at least 6 years of experience on Data Science projects with at least 3 years of experience managing teams.
• A TS/SCI with Polygraph security clearance.

Additional role‑specific requirements

• Experience in identifying, developing, and deploying new approaches to automate data collection, consolidation, and analysis.
• Proven ability to develop and deploy software and scripts needed to collect business‑relevant metrics based on enterprise data.

Optional skills

• Exceptional interpersonal skills.
• Experience with Java, C, or other compiled languages.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Saturday Night Live sketches (just joking).
• Experience with SQL/NoSQL, Spark, Hadoop.
• Familiarity with Javascript and scripting.
• Familiarity with Docker, GitLab, and React.
• Familiarity with Agile processes and structures, and able to work on a software development team.

The total package

Our total compensation package was strategically designed with our members in mind, with the intention to reward our members for their hard work and commitment to our customers' missions; allow members to share in Red Alpha's success as we continue to grow and expand our footprint; provide long‑term career opportunities through stability and internal mobility; and provide the resources our members need to support themselves and their dependents in the form of a robust benefits package. Our total compensation package includes a competitive base salary and benefits such as health, life/disability, 401(k), paid time off, professional development, and generous bonus programs. Please visit our benefits tab for additional information.

Salary Range

• Disclosed pay ranges are a general guideline, and are not a guarantee of a final salary or compensation. Our approach in determining final salaries takes into consideration factors such as education, certifications, total years of relevant professional experience, actual level of expertise, and the responsibilities of the role itself.
• Based on the outlined roles, responsibilities, and requirements, the projected pay range for these positions are:
  • Entry‑level: $95,000 - $135,000
  • Mid‑level: $110,000 - $155,000
  • Senior‑level: $135,000 - $235,000

Additional perks and benefits

• Retire sooner than planned: Get closer to retirement with up to 10% in 401(k) contributions, immediately vested.
• Have a career AND a life: Enjoy up to 5 weeks of leave (25 days of personal time off) and 11 paid floating holidays.
• Stay at your best: As a member, we'll pay 100% of your premiums for comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance. We'll also pay the majority of the premiums for your family. Let us provide free access to a fully equipped state‑of‑the‑art gym!
• Keep current on new technologies and technological advancements: $5,250 per year toward ongoing education, trainings, certifications, and maintaining professional memberships.
• Dress in style: Spend up to $300 per year on company branded merchandise featuring top‑quality brands such as Under Armour, Nike, Carhartt, YETI, etc.
• Enjoy the culture: Attend fun company events throughout the year such as our Oktoberfest, summer picnic, and annual holiday party! These are in addition to your team events which may include happy hours, baseball games, snowboarding, RenFest, and more.

Every day, our elite customers are pushing through "the grind" to defeat the enemy, even putting their lives on the line for our freedom. Rise to the occasion with us to deliver engineering excellence, to match their dedication to this nation. Join us as we bring digital transformation to the fight!