Junior Data Engineer (ETL/GIS)

Peraton; Reston (VA); Remote; USD 51,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

Peraton is seeking a Junior Data Engineer with ETL and geospatial data experience to support a federal data migration program. The role is fully remote within the United States, focusing on building and validating ETL pipelines in a cloud data lakehouse environment.

You will work with Databricks Delta Live Tables, perform data quality validation, and collaborate with GIS Engineers to ensure spatial integrity. U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a Public Trust clearance are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher; 0+ years of professional experience accepted per the listing.
• Hands-on experience with Databricks and Delta Live Tables or equivalent cloud ETL frameworks
• Experience with data quality validation, source-to-target mapping, and data transformation
• Experience with data modeling or schema design documentation
• Experience documenting test/ingest results and logging defects with severity classifications
• Proficiency in Python or Scala for ETL pipeline development
• Proficiency in SQL for querying, validating, and transforming data within the cloud data lakehouse environment
• Familiarity with geospatial data formats and coordinate reference systems

Responsibilities

• Develop, test, and deploy ETL pipelines using Databricks Delta Live Tables within a cloud data lakehouse staging environment.
• Execute range data aggregation and normalization activities, collecting data from multiple authoritative source systems and normalizing spatial formats and coordinate reference systems.
• Implement source-to-target transformation logic within ETL pipelines, applying field-level mapping rules, data type conversions, and null-handling logic
• Execute prototype data ingestion workflows using representative taxa, evaluating results against completeness, accuracy, consistency, and spatial integrity quality criteria.
• Document prototype ingestion results, defects, and remediation actions
• Produce the Prototype Ingest Results Report, documenting ingestion outcomes, data quality findings, defect severity classifications, and remediation actions for each representative taxa batch.
• Log all data quality defects with severity classifications and remediation tracking
• Maintain all ETL pipeline code in a version-controlled repository with mandatory peer review documentation.
• Support spatial data validation activities in coordination with GIS Engineers.
• Support interoperability testing by providing test datasets, pipeline execution support, and data validation assistance.

Skills

Python

SQL

Geospatial data formats

Data quality validation

Source-to-target mapping

Data modeling

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Tools

Databricks

Job description

Junior Data Engineer (ETL/GIS)

Job Locations

US

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Responsibilities

Peraton is seeking a Junior Data Engineer with ETL development and geospatial data experience to support the data engineering workstream on a federal data migration program. You will develop and deploy ETL pipelines, execute data ingestion workflows, and support spatial data validation activities within a cloud data Lakehouse environment. This is a fully remote position.

The Department of the Interior (DOI), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have identified a critical gap in the federal government's ability to conduct comprehensive Endangered Species Act (ESA) research. While FWS operates an authoritative web-based platform for managing data for terrestrial and freshwater species, it does not currently include NMFS marine and anadromous species data forcing agencies to rely on separate, manual processes. This program closes that gap by integrating marine and anadromous species data into the existing FWS platform, creating a single, unified experience for all ESA-listed species.

Work Location

Remote

Day to Day Responsibilities

• Develop, test, and deploy ETL pipelines using Databricks Delta Live Tables within a cloud data lakehouse staging environment.
• Execute range data aggregation and normalization activities, collecting data from multiple authoritative source systems and normalizing spatial formats and coordinate reference systems.
• Implement source-to-target transformation logic within ETL pipelines, applying field-level mapping rules, data type conversions, and null-handling logic
• Execute prototype data ingestion workflows using representative taxa, evaluating results against completeness, accuracy, consistency, and spatial integrity quality criteria.
• Document prototype ingestion results, defects, and remediation actions
• Produce the Prototype Ingest Results Report, documenting ingestion outcomes, data quality findings, defect severity classifications, and remediation actions for each representative taxa batch.
• Log all data quality defects with severity classifications and remediation tracking
• Maintain all ETL pipeline code in a version-controlled repository with mandatory peer review documentation.
• Support spatial data validation activities in coordination with GIS Engineers.
• Support interoperability testing by providing test datasets, pipeline execution support, and data validation assistance.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 0 years of professional experience, or an Associate's degree and 2 years of professional experience, or a high school diploma/equivalent and 4 years of professional experience.
• U.S. Citizenship required; must have the ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance; all work must be performed within the United States.
• Hands‑on experience with Databricks and Delta Live Tables or equivalent cloud ETL frameworks
• Experience with data quality validation, source-to-target mapping, and data transformation
• Experience with data modeling or schema design documentation
• Experience documenting test/ingest results and logging defects with severity classifications
• Proficiency in Python or Scala for ETL pipeline development
• Proficiency in SQL for querying, validating, and transforming data within the cloud data lakehouse environment
• Familiarity with geospatial data formats and coordinate reference systems

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with AWS GovCloud or equivalent FedRAMP‑authorized cloud environments
• Familiarity with GIS tools such as ArcGIS or QGIS
• Experience with federal data governance and metadata standards
• Databricks Associate certification or equivalent

Target Salary Range

$51,000 - $82,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual's experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

Benefits Statement

Peraton offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, health savings account, short/long term disability, EAP, parental leave, 401(k), paid time off (PTO) for vacation, and company paid holidays. A full listing of available benefits can be viewed at https://www.careers.peraton.com/benefits.

EEO

EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.