Lead Data Engineer

Redhorse Corporation; United States; Remote; USD 170,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Redhorse Corporation is seeking a Senior Data Engineer / Lead to spearhead data engineering initiatives supporting the U.S. National Defense Strategy.

You will translate complex defense needs into scalable data pipelines and actionable insights, shaping modernization of critical systems. You will mentor engineers, drive architectural design, and collaborate with government stakeholders to deliver robust data models and resilient pipelines using Databricks and Python/PySpark.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of data engineering experience building enterprise-scale data platforms and pipelines.
• Experience providing technical mentorship and day-to-day technical task oversight.
• Hands-on Databricks experience designing and optimizing data transformation workflows.
• Advanced Python/PySpark and SQL skills for modular, OO programming and complex queries.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day task prioritization and technical direction; lead code reviews and mentor engineers.
• Elicit, refine, and translate complex mission requirements into robust specifications and data models.
• Architect, develop, and optimize high-throughput ETL/ELT workflows using Databricks.

Skills

Python/PySpark

SQL

Databricks

Mentorship

Code reviews

Data modeling

Education

Bachelors or Masters in CS/IS/Engineering

Tools

GitLab

Jira

Job description

About the Organization

Now is a great time to join Redhorse Corporation. We are a solution-driven company delivering data insights and technology solutions to customers with missions critical to U.S. national interests. We’re looking for thoughtful, skilled professionals who thrive as trusted partners building technology-agnostic solutions and want to apply their talents supporting customers with difficult and important mission sets.

About the Role

Redhorse transforms the way government uses data and technology. To support this mission, we are seeking a Senior Data Engineer / Lead to join our team supporting the US National Defense Strategy. In this role, you will play a vital role in translating complex defense requirements into scalable data pipelines and actionable insights, directly contributing to the modernization of critical defense systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership & Task Oversight: Provide day-to-day task prioritization and technical direction to team members; lead code reviews, ensure design best practices, and mentor engineers in modular Python development and SQL optimization.
• Requirements Development & Architecture: Work directly with government stakeholders to elicit, refine, and translate complex mission requirements into robust technical specifications, interface designs, and scalable data models.
• Pipeline & Platform Development: Architect, develop, and optimize high-throughput ETL/ELT workflows using Databricks; maintain, refactor, and enhance existing Python and SQL codebases for performance, stability, and security.
• Pipeline Diagnostics & Troubleshooting: Identify pipeline bottlenecks, debug complex data workflows, and implement automated solutions to enhance pipeline reliability and data integrity.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with government product owners, data scientists, Data Analysts, and technical peers to document architecture, coordinate technical sprints, and communicate engineering trade-offs to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Technical Documentation: Develop new and maintain existing pipeline architecture documentation relating to pipeline code architecture and configurations to ensure high system reliability and seamless team onboarding.

Required Experience / Clearance

• Security Clearance: Must be a U.S. Citizen with a current, active U.S. Government Secret clearance. (Applicants without an active Secret clearance cannot be considered).
• Experience Level: Minimum of 8+ years of professional experience in data engineering, building enterprise-scale data platforms and pipelines.
• Technical Guidance: Demonstrated experience providing technical mentorship, performing code reviews, and providing day-to-day technical task oversight to other engineers.
• Databricks: Proven, hands‑on experience designing and optimizing data transformation workflows in Databricks.
• Python/PySpark & SQL: Advanced skills in modular, object-oriented Python/PySpark scripting and extensive experience writing, tuning, and optimizing complex SQL queries.
• Data Visualization: Proven experience building functional, user-centric reports and dashboards using modern data visualization tools.

Desired Experience

We encourage all candidates who meet the basic requirements to apply, even if you do not have any of the following experience:

• Hands‑on experience with Apache Spark and distributed computing frameworks.
• Familiarity with modern agile and DevOps tools such as GitLab Jira.
• Experience working with DoD, defense, or intelligence community data environments and compliance standards.
• Knowledge of data governance, metadata management, and data cataloging frameworks.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

$170,000 - $190,000 a year

The salary range provided for this position represents the anticipated base salary for successful candidates. Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, education, certifications, skills, security clearance level, geographic location, market conditions, and internal equity. In addition to base salary, eligible employees may participate in Redhorse's comprehensive benefits programs and may be eligible for performance-based or other incentive compensation, where applicable.

Redhorse Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on this site as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by contacting Talent Acquisition [e-mail]

Redhorse Corporation shall, in its discretion, modify or adjust the position to meet Redhorse’s changing needs. This job description is not a contract and may be adjusted as deemed appropriate in Redhorse’s sole discretion.