Senior Data Engineer

Kentro; Fayetteville (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

401(k) with company match

Education reimbursement

Paid time off

Job summary

Kentro is seeking a Senior Data Engineer to design, build, and operate data pipelines and data products supporting United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) EDAT missions. This on-site role is based in Fayetteville, NC, and requires DoD 8140 qualifications with TS/SCI likely.

You will produce trusted datasets for analysts and decision-makers. You will collaborate with mission owners, data scientists, security staff, and system administrators to translate requirements into engineered

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; 7+ years of professional data engineering experience.
• Meets DoD 8140 foundational qualifications for assigned work role (certifications, education, or training).
• Strong Python and SQL development skills; experience with PySpark and distributed data processing.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, test, and maintain scalable data pipelines (ETL/ELT) in classified and air-gapped environments.
• Develop transformation logic in Python, SQL, and PySpark to ingest, clean, normalize, and enrich data.
• Integrate data from mission systems into enterprise data platforms.
• Establish data lineage, metadata, and cataloging; implement data quality checks and monitoring.

Skills

Python

SQL

PySpark

ETL/ELT

Data modeling

CI/CD

Linux

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Data Science/IS or related field

Tools

Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL)

Job description

Overview

Thank you for considering IT Concepts dba Kentro, where innovation drives opportunity and collaboration leads to success. Our dynamic community of experts is fully committed to advancing our customers' missions, fostering professional growth, and making a positive impact on our communities.

By joining our supportive community, you will find that Kentro is dedicated to your personal and professional development. Together, we can drive meaningful change, spark innovation, and achieve extraordinary milestones.

Kentro is hiring for a Senior Data Engineer to design, build, and operate data pipelines and data products supporting United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) Enterprise Development, Application and Training (EDAT) missions. This is an engineering role, not an analyst or compliance role. You will write production code, integrate mission and enterprise data sources into a common data environment, and deliver reliable, well-governed datasets that analysts and decision-makers depend on. Experience with Microsoft SQL Server (MSS) is a significant advantage.

Location: Onsite in Fayetteville, NC

This Job Description reflects the primary duties of the role; however, it is not intended to be all‑inclusive. Team members may be asked to take on additional responsibilities in alignment with customer expectations, business needs, and Kentro’s culture of collaboration and adaptability.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, test, and maintain scalable batch and streaming data pipelines (ETL/ELT) in classified and air-gapped environments.
• Develop transformation logic in Python, SQL, and PySpark to ingest, clean, normalize, and enrich structured and unstructured data.
• Integrate data from mission systems, operational applications, databases, APIs, and file-based sources into enterprise data platforms.
• Design data models, schemas, and entity relationships that support analytics, reporting, and downstream applications.
• Build and publish curated datasets and data products with clear documentation, versioning, and service-level expectations.
• Implement data quality checks, validation, monitoring, and alerting to ensure pipeline reliability and trusted outputs.
• Establish and maintain data lineage, metadata, and cataloging in accordance with data governance policies.
• Apply data security controls, including role-based and attribute-based access, data tagging and labeling, and need-to-know enforcement.
• Automate deployment and operations using CI/CD, version control, and infrastructure-as-code practices.
• Troubleshoot production issues, perform root cause analysis, and optimize pipeline performance and cost.
• Support the deployment of analytics and ML/AI workflows into operational systems.
• Collaborate with mission owners, analysts, data scientists, security staff, and system administrators to translate requirements into engineered solutions.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, information systems, or a related technical field, plus 7 years of relevant experience. 8140 compliances in certification/training may substitute for a degree.
• Training: Meets DoD 8140 foundational and residential qualification requirements for the assigned work role (approved certification, education, or training) Trainings include:
  • SecurityX / CASP+
  • CCSP
  • Cloud+
  • CSC
  • GCLD
  • GCSA
  • GSEC
• Experience: 7+ years of professional data engineering experience
• Technical Skills:
  • Strong Python and SQL development skills, demonstrated through production pipelines or applications.
  • Experience with distributed data processing (PySpark / Apache Spark).
  • Experience with relational and non-relational data stores and with data modeling and schema design.
  • Experience integrating multiple source systems into a centralized data platform.
  • Proficiency in Linux environments, Git, and CI/CD workflows.
  • Working knowledge of data governance, data lineage, and metadata management.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with Microsoft SQL Server (MSS), including T- SQL development and performance tuning.
• Prior work for USASOC, USSOCOM, or another special operations or Army component.
• Experience building and operating data platforms in classified or air-gapped environments (JWICS, SIPRNet).
• Experience with a modern data platform such as Palantir Foundry, Databricks, or comparable (pipelines, ontology/object modeling, application building).
• Experience with pipeline orchestration and streaming tools (e.g., Airflow, NiFi, Kafka).
• Experience with Elasticsearch/OpenSearch, graph databases, or geospatial data.
• Experience with containers and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes) and infrastructure as code.
• Experience deploying ML/AI models or analytics into operational systems.
• Familiarity with RMF, ATO processes, and secure software development practices.
• Cloud experience in classified or government cloud environments.

Clearance Requirement

• Active TS/SCI clearance
• US Citizen

Benefits

The Company

We believe in generating success collaboratively, enabling long-term mission success, and building trust for the next challenge. With you as our partner, let’s solve challenges, think innovatively, and maximize impact. As a valued member of our team, you have the unique opportunity to work in a diverse range of technology and business career paths, all while supporting our nation and delivering innovative technology solutions. We are a close community of experts that pride ourselves on creating an environment defined by teamwork, dedication, and excellence.

We hold three ISO certifications (27001:2013, 20000-1:2011, 9001:2015), two CMMI ML 3 ratings (DEV and SVC) and CMMC Level 2 Certification.

Industry Recognition

Growth | Inc 5000’s Fastest Growing Private Companies, DC Metro List Fastest Growing; Washington Business Journal: Fastest Growing Companies, Top Performing Small Technology Companies in Greater D.C.

Culture | Northern Virginia Technology Council Tech 100 Honoree; Virginia Best Place to Work; Washington Business Journal: Best Places to Work, Corporate Diversity Index Winner – Mid-Size Companies, Companies Owned by People of Color; Department of Labor’s HireVets for our work helping veterans transition; SECAF Award of Excellence finalist; Victory Military Friendly Brand; Virginia Values Veterans (V3); Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Corporate Breath Award

Benefits

We offer competitive benefits package including paid time off, healthcare benefits, supplemental benefits, 401k including an employer match, discount perks, rewards, and more. We invest in our employees – Every employee is eligible for education reimbursement for certifications, degrees, or professional development. Reimbursement amounts may fluctuate due to IRS limitations. We want you to grow as an expert and a leader and offer flexibility for you to take a course, complete a certification, or other professional growth and networking. We are committed to supporting your curiosity and sustaining a culture that prioritizes commitment to continuous professional development.

We work hard; we play hard. Kentro is committed to incorporating fun into every day. We dedicate funds for activities – virtual and in-person – e.g., we host happy hours, holiday events, fitness & wellness events, and annual celebrations. In alignment with our commitment to our communities, we also host and attend charity galas/events. We believe in appreciating your commitment and building a positive workspace for you to be creative, innovative, and happy.

Commitment Equal Opportunity Employment & VEVRAA

Kentro is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Kentro is strongly committed to compliance with VEVRAA and other applicable federal, state, and local laws governing equal employment opportunity. We have developed comprehensive policies and procedures to ensure our hiring practices align with these requirements.

As part of our VEVRAA compliance efforts, Kentro has established an equal opportunity plan outlining our commitment to recruiting, hiring, and advancing protected veterans. This plan is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure its effectiveness.

We encourage protected veterans to self-identify during the application process. This information is strictly confidential and will only be used for reporting and compliance purposes as required by law. Providing this information is voluntary and will not impact your employment eligibility.

Our commitment to equal employment opportunity extends beyond legal compliance. We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace where all employees, including protected veterans, are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.

Accommodations

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. If you need to discuss reasonable accommodations, please email [e-mail].