Senior Data Engineer with Security Clearance

Dark Wolf; Herndon (VA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Dark Wolf is seeking a Senior Data Engineer in Herndon, VA to design, build, and optimize data pipelines and data infrastructure for analytics and mission-critical applications. The role emphasizes DevSecOps, TDD, and customer-centric software, with hybrid/remote flexibility.

The ideal candidate has 8+ years of experience, strong Python/AWS/SQL skills, and experience with Trino, Spark, and Kubernetes. U.S. citizenship and a Secret clearance are required, with a salary range of $150,000–$175,000.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Computer Science (or equivalent) and at least 8 years of professional experience on an Agile team with DevOps practices
• Experience with Python (FastAPI, Django, Flask), JavaScript (Node.js, Express, Vue, Svelte, React), and Java (Spring Boot)
• Experience designing and implementing OpenAPI compliant data schemas and REST APIs, ORM and SQL, and data validation rules
• Experience developing AWS data services with S3, RDS, and EMR
• Experience building scalable, production-grade data solutions for thousands of data consumers
• US Citizenship and an active Secret security clearance

Responsibilities

• Using DevSecOps best practices to rapidly develop and deliver first class solutions for a DoW customer.
• Developing software using Python (FastAPI), AWS, SQL (Trino SQL), and Rancher Kubernetes.
• Building high-throughput data pipelines that aggregate, standardize, and process large volumes of heterogeneous data with Apache Spark, DBT, and Trino.
• Establishing RESTful API endpoints that rapidly return large volumes of analytical health data.
• Taking ownership of project domains and quickly becoming proficient in novel subjects.
• Leveraging Test Driven Development and User Centered design best practices automate testing and ensure delivered software meets and exceeds customer needs.
• Applying software design best practices to identify and analyze potential solutions, generate design diagrams, and participate in technical exchange meetings.
• Embracing a shared responsibility for system security.
• Continuously engaging with project teams to deliver quality products.
• Participating in daily standups, sprint planning/review meetings, discover and framing workshops, and customer demo sessions.

Skills

DevSecOps practices

Test Driven Development

Agile teamwork

RESTful API design

Security awareness

Data-driven

Customer-centric

Education

B.S. in Computer Science

M.S in Computer Science

Tools

Python

FastAPI

AWS

SQL

Trino

Spark

DBT

Kubernetes

Rancher

OpenAPI

Job description

Senior Data Engineer Herndon, VA Dark Wolf is looking for a Senior Data Engineer to join our team in Herndon, VA supporting the Defense Health community. This position will have hybrid/remote flexibility. The Data Engineer will be responsible for designing, building, and optimizing robust data pipelines and data infrastructure to ensure the reliability, accessibility, and quality of operational medicine data for analytics and mission-critical applications. The ideal candidate will leverage extensive experience with data engineering principles, DevSecOps best practices, and Test Driven Development (TDD) principles to rapidly develop and deliver first-class, customer-centric software solutions. They will utilize leading languages and frameworks, including Python (FastAPI), AWS, SQL (Trino SQL), and Rancher Kubernetes, to develop high-performance data engineering solutions, automate testing, and ensure delivered software meets and exceeds customer needs, all while working collaboratively within a dedicated team.

Key Responsibilities

• Using DevSecOps best practices to rapidly develop and deliver first class solutions for a DoW customer.
• Developing software using leading languages and frameworks including Python (FastAPI), AWS, SQL (Trino SQL), and Rancher Kubernetes.
• Building high-throughput data pipelines that aggregate, standardize, and process large volumes of heterogeneous data with Apache Spark, DBT, and Trino.
• Establishing RESTful API endpoints that rapidly return large volumes of analytical health data.
• Taking ownership of project domains and quickly becoming proficient in novel subjects.
• Leveraging Test Driven Development and User Centered design best practices automate testing and ensure delivered software meets and exceeds customer needs.
• Applying software design best practices to identify and analyze potential solutions, generate design diagrams to convey and capture system design, and participate in technical exchange meetings to discuss with the team and customer stakeholders.
• Embracing a shared responsibility for system security.
• Continuously engaging with project teams to deliver quality products.
• Participating in daily standups, sprint planning/review meetings, discover and framing workshops, and customer demo sessions. Required Qualifications:
• B.S. in Computer Science (or equivalent experience) and at least 8 years of professional experience working as part of an Agile team using DevOps practices and modern programming languages and frameworks to develop and engineer data-related services and applications to cloud platforms
• Experience with modern programming languages and frameworks including Python (FastAPI, Django, Flask), JavaScript (Node.js, Express, Vue, Svelte, React), and Java (Spring Boot)
• Experience developing data focused solutions to include experience designing and implementing OpenAPI compliant data schemas and REST APIs, implementing data persistence and query logic using Object Relational Mapping (ORM) libraries and SQL, and implementing data validation business rules
• Experience developing AWS cloud solutions with a specific focus on data services such as S3, RDS, and EMR
• Experience building scalable, production-grade data solutions that can be used by thousands of data consumers concurrently
• US Citizenship and an active Secret security clearance

Desired Qualifications

• M.S in Computer Science or related
• Experience with AI/ML
• Experience with Kubernetes (Rancher RKE2, AWS EKS) and microservice architectures
• Experience with data engineering and big data technologies such as Apache Airflow, Trino, and AWS EMR
• Experience with NIST Risk Management Framework and security accreditation process and tasks
• Experience with HL7, FHIR, and Mirth Connect
• Experience with dbt and Apache Spark
• Familiarity with Great Expectations, data contracts, and data validation This position has hybrid schedule flexibility. The salary range is expected to be between $150,000 to $175,000, commensurate on experience.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories. We are strictly looking for direct, full-time W2 employees. We do not engage with third-party staffing agencies, C2C, or 1099 independent contractors for this role. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity, confirm US Citizenship, and complete the required employment eligibility verification upon hire.