Senior Palantir Data Engineer

Unissant; Herndon (AR); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Unissant, Inc. seeks a Senior Palantir Data Engineer (Lead) to own the pipeline architecture underpinning Foundry for DHS mission clients. This hybrid role based in Washington, DC/Herndon, VA requires onsite work 2–3 days per week and leadership over a growing Palantir practice.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of data engineering, 3+ years with Palantir Foundry, strong Python/PySpark/SQL skills, and cloud experience across AWS/Azure/GCP. Bachelor's is required; MBA or Masters is preferred.

Qualifications

• Five (5)+ years of data engineering experience, including 3+ years hands-on Palantir Foundry in a senior/lead role.
• Expert-level Python/PySpark and SQL; working knowledge of TypeScript.
• Experience architecting large-scale, distributed data pipelines in production.
• Experience with cloud platforms, including AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Preferred: federal law enforcement, homeland security, or intelligence community data environments.
• Mentoring junior data engineers or leading a team is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Architect and lead development of large-scale data pipelines using Pipeline Builder and Code Workbook.
• Own integration strategy for external systems and APIs feeding Foundry environments.
• Define data governance, security, and quality standards for the practice.
• Lead code reviews and establish engineering best practices for pipeline development.
• Partner with Foundry Developers and Solution Architects on ontology and pipeline alignment.
• Support technical proposal writing and client capability demonstrations.

Skills

Palantir Foundry

Python/PySpark

SQL

TypeScript

Data pipelines

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's Degree

MBA/Master's Degree

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

Unissant, Inc. delivers innovative capabilities to the agencies that keep our nation healthy and safe. We apply our domain expertise, data acumen, and technology know-how to achieve breakthrough results for our clients. Working collaboratively, we advance missions and careers through a focus on honesty, integrity, and dependability. We continuously look for talent, excited to join that effort. To learn more about our exciting organization, please visit us at www.unissant.com.

We are seeking a Senior Palantir Data Engineer (Lead) to join our team and support our client.

The ideal candidate is a senior data engineering leader who will own the pipeline architecture underpinning Unissant's Palantir practice, ensuring reliable, governed, and scalable data flows into Foundry for DHS mission clients. This founding role has significant influence over technical standards and hiring as the practice grows. This is a full-time, hybrid position based in Washington, DC/Herndon, VA, requiring onsite work two to three days per week.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Architect and lead development of complex, large-scale data pipelines using Pipeline Builder and Code Workbook.
• Own integration strategy for external systems and APIs feeding Foundry environments.
• Define data governance, security, and quality standards for the practice.
• Lead code reviews and set engineering best practices for pipeline development.
• Partner with Foundry Developers and Solution Architects on ontology and pipeline alignment.
• Support technical proposal writing and client capability demonstrations.

Work Experience and Job Skills:

• Five (5) or more years of data engineering experience, including three (3) or more years of hands‑on Palantir Foundry experience in a senior or lead capacity.
• Expert‑level Python/PySpark and SQL; working knowledge of TypeScript.
• Proven experience architecting large‑scale, distributed data pipelines in production environments.
• Experience with cloud platforms, including AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Prior experience in federal law enforcement, homeland security, or intelligence community data environments preferred.
• Experience mentoring junior data engineers or leading a technical team preferred.

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree is required. Preferred field of study in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems, Operations Management, or related field of study.
• MBA/Master's Degree in a relevant field of study preferred.

Certificates, Licenses and Registrations:

• Palantir Foundry Data Engineer certification preferred.

Communication Skills:

• Excellent verbal and written skills, ability to present proposals and performance data, comfortable interfacing all levels of organization.
• Ability to write clear and concise creative content in a highly confidential manner.

Clearance Requirements:

• Ability to obtain and maintain a DHS Public Trust clearance is required.

Travel:

• Minimal travel may be required.

Environmental Requirements:

• Mainly a routine office environment.
• May be required to lift up to ten (10) pounds
• Flexible in working extended hours

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Unissant management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary. In addition, where applicable and available, reasonable accommodation(s) may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of this position.

Please note: Candidate(s) will be required to go through pre‑employment screening.

Unissant, Inc. is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer! (EOE; M/F/Disability/Vets)