Top-Secret Data Engineer: Secure Pipelines & AI Prep

Expression Networks; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k matching

Medical Dental Vision insurance

Education reimbursement up to $10,000/

Life insurance

PTO and holiday leave

Onsite gym

Commuter benefits

In-office Cold Brew coffee

Job summary

Expression is seeking a Data Engineer to support the DEA ICDE modernization effort in Arlington, VA. The role focuses on designing and maintaining scalable data pipelines for ingestion, transformation, and migration of structured and unstructured data to support analytics and AI/ML capabilities.

The position requires a STEM degree with 2+ years of experience, strong SQL and Python skills, and familiarity with ETL tools and cloud platforms. Clearance: Top Secret (SCI) is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in STEM with 2+ years of experience.
• Hands-on experience with data analysis, ETL development, and data migration.
• Proficiency in SQL, including complex queries, data transformations, and performance tuning.
• Familiarity with Python for data manipulation, scripting, and workflow automation.
• Experience with ETL frameworks or orchestration tools such as Apache Airflow, Talend, dbt, or similar technologies.
• Understanding of data warehousing principles, including dimensional modeling and staging architectures.
• Exposure to cloud-based data platforms such as AWS Redshift, Google BigQuery, Azure SQL, or similar environments.
• Ability to perform data profiling, validation, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis.
• Ability to clearly document technical processes, data mappings, and transformation logic.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with engineers, analysts, developers, and business stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable ETL pipelines for ingesting, transforming, and loading structured and unstructured datasets.
• Support large-scale migration of legacy data into the modernized DEA investigative and case management ecosystem.
• Analyze complex data structures and source-to-target mappings to identify opportunities for workflow optimization and automation.
• Implement data cleaning, standardization, validation, classification, and transformation processes to improve data quality and consistency.
• Monitor and ensure data accuracy, completeness, consistency, and integrity across systems and platforms.
• Implement data migration strategies supporting application modernization and transitions across platforms and cloud environments.
• Develop and execute data validation processes and checkpoints throughout data migration activities.
• Collaborate with analysts, data scientists, developers, and business partners to translate requirements into effective data engineering solutions.
• Support data interoperability and exchange across integrated systems.
• Monitor pipeline performance, troubleshoot operational issues, and improve reliability, scalability, and efficiency.
• Support data preparation and tagging activities needed for analytics and AI/ML use cases.
• Participate in Agile development activities, including sprint planning, stand-ups, reviews, and retrospectives.
• Document data flows, source-to-target mappings, transformation logic, validation processes, and operational procedures.

Skills

SQL

Python

ETL development

Data migration

Data profiling

Documentation

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Tools

Apache Airflow

Talend

dbt

AWS Redshift

Google BigQuery

Azure SQL

Git

Job description

Expression is seeking a Data Engineer to support the DEA ICDE modernization effort in Arlington, VA. The role focuses on designing and maintaining scalable data pipelines for ingestion, transformation, and migration of structured and unstructured data to support analytics and AI/ML capabilities.

The position requires a STEM degree with 2+ years of experience, strong SQL and Python skills, and familiarity with ETL tools and cloud platforms. Clearance: Top Secret (SCI) is required.