Data Engineer - Entry to Expert Level

U.S. Department of Defense
  • Washington, DC
  • $87,362–$197,200 Per Year
1 day ago

Job Description

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Data Engineer - Entry to Expert Level

Department of Defense

National Security Agency/Central Security Service

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  • Summary
  • This job is open to
  • Duties
  • Requirements
  • How you will be evaluated
  • Required documents
  • How to apply

Summary

Data Engineers play a vital role in tackling key national security issues. Applicants will design, build, and maintain systems that handle data to support our mission goals, from intelligence gathering to cybersecurity.

In this role, applicants will create & improve data pipelines and databases, helping our teams quickly access & search through both structured and unstructured data transforming raw information into standardized, usable formats that power our operations and protect the nation.

Learn more about this agency

Summary

Data Engineers play a vital role in tackling key national security issues. Applicants will design, build, and maintain systems that handle data to support our mission goals, from intelligence gathering to cybersecurity.

In this role, applicants will create & improve data pipelines and databases, helping our teams quickly access & search through both structured and unstructured data transforming raw information into standardized, usable formats that power our operations and protect the nation.

Learn more about this agency

Overview

Help

Accepting applications

Location

few vacancies in the following location:

Fort Meade, MD

No matching locations found.

Work site options

Telework eligible No Remote job No Relocation expenses reimbursed Yes-You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy. Salary $87,362 - $197,200 per year Pay scale & grade

GG 7 - 15

Promotion potential None

Learn more about pay scale and grade

Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.

Work schedule Full-time Travel Required Not required

Appointment type Permanent

Occupations and job series

  • 1550 Computer Science

Supervisory status No Federal service type This job is in the Excepted Service Represented by a union No

Drug test Yes Security clearance Sensitive Compartmented Information Position sensitivity and risk Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk

Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.

Background check type

  • National security

Financial disclosure required No

Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

Announcement number 1265423 Control number 892706100

This job is open to

Help

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Federal employees - Excepted service

Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.

Veterans

Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference

Military spouses

Military spouses of active duty service members or whose spouse is 100 percent disabled or died on active duty.

Students

Current students enrolled in an accredited high school, college or graduate institution.

Recent graduates

Individuals who have graduated from an accredited educational institute or certificate program within the last 2 years or 6 years for Veterans.

Individuals with disabilities

Individuals who are eligible under Schedule A.

Videos

Duties

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Drawing on skills in data design, computer science, and specific knowledge of our field, applicants will turn mission needs into practical technical solutions. This includes building data structures, connecting different data sources, and ensuring data moves smoothly between systems.

Applicants will also communicate the capabilities and limitations of data systems to subject matter experts and key decision-makers. Using cutting-edge tools, applicants will have opportunities to solve real-world problems in collecting, organizing, storing, and processing data.

Were looking for talent at all levels, from those just starting out to seasoned experts, ready to make a real difference in national security.

As a Data Engineer at NSA/CSS, you will transform and deliver high-priority datasets to enable exploitation and analysis for critical intelligence and cybersecurity missions.

Design and Build Scalable Data Infrastructure

  • Design and architect systems that collect, transform, and manage data at scale using cloud, open source, and custom solutions
  • Create data models, schemas, databases, and optimized pipelines that process large, complex datasets
  • Implement ETL (extract, transform, load) processes and automated data validation methods

Data Engineering and Analysis

  • Derive structured data from unstructured sources and combine multiple datasets to create a complete picture
  • Address conflicting, missing, or inconsistent data through cleaning and curation
  • Conduct exploratory data analysis using mathematical and statistical methods
  • Identify data features required to solve mission challenges

Collaboration and Communication

  • Partner with collectors, data scientists, software engineers, and domain experts to design integrated solutions
  • Elicit customer needs and translate them into technical implementations
  • Document processes, analyses, and results for technical and non-technical audiences
  • Provide technical guidance and mentoring to team members

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a security background investigation and polygraph.

Qualifications

The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position.

Relevant experience must be in one or more of the following: data mining, analytical algorithms, software engineering, systems administration, data science, data flow management, designing/implementing machine learning, data management, database design, data architecture, system architecture, or database administration (e.g., developing, maintaining, troubleshooting).

ENTRY/DEVELOPMENTAL

Entry is with an Associates degree plus 2 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelors degree and no experience, or a Masters degree and no experience.

FULL PERFORMANCE

Entry is with an Associates degree plus 5 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelors degree plus 3 years of relevant experience, or a Masters degree plus 1 year of relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree and no experience.

SENIOR

Entry is with an Associates degree plus 8 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelors degree plus 6 years of relevant experience, or a Masters degree plus 4 years of relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree plus 2 years of relevant experience. Experience must also include formal or informal leadership.

EXPERT

Entry is with an Associates degree plus 11 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelors degree plus 9 years of relevant experience, or a Masters degree plus 7 years of relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree plus 5 years of relevant experience.

Experience must also include formal or informal leadership.

Education

The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position.

Degree must be in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, Information Systems, Information Science, Information Technology, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Operations Research, Engineering, or Physical Sciences.

Additional information

Pay: Salary offers are based on candidates education level and years of experience relevant to the position and also take into account information provided by the hiring manager/organization regarding the work level for the position.

Salary range varies by location, work level, and relevant experience to the position.

Training will be provided based on the selectees needs and experience.

Benefits: NSA offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Work Schedule: This is a full-time position, Monday - Friday, with basic 8hr/day work requirement between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (flexible).

DCIPS Trial Period:

If selected for this position, you will be required to serve a two-year DCIPS trial period, unless you are a veterans preference-eligible employee, in which case you are required to serve a one-year trial period. This trial period runs concurrently with your commitment to the position, if applicable. Before finalizing your appointment at the conclusion of your trial period, NSA will determine whether your continued employment advances the public interest. This decision will be based on factors such as your performance and conduct; the Agencys needs and interests; whether your continued employment would advance the Agencys organizational goals; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

If you do not receive certification for continued employment, you should receive written notice prior to the end of your trial period that your employment will be terminated and the effective date of such termination.

Expand Hide additional information

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Technical Skills and Experience

  • Experience with ETL processes, workflow/container orchestration, and cloud solutions (AWS, Azure, GCP)
  • Proficiency with database and search technologies, distributed computing, and serverless design patterns
  • Experience analyzing or processing large, sparse, or complex bulk datasets
  • Understanding of scaling and performance optimization for distributed/cloud systems
  • Proficiency in scripting languages (Python, Perl, R) and programming concepts
  • Familiarity with various data formats, database architectures, and open-source data engineering tools
  • Experience with Serialization Formats: JSON, XML, etc.

Domain Knowledge

  • Experience with signal/image processing, geospatial modeling, or voice/data communications
  • Understanding of data science concepts, AI/ML applications, and automation
  • Experience working with conflicting, missing, or inconsistent data

Competencies

  • Strong problem-solving skills and ability to make sound decisions with limited information
  • Creativity in generating new ideas, processes, or solutions for complex challenges
  • Ability to adapt interpersonal style to accommodate different approaches and perspectives
  • Resilience in high-pressure situations, bouncing back from setbacks while staying positive and focused.
  • Experience building collaborative information and knowledge-sharing networks
  • Strong skills in oral and written communication, tailored effectively for both technical and non-technical audiences

Benefits

Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Required documents

Required Documents

Help

VETERANS AND TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS

Thank you for your service! The National Security Agency (NSA) is part of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). All positions at NSA are in the Excepted Service under Title 10, United States Codes (U.S.C.), Section 1601 appointment authority.

Veterans Preference

In accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, "DoD Civilian Personnel Management System: Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System Employment and Placement," NSA applies veterans preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5, U.S.C., to eligible candidates. If you are claiming veterans preference, you are required to provide acceptable documentation of your preference eligibility upon application.

Acceptable documentation includes:

  • DD-214: "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions (Copy 4);

OR

  • Certification of Service:

A written document on letterhead from the appropriate branch of the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed. The certification should include the military service dates, including the expected discharge or release date;

AND

  • Standard Form 15 (SF-15)

Application for 10-point Veteran Preference (http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf).

If you are claiming a service-connected disability of 30 percent or more, the documentation you provide must specifically demonstrate this level of disability;

AND

  • VA Letter of Disability (for 10pt and Sole Survivorship rating)

You may obtain a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs reflecting your level of disability for preference eligibility by visiting a VA Regional Office, contacting a VA call center, or online (https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/).

Failure to provide sufficient documentation of veterans preference eligibility may preclude NSA from identifying you as a preference eligible candidate during the hiring selection process.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

Help

Please visit our application site to apply:https://apply.intelligencecareers.gov/job-description/1265423

Agency contact information

NSA POC

Phone 1-844-424-4737 Email intelcareers@nsa.gov

Next steps

Please visit our application site to apply: https://apply.intelligencecareers.gov/job-description/1265423

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Financial suitability New employee probationary period

Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy

Selective Service Signature and false statements

Social security number request

Required Documents

Help

VETERANS AND TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS

Thank you for your service! The National Security Agency (NSA) is part of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). All positions at NSA are in the Excepted Service under Title 10, United States Codes (U.S.C.), Section 1601 appointment authority.

Veterans Preference

In accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, "DoD Civilian Personnel Management System: Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System Employment and Placement," NSA applies veterans preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5, U.S.C., to eligible candidates. If you are claiming veterans preference, you are required to provide acceptable documentation of your preference eligibility upon application.

Acceptable documentation includes:

  • DD-214: "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions (Copy 4);

OR

  • Certification of Service:

A written document on letterhead from the appropriate branch of the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed. The certification should include the military service dates, including the expected discharge or release date;

AND

  • Standard Form 15 (SF-15)

Application for 10-point Veteran Preference (http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf).

If you are claiming a service-connected disability of 30 percent or more, the documentation you provide must specifically demonstrate this level of disability;

AND

  • VA Letter of Disability (for 10pt and Sole Survivorship rating)

You may obtain a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs reflecting your level of disability for preference eligibility by visiting a VA Regional Office, contacting a VA call center, or online (https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/).

Failure to provide sufficient documentation of veterans preference eligibility may preclude NSA from identifying you as a preference eligible candidate during the hiring selection process.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

Help

Please visit our application site to apply:https://apply.intelligencecareers.gov/job-description/1265423

Expand Hide how to apply

Agency contact information

NSA POC

Phone 1-844-424-4737 Email intelcareers@nsa.gov

Next steps

Please visit our application site to apply: https://apply.intelligencecareers.gov/job-description/1265423

Expand Hide next steps

Fair and transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Financial suitability New employee probationary period

Privacy Act Reasonable accommodation policy

Selective Service Signature and false statements

Social security number request

National Security Agency/Central Security Service

Agency contact information

NSA POC

Phone 1-844-424-4737 Email intelcareers@nsa.gov

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what its like to work at National Security Agency/Central Security Service, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.nsa.gov/careers/

Summary

Data Engineers play a vital role in tackling key national security issues. Applicants will design, build, and maintain systems that handle data to support our mission goals, from intelligence gathering to cybersecurity.

In this role, applicants will create & improve data pipelines and databases, helping our teams quickly access & search through both structured and unstructured data transforming raw information into standardized, usable formats that power our operations and protect the nation.

Learn more about this agency

Overview

Help

Accepting applications

Location

few vacancies in the following location:

Fort Meade, MD

No matching locations found.

Work site options

Telework eligible No Remote job No Relocation expenses reimbursed Yes-You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy. Salary $87,362 - $197,200 per year Pay scale & grade

GG 7 - 15

Promotion potential None

Learn more about pay scale and grade

Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.

Work schedule Full-time Travel Required Not required

Appointment type Permanent

Occupations and job series

  • 1550 Computer Science

Supervisory status No Federal service type This job is in the Excepted Service Represented by a union No

Drug test Yes Security clearance Sensitive Compartmented Information Position sensitivity and risk Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk

Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.

Background check type

  • National security

Financial disclosure required No

Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.

Announcement number 1265423 Control number 892706100

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Numbers & Facts

LocationWashington, DC
Salary$87,362–$197,200 Per Year

Skills

  • Algorithmsunmatched
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  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)unmatched
  • Automationunmatched
  • CSS (Cascading Style Sheet)unmatched
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  • Communication Skillsunmatched
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  • Computer Scienceunmatched
  • Data Analysisunmatched
  • Data Cleaningunmatched
  • Data Entryunmatched
  • Data Managementunmatched
  • Data Miningunmatched
  • Data Modelingunmatched
  • Data Processingunmatched
  • Data Qualityunmatched
  • Data Scienceunmatched
  • Data Setsunmatched
  • Database Administrationunmatched
  • Database Architectureunmatched
  • Database Data Formatsunmatched
  • Database Designunmatched
  • Database Extract Transform and Load (ETL)unmatched
  • Database Optimizationunmatched
  • Database Technologyunmatched
  • Defense Intelligenceunmatched
  • Design Patterns Programming Methodologiesunmatched
  • Distributed Computingunmatched
  • Federal Assistanceunmatched
  • Federal Governmentunmatched
  • GCP (Good Clinical Practices)unmatched
  • Government Organizationsunmatched
  • HTTPS (HyperText Transport Protocol Secure)unmatched
  • Identify Issuesunmatched
  • Image Processingunmatched
  • Information Scienceunmatched
  • Information Technology & Information Systemsunmatched
  • Intelligence Analysisunmatched
  • Intelligence Gatheringunmatched
  • Internet Securityunmatched
  • Interpersonal Skillsunmatched
  • JSONunmatched
  • Leadershipunmatched
  • Legalunmatched
  • Machine Learningunmatched
  • Mathematicsunmatched
  • Mentoringunmatched
  • Microsoft Windows Azureunmatched
  • National Security Agency (NSA)unmatched
  • Open Sourceunmatched
  • Open Source Databasesunmatched
  • Operations Researchunmatched
  • Performance Tuning/Optimizationunmatched
  • Perl Programming Languageunmatched
  • Physical Scienceunmatched
  • Presentation/Verbal Skillsunmatched
  • Problem Solving Skillsunmatched
  • Process Analysisunmatched
  • Process Improvementunmatched
  • Protective Servicesunmatched
  • Publicationsunmatched
  • Python Programming/Scripting Languageunmatched
  • R Programming Languageunmatched
  • Regulationsunmatched
  • Reimbursementunmatched
  • Scalable System Developmentunmatched
  • Scripting (Scripting Languages)unmatched
  • Search Technologyunmatched
  • Signal Processingunmatched
  • Software Administrationunmatched
  • Software Engineeringunmatched
  • Speech Technologyunmatched
  • Statisticsunmatched
  • Structured Dataunmatched
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  • Team Playerunmatched
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  • Writing Skillsunmatched
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