Data Engineer (junior to mid) - Secret Clearance

Position Type: Direct Hire / Full-Time

Location: Shiloh, IL / On-site at Scott Air Force Base

Schedule: On-site, generally 9:00 AM-5:00 PM depending on project needs

Clearance: Active Secret Clearance Preferred

Years of Experience: 3+ years

Hiring Timeline: Immediate

Compensation: $65,000-$90,000/year

Company: The name of our partner organization will be disclosed during the interview process. This is not a direct role with LaunchCode; it is a position through LaunchCode, working with one of our partner companies.

Position Overview

Our partner is seeking a skilled and highly motivated Data Engineer to support a growing portfolio of data and technology initiatives within the Defense sector.

The Data Engineer will be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining cloud-based data infrastructure, scalable data pipelines, and analytics solutions. This role will focus on building and optimizing end-to-end ETL processes, integrating large and complex datasets, improving data quality, and supporting business intelligence and reporting initiatives.

The ideal candidate has at least three years of relevant experience and a strong foundation in SQL, Python, ETL processes, and modern data engineering technologies. Experience with Databricks, Spark, federal data environments, and business intelligence platforms is highly preferred.

Position Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain end-to-end data pipelines using ETL processes and modern data engineering technologies.

• Build and optimize scalable data pipelines using tools and technologies such as Databricks, Python, Spark, Scala, JavaScript/JSON, SQL, and Jupyter Notebooks.

• Develop data processing workflows that support reliable, efficient, and high-performance analysis.

• Perform data cleansing, transformation, integration, and quality assurance activities to maintain the accuracy and integrity of large datasets.

• Leverage big data technologies to process and analyze large datasets within federal and Department of Defense environments.

• Troubleshoot data-related issues and develop effective solutions to complex data challenges.

• Implement and support data governance policies, standards, and procedures in alignment with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.

• Collaborate with technical and business stakeholders to understand data requirements and develop effective data models and architectures.

• Partner with data scientists, analysts, and other stakeholders to provide timely and accurate data for reporting, analytics, and decision-making.

• Maintain technical documentation for data pipelines, applications, workflows, and related processes.

• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend tools and solutions that improve automation, scalability, performance, and data quality.

Required Skills/Experience

• 3+ years of experience in data engineering, data analytics, software development, or a related technical field.

• U.S. citizenship and an active Secret clearance. Clearance sponsorship may be available for qualified candidates.

• Strong SQL skills with the ability to write, troubleshoot, and modify complex queries and procedures across a variety of datasets.

• Experience with Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) processes, including establishing and maintaining data ingestion and transformation workflows.

• Experience manipulating, integrating, and combining data from multiple sources.

• Hands-on programming experience with Python and related data engineering technologies.

• Experience with technologies such as Spark, Scala, JavaScript/JSON, and SQL.

• Business intelligence experience, including creating and updating applications, reports, dashboards, and analytical solutions.

• Familiarity with business intelligence platforms such as Cognos Analytics, Qlik Sense, and Power BI.

• Experience working with large datasets and using big data technologies to support efficient processing and analysis.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively across technical and business teams.

• Detail-oriented approach with a commitment to high-quality and accurate results.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Databricks and modern cloud-based data engineering environments.

• Familiarity with Amazon Web Services, including AWS and Amazon S3.

• Experience working with Jupyter Notebooks.

• Understanding of data modeling, data visualization, database design principles, and data governance practices.

• Experience with Teradata, including Multiload, BTEQ, and related Teradata utilities or procedures.

• Experience supporting Department of Defense or other federal agency environments.

• Familiarity with Department of Defense accounting systems such as DEAMS, TFMS, NERP, or similar platforms.

• Knowledge of Department of Defense accounting processes, financial systems, or transportation policies.

• Experience supporting cloud modernization, data transformation, reporting, or analytics initiatives.

Benefits

• Health, vision, and dental plans for employees and their families.

• Competitive 401(k) plan with 100% company matching on employee contributions up to the first 6%.

• Generous paid time off based on length of service.

• Bonus opportunities based on individual performance and achievement of goals.

• Professional development support through training programs and certifications.

• Company-sponsored team-building activities, retreats, and professional conferences.