[Hiring] Data Engineer - Level III @AttainX, Inc.

Role Description

The Data Architect / Data Engineering Lead provides technical leadership for data architecture, data engineering, database modernization, and AI/ML enablement across the NRCS IT ecosystem. This role is responsible for guiding the transformation of legacy data platforms into scalable, cloud-native architectures on AWS.

• Works in close coordination with the Enterprise Lead Architect, Government Program Managers, and cross-functional delivery teams.
• Executes data management, modernization, and operational sustainment activities under the OMNI contract.

Qualifications

• Experience: 7 years of progressive experience in data architecture, data engineering, and database administration across enterprise environments.
• Cloud Platforms: 5+ years of hands-on experience designing and deploying data solutions on AWS.
• Database Technologies: Deep expertise in Microsoft SQL Server and PostgreSQL/PostGIS.
• Data Engineering: Proven experience building production data pipelines for batch, streaming, and geospatial workloads.
• Programming: Strong proficiency in SQL/T-SQL, Python, and PySpark.
• Architecture: Demonstrated ability to design and implement enterprise data architectures.
• Federal IT: 3+ years of experience supporting federal IT programs.
• DevSecOps: Experience with CI/CD pipelines and Git-based version control.
• Agile/SAFe: Experience working within SAFe Agile or equivalent iterative delivery frameworks.

Requirements

• Direct experience with USDA systems.
• Experience with FPAC IT governance and CI/CD pipeline standards.
• Hands-on experience with AWS Bedrock, SageMaker, and Generative AI patterns.
• Experience with geospatial data engineering, including PostGIS and spatial data pipelines.
• Experience with AI-enabled legacy modernization platforms.
• Azure experience as a complement to primary AWS focus.
• Relevant certifications: AWS Solutions Architect, AWS Data Analytics Specialty, Azure Data Engineer Associate, or equivalent.
• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Data Architecture and Strategy:
  • Define and maintain data architecture standards and governance practices.
  • Lead conceptual and logical decomposition of monolithic database structures.
  • Architect service-layer data access patterns to reduce architectural fragility.
  • Design and maintain data models for enterprise soil data systems.
  • Align supported systems with USDA’s cloud-native Lakehouse Data Strategy.
  • Register and maintain schemas, interfaces, and metadata in AWS DataZone.
• Data Engineering and Pipeline Development:
  • Design, build, and maintain end-to-end data engineering pipelines using AWS-native services.
  • Modernize legacy SSIS-based ETL/ELT pipelines to cloud-native equivalents.
  • Build and operate AWS DMS full-load and CDC pipelines.
  • Implement Delta Lake standards and performance tuning across ingestion frameworks.
  • Develop serverless orchestration workflows for event-driven processing.
  • Implement data quality controls and maintain audit-ready evidence of data management activities.
• Database Operations and Modernization:
  • Provide senior-level DBA support for SQL Server clusters and PostgreSQL/PostGIS environments.
  • Lead database schema versioning and deployment automation.
  • Execute database modernization activities including re-platforming and decoupling dependencies.
  • Develop and maintain application-specific database recovery runbooks.
• AI/ML and Generative AI Enablement:
  • Design and implement AI/ML and Generative AI solutions using AWS services.
  • Apply GenAI tooling to accelerate documentation and schema analysis.
  • Support AI-assisted analysis to detect redundant data flows and schema drift.
  • Leverage AI-enabled platforms for legacy system discovery and modernization.
• AWS Migration Support:
  • Provide data engineering and DBA expertise in support of AWS migration.
  • Support full on-premises to AWS migration for databases and data infrastructure.
  • Design and execute data migration and transformation activities.
• Governance, Compliance, and Knowledge Transfer:
  • Maintain audit-ready documentation for all data architecture decisions.
  • Enforce FPAC architectural principles and secure coding standards.
  • Conduct architecture reviews and design assurance gates.
  • Deliver knowledge transfer sessions to Government personnel and incoming vendors.
  • Maintain and update troubleshooting playbooks and knowledge articles.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation and benefits packages including paid vacation.
• Medical, dental, vision coverage.
• Matching 401K plan.
• Tuition/training reimbursement.
• Long & Short-Term Disability.