IT Applications Data Engineer

Pantex is hiring an IT Applications Data Engineer onsite in Amarillo, TX. In this role, you will design, build, and optimize high-performance data pipelines and infrastructure that support enterprise AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics. The position spans ETL/ELT engineering, data reliability, and integration with Data Science and MLOps so model development and deployment are supported with model-ready data.

What you’ll gain

• Comprehensive health coverage
• Robust retirement planning
• Education reimbursement
• Opportunities for continuous learning

Key responsibilities

• Build, test, and maintain highly scalable data pipelines for batch and real-time data consumption using cloud-native services and distributed processing frameworks.
• Construct and manage systems in a modern data stack (including Databricks, Snowflake, or equivalent cloud lakehouse/warehouse solutions) to improve data accessibility and performance.
• Write production-grade code, primarily Python or Scala, to cleanse, transform, and load complex high-volume data into structured data models defined by the Data Architect.
• Implement and operate data quality checks, data lineage tooling, and pipeline monitoring to ensure data integrity and rapid detection of failures.
• Optimize and fine-tune database performance, query efficiency, and cost management across secure cloud storage and processing services.
• Support Data Science teams by enabling efficient data access, developing feature engineering workflows, and integrating model-ready datasets into MLOps platforms.
• Help define and enforce DataOps and DevSecOps practices for automated pipeline development, testing, and secure deployment.
• Maintain documentation covering data flows, data dictionaries, and production operational runbooks.
• Collaborate with application development and API teams to establish secure, efficient data ingestion from source systems.
• Work with Data Architects on modeling new data sources to ensure new assets align with enterprise data standards and architecture.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering/science/information technology discipline with minimum 2 years of relevant experience.
• OR Master’s degree in engineering/science/information technology discipline.
• OR applicants without a bachelor’s degree may be considered based on a combination of at least 10 years of completed education and/or relevant experience.
• Minimum 2 years relevant experience, including at least 1 year specifically focused on building and managing enterprise-grade data pipelines and ELT/ETL processes.
• Expert proficiency in SQL and Python or Scala.
• Demonstrated experience with distributed processing frameworks (e.g., Apache Spark, Databricks, Snowflake) and cloud data services (e.g., Azure Data Factory, AWS Glue).
• Master’s degree (MS) with minimum 3 years of relevant experience.
• Relevant certifications from modern data stack providers (e.g., Databricks Certified Data Engineer, Snowflake Certification) or cloud platforms (e.g., Azure Data Engineer Associate).
• Experience implementing data streaming for near real-time ingestion (e.g., Kafka, Azure Event Hubs).
• Experience with data modeling concepts (e.g., Dimensional Modeling, Data Vault) as implemented in data warehousing solutions.

Technologies

• Python, Scala, SQL
• Databricks, Snowflake
• Apache Spark
• Azure Data Factory, AWS Glue
• Kafka, Azure Event Hubs
• MLOps
• ELT, ETL
• DataOps, DevSecOps
• Dimensional Modeling, Data Vault

Security and site requirements

• Requires a Q clearance; however all qualified candidates will be considered regardless of current clearance status.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy Q clearance is required.
• Position may require entry into Materials Access Areas (MAA) and participation in the Human Reliability Program (HRP).
• If HRP is required, completion of a counterintelligence-scope polygraph pursuant to 10 CFR 709 may be required.
• Medical requirements may apply.
• U.S. citizenship is required for security clearance applicants.
• Pantex is a drug-free workplace. Candidates accepting an offer must pass a pre-placement physical, drug screening, and background investigation.
• All employees are subject to random selection for drug testing without advance notification.

Location: Amarillo, TX (Pantex Plant). Career level: Senior Associate to Specialist. Organization: Mission Systems (50214380). Job specialty: System Development.