Junior Data Engineer / Active Secret

Peraton seeks a Junior Data Engineer to help support the Department of State Diplomatic Security Cyber Mission (DSCM) program by onboarding and maintaining the Cyber Event Data Node (CEDN) cloud-based data platform used for cybersecurity data processing and distribution. This hybrid role will contribute to pipeline configuration, data ingestion automation, data-quality activities, and integrations with cybersecurity and analytics platforms.

Role Overview

You will assist with configuring and operating the CEDN environment, including the onboarding of new cybersecurity systems and data sources. The work includes setting up data flows, automating ingestion, validation, and reporting, and maintaining reliable delivery of structured and semi-structured cybersecurity data to downstream consumers. You will also support metadata and access control practices for classified and unclassified environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Support onboarding new cybersecurity systems and data sources into the CEDN environment.
• Partner with system owners, cybersecurity analysts, architects, and engineers to identify source data, collection requirements, formats, schemas, volumes, retention needs, and downstream use cases.
• Configure and maintain Cribl pipelines for data collection, routing, parsing, transformation, enrichment, compression, filtering, and replay.
• Assist with developing and maintaining Databricks data pipelines supporting raw, enriched, and normalized data layers in Delta Lake.
• Develop and maintain Python, SQL, and scripting solutions to automate ingestion, transformation, validation, and reporting.
• Map structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data into standardized schemas and security data models.
• Perform data-quality checks for completeness, accuracy, timeliness, correct formatting, and successful delivery to downstream systems.
• Troubleshoot ingestion failures, malformed events, schema changes, pipeline errors, latency, and other data-flow issues.
• Support integrations with cybersecurity and analytics platforms, including Splunk Cloud, ServiceNow, Power BI, Tableau, and other authorized consumers.
• Apply appropriate metadata, tagging, access controls, and data-handling requirements for classified and unclassified environments.
• Monitor pipeline health, throughput, storage consumption, and processing performance, and help identify optimization opportunities.
• Create and maintain onboarding and operational materials such as checklists, data-flow diagrams, interface documentation, configuration records, test plans, standard operating procedures, and troubleshooting guides.
• Participate in testing and validation activities before new data sources are released to production.
• Work within established change-management, configuration-management, security authorization, and system development lifecycle processes.
• Collaborate with senior data engineers, security engineers, data scientists, threat analysts, and mission stakeholders to convert operational needs into reliable data products.
• Support knowledge transfer and provide basic technical guidance to data owners and platform users.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, data science, cybersecurity, engineering, or a related technical field and 1–2 years of experience.
• Four additional years of relevant experience may be substituted in lieu of a degree.
• Must possess or obtain prior to start, and maintain one of the following certifications: CCNA Security, CEH, CISSP, CySA+, GICSP, GSEC, Security+ CE, CND, or SSCP.
• Foundational experience with data engineering, data integration, ETL/ELT processes, application integration, or log-management technologies.
• Working knowledge of Python and SQL.
• Familiarity with structured and semi-structured data formats: JSON, CSV, XML, syslog, and API-delivered data.
• Understanding of databases, data lakes, data pipelines, schemas, metadata, and data lifecycle concepts.
• Basic knowledge of cloud computing and cloud storage services.
• Ability to analyze technical documentation and translate system requirements into actionable data-integration tasks.
• Ability to document configurations, testing results, data mappings, technical procedures, and operational issues clearly.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively while managing multiple assignments and established deadlines.
• Ability to learn new platforms and technologies through hands-on work, formal training, and mentorship.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Active Secret security clearance, with ability to obtain a final Top Secret clearance.

Technologies and Tools

• Cribl, Cribl Stream, Cribl Edge
• Databricks, Apache Spark, Delta Lake
• Python, SQL
• JSON, CSV, XML, syslog, API
• Splunk Cloud, ServiceNow, Power BI, Tableau
• Git, CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code, DevSecOps
• Microsoft Azure, Azure Data Lake Storage
• Notebooks, lakehouse architectures

Location and Work Setup

• Beltsville, MD or Washington DC (hybrid)
• Flexible for occasional telework; candidate must be local to the work location.

Compensation

• Target Salary Range: USD 66,000 - 106,000 per year

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Life, Health savings account
• Short/long term disability, EAP
• Parental leave
• 401(k)
• Paid time off (PTO) for vacation
• Company paid holidays

Program Overview

The role supports the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Cyber and Technology Security Directorate across three key offices/functional areas: Cyber Monitoring and Operations, Cyber Threat and Investigations, and Technology Innovation and Engineering State. The program includes technical, engineering, data analytics, cybersecurity, management, operational, logistical, and administrative support for mission activities.

About Peraton

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy.

Application Notes

• The application period is estimated to be 30 days from the job posting date.
• You may be required to participate in an on-camera interview and a process to verify your identity.
• Use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools of any kind during Peraton interviews is strictly prohibited unless the candidate has obtained prior written authorization.
• All interview responses must be the candidate’s own.

EEO Statement

Peraton is an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.