Senior Data Engineer

Kentro is seeking a Senior Data Engineer to support USASOC EDAT missions from Fayetteville, North Carolina in an onsite engineering environment. In this role, you will build and operate data pipelines and data products that connect mission and enterprise information into a common data environment, enabling reliable, governed datasets for analysts and decision-makers.

What you’ll do

• Design, build, test, and maintain scalable batch and streaming ETL/ELT pipelines for classified and air-gapped environments.
• Develop transformation logic using Python, SQL, and PySpark to ingest, clean, normalize, and enrich structured and unstructured data.
• Integrate data from mission systems, operational applications, databases, APIs, and file-based sources into enterprise data platforms.
• Create data models, schemas, and entity relationships that support analytics, reporting, and downstream applications.
• Build and publish curated datasets and data products with clear documentation, versioning, and service-level expectations.
• Implement data quality checks, validation, monitoring, and alerting to improve pipeline reliability and trust in outputs.
• Establish and maintain data lineage, metadata, and cataloging aligned with data governance policies.
• Apply security controls including role-based and attribute-based access, data tagging and labeling, and need-to-know enforcement.
• Automate deployment and operations using CI/CD, version control, and infrastructure-as-code practices.
• Troubleshoot production issues, conduct root cause analysis, and optimize pipeline performance and cost.
• Support deployment of analytics and ML/AI workflows into operational systems.
• Collaborate with mission owners, analysts, data scientists, security staff, and system administrators to translate requirements into engineered solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, data science, information systems, or a related technical field, plus 7 years of relevant experience.
• 8140 compliances in certification or training may substitute for a degree.
• Meets DoD 8140 foundational and residential qualification requirements for the assigned work role, including approved certification, education, or training. Training options include SecurityX / CASP+, CCSP, Cloud+, CSC, GCLD, GCSA, GSEC.
• 7+ years of professional data engineering experience.
• Strong Python and SQL development skills demonstrated through production pipelines or applications.
• Experience with distributed processing such as PySpark / Apache Spark.
• Experience with relational and non-relational data stores, plus data modeling and schema design.
• Experience integrating multiple source systems into a centralized data platform.
• Proficiency in Linux, Git, and CI/CD workflows.
• Working knowledge of data governance, data lineage, and metadata management.
• Active TS/SCI clearance and US citizenship.

Technologies you may work with

• Python, SQL, PySpark, Apache Spark
• ETL/ELT, CI/CD, infrastructure-as-code
• Git, MSS (Microsoft SQL Server), T-SQL
• Linux, Airflow, NiFi, Kafka
• Elasticsearch/OpenSearch, graph databases, geospatial data
• Docker, Kubernetes, Palantir Foundry, Databricks
• JWICS, SIPRNet

Benefits

• Competitive benefits package including paid time off
• Healthcare benefits
• Supplemental benefits
• 401k including an employer match
• Discount perks and rewards
• Education reimbursement for certifications, degrees, or professional development
• Funds for activities (virtual and in-person), including happy hours, holiday events, fitness & wellness events, and annual celebrations
• Charity galas/events

Preferred qualifications

• Hands-on experience with Microsoft SQL Server (MSS), including T-SQL development and performance tuning
• Prior work for USASOC, USSOCOM, or another special operations or Army component
• Experience building and operating data platforms in classified or air-gapped environments (JWICS, SIPRNet)
• Experience with a modern data platform such as Palantir Foundry, Databricks, or comparable (pipelines, ontology/object modeling, application building)
• Experience with pipeline orchestration and streaming tools (e.g., Airflow, NiFi, Kafka)
• Experience with Elasticsearch/OpenSearch, graph databases, or geospatial data
• Experience with containers and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes) and infrastructure as code
• Experience deploying ML/AI models or analytics into operational systems
• Familiarity with RMF, ATO processes, and secure software development practices
• Cloud experience in classified or government cloud environments

Clearance requirement

• Active TS/SCI clearance
• US Citizen