Senior Data Engineer

Job DescriptionJob DescriptionThe Opportunity:Illuminate Technologies (ILT) is seeking a Data Engineer at the Senior level to support a federal customer on the SCOR 55 Adaptive Engineering & Machine Learning Operations mission. This role focuses on high-performance data pipelines, enterprise databases, and visual intelligence analytics.The Senior Data Engineer supports advanced visual analytic applications by building data pipelines, designing large relational databases, and enabling high‐performance analysis across structured and semi‐structured data. This role helps streamline processes, improve system performance, and strengthen secure data practices while mentoring junior team members and contributing to cross‐team standards. Responsibilities:• Develop data processing workflows and analytics for desktop and web‐based visual analytic tools.• Support large‐scale relational data analysis using visualization and high‐performance computing.• Build secure data ingest pipelines using open‐source, COTS, and GOTS technologies.• Design and optimize enterprise relational databases and establish standards for operations and security.• Integrate new data systems with existing data warehouses and improve performance and functionality.• Provide mentorship and contribute to system optimization and secure posture improvements. Qualifications: Required:• Minimum 8 years of relevant experience performing the duties described above.• Bachelor's degree required.• Strong skills in relational database design, SQL, and ETL/ELT processing.• Experience working with structured and semi‐structured data and visualization technologies.• Familiarity with high‐performance computing and mixed‐technology environments.• Strong analytical, communication, and collaboration skills.• Experience improving data workflows, performance, and security. Mission-Specific Technical Environment:The following technologies and capabilities are drawn from the customer role description. Specific platform assignments vary by team and position.• In-house custom developed application• Advanced AI, GenAI & Multi-Model Engineering• Multi-model and multi-modality orchestration (reasoning, perception, memory, tool execution)• Temporal, spatial, geographic, quantitative, and computer vision AI implementation• Named Entity Recognition (NER), contextual entity extraction, and resolution• Multi-step retrieval and structured output generation• Complex data parsing and streamlined ingestion• Deep source citation and traceable analytic outputs• Data Architecture & ETL• Vector, graph, and multi database orchestration• Automated ETL pipeline creation, scheduling, and optimization• Attribute Based Access Control (ABAC) at the data layer• Provenance and end-to-end data lineage tracking• Schema aligned ingestion and normalization of diverse structured and unstructured data• Enterprise Infrastructure & Cross-Domain Solutions• Air gapped, hybrid, and on-premises operational environments• Container orchestration and distributed systems management (Kubernetes)• Locally hosted GPU servers and hyperconverged nodes• Multitenant Cross-Domain Solutions (CDS)• Application Development & Integration• UI, backend, and middleware engineering (TypeScript, React, Python, FastAPI, LanceDB, lance graph, PostgreSQL, Temporal.io, Docker, Kubernetes)• Integration of reasoning components, retrieval systems, databases, and AI / GenAI services• Use of modern programming languages and frameworks Preferred:• Experience supporting federal or secure, multi‐enclave environments.• Background with advanced visualization platforms or high‐volume data processing.• Knowledge of data modeling, warehousing, and performance tuning. Eligibility Requirements:• United States citizenship is required for all contractor personnel associated with this SCOR 55 effort.• Active Top Secret clearance and eligibility for access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI); active, transferable TS clearance is required before assignment to government-facility work.• Compliance with FBI security vetting, criminal and credit checks, and required polygraph screening for Cyber Division (CyD) and Counterterrorism Division (CTD) assignments; final access adjudication is performed by the Government. Additional Information:This is an onsite position supporting government facilities in the Chantilly, Virginia / Washington, DC metropolitan area, with alternate sites if assigned. Telework is not represented as an entitlement.The program generally observes core operating hours of 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Eastern within a weekday scheduling window of 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Eastern. Individual schedules, team assignments, onsite requirements, and travel are set by the customer and may change with mission need.The Government may adjust qualification requirements and require role-specific skills assessments. Clearance eligibility, polygraph requirements, and access to facilities or systems are determined by the customer, not ILT. What You Can Expect: A small, focused team.At Illuminate Technologies, you will join a small team focused on placing the best personnel in the right positions. A mission-driven culture with balance.We carry a Special Operations Forces (SOF) culture dedicated to national security. We hold that superior mission execution and a good quality of life go together, and we work to protect both. Room to grow.Your growth is not limited to your job description. You will have the opportunity to develop and take on work beyond your specified position. Pay Range:There are a host of factors that can influence final salary including, but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education, and certifications. At Illuminate Technologies, you will receive comprehensive benefits such as: healthcare, retirement, and time off benefits.The proposed annual base salary range for this position is:$116,000 - $150,000 Compensation is based on the specific level, skills, experience, work location, and applicable customer requirements; final range requires ILT review and approval.Illuminate Technologies is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are evaluated on the qualifications stated above, without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, including lactation, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.\nCompany DescriptionIlluminate provides government agencies, commercial enterprises, and network operators with the data, services, and technology that helps them protect the information that surrounds us all and extract real value from it. We combine decades of cyber, intelligence and telecommunications expertise with innovative collection and analysis tools to deliver timely, actionable insight that our customers use to make fast, informed decisions.Company DescriptionIlluminate provides government agencies, commercial enterprises, and network operators with the data, services, and technology that helps them protect the information that surrounds us all and extract real value from it. We combine decades of cyber, intelligence and telecommunications expertise with innovative collection and analysis tools to deliver timely, actionable insight that our customers use to make fast, informed decisions.