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Associate Data Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Industry/Sector Not Applicable Specialism Data, Analytics & AI Management Level Senior Associate & Summary At PwC, our people in data and analytics engineering focus on leveraging advanced ...

Data Engineer

Sterling, VA · On-site

$113K - $136K/yr

Azure Data Engineer Associate • Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Data Engineer • IBM Data Engineering Professional Certificate • IBM Data Warehouse Engineer Professional Certificate ...

Data Engineer

Sterling, VA · On-site

$122K - $253K/yr

Azure Data Engineer Associate * Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Data Engineer * IBM Data Engineering Professional Certificate * IBM Data Warehouse Engineer Professional Certificate * Meta ...

Azure Data Engineer Associate * Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Data Engineer * IBM Data Engineering Professional Certificate * IBM Data Warehouse Engineer Professional Certificate * Meta ...

Data Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$93K - $176K/yr

Data engineering certification such as Palantir Foundry Data Engineer, Azure Data Engineer Associate, Google Professional Data Engineer, IBM Certified Data Engineer, or similar As required by local ...

Data Engineer

Yorktown, VA · On-site

$101K - $121K/yr

AWS Certified Solutions Architect or AWS Certified Data Engineer or similar equivalent Cloud environment certification or Oracle Database Certified Associate or equivalent Database Certification ...

Data Engineer

Arlington, VA · Remote

$131K - $158K/yr

AWS Certified Data Engineer - Associate or AWS Certified Developer, CompTIA Security+ CE (DoD 8570), Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) or equivalent Required Education and Experience:

As a Senior Data Center Technician, you will act as a point of escalation for L1 associate data center engineers and L2 data center engineers. This position will work directly with our contracted L2 ...

Data Engineer Journeyman

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$116K - $140K/yr

Relevant data engineering or cloud certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Data Analytics, Azure Data Engineer Associate, or equivalent). * Experience automating CI/CD for data pipelines and ...

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Associate Data Engineer information

See Virginia salary details

$9

$18

$30

How much do associate data engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 29, 2026, the average hourly pay for associate data engineer in Virginia is $18.58, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.24 and $19.76 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Associate Data Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Data Engineer, you need a solid understanding of data modeling, SQL, Python, and foundational knowledge of database concepts, often backed by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with data warehousing tools (like AWS Redshift, Google BigQuery), ETL frameworks, and cloud platforms as well as industry certifications such as AWS Certified Data Analytics is beneficial. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication help you navigate complex data challenges and collaborate with teams. These abilities are crucial for ensuring data systems are reliable, scalable, and aligned with organizational goals.

What is the difference between Associate Data Engineer vs Data Engineer?

AspectAssociate Data EngineerData Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in CS, Data Science, or related field; basic knowledge of SQL and PythonBachelor's or Master's degree; advanced knowledge of SQL, Python, Spark, and cloud platforms
Work EnvironmentEntry-level, team-focused, often in tech or finance industriesMid to senior level, designing and maintaining data pipelines in various industries
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in tech companies, startups, and finance firmsUsed across industries for building scalable data infrastructure
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for career progression and skill requirements

The Associate Data Engineer role is an entry-level position focusing on supporting data infrastructure, while the Data Engineer is a more advanced role responsible for designing and maintaining complex data systems. The roles share similar educational backgrounds and work environments but differ in experience level and responsibilities.

What does an Associate Data Engineer do?

An Associate Data Engineer is responsible for supporting the development, maintenance, and optimization of data pipelines and databases. They work closely with senior data engineers and other IT professionals to ensure data is accessible, reliable, and efficiently processed for analytics and business use. Typical tasks include writing and testing code for data integration, troubleshooting data issues, and implementing data security best practices. This entry-level position is a foundational role that builds technical skills and experience in data engineering.

What are some common challenges an Associate Data Engineer may face when working with large-scale data pipelines?

As an Associate Data Engineer, you may often encounter challenges such as optimizing data pipeline performance, ensuring data quality, and troubleshooting bottlenecks when processing large volumes of data. Working with distributed systems can introduce complex issues like latency and data consistency. Collaborating effectively with data scientists, analysts, and senior engineers is crucial for aligning data infrastructure with evolving project requirements. Regularly learning new tools and best practices will help you adapt to these challenges and grow in your role.
What are the most commonly searched types of Data Engineer jobs in Virginia? The most popular types of Data Engineer jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Associate Data Engineer jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Associate Data Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Associate Data Engineer job openings in Virginia as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 70% Full Time, 26% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $38,640 per year, or $18.6 per hour.

$68K - $68K/yr

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago


Job description

Job Summary:
Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute is seeking an Associate Data Scientist to leverage advanced statistics and machine learning in addressing cybersecurity challenges for government and industry clients. The role involves collaborating with elite professionals to develop prototype solutions, conduct research, and present findings at conferences.
Responsibilities:
• Identify areas where advanced statistical techniques can help tackle problems.
• Plan and develop prototype solutions.
• Build out final products.
• Co-author research proposals.
• Execute studies and present findings to DoW sponsors and at academic conferences.
Qualifications:
Required:
• BS in data science, machine learning, computer science, statistics, or related highly-quantitative discipline with three (3) years of experience or equivalent combination of training or experience; or MS in data science, machine learning, computer science, statistics, or related highly-quantitative discipline with one (1) year of experience; or PhD in data science, machine learning, computer science, statistics, or related highly-quantitative discipline.
• Willingness to complete modest travel to various locations to support the SEI’s overall mission.
• You will be subject to a background check and must be able obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of War security clearance.
• Experience in predictive modeling, data science, and/or AI & machine learning
• Deep understanding of statistical modeling techniques and advanced data analytics
• Proficient with at least one mathematical/statistical programming package (e.g., R, python numpy/scipy/pandas/polars, MATLAB, etc.)
• Innovative and inquisitive with ability to imagine novel analytical solutions to problems Thrives in a multi-disciplinary environment
• Strong communication skills
• Expertise in one or more of the following: Recommendation systems, Time-series forecasting (Prophet, NeuralProphet, Chronos, Lag-Llama, etc.), NLP / LLMs (fine-tuning, RAG, evaluation, prompt engineering), Causal inference / uplift modeling / synthetic controls, Modern ML frameworks: LightGBM/XGBoost, CatBoost, PyTorch,JAX, TensorFlow), LLMs / agentic workflows (LangChain/LlamaIndex/Haystack), Experience deploying models (FastAPI, Triton, KServe, SageMaker, Vertex AI, or similar), Experience working with big data (Spark, Trino, Snowflake, BigQuery, Databricks)
Preferred:
• Experience in cybersecurity and privacy is a plus
• Experience in U.S. Government work and/or with FFRDCs, UARCs an National Labs is a plus
• Demonstrated ability to learn new concepts and grow into new areas of work
Company:
We conduct cutting-edge research and development that accelerates the transition of technology to the Department of War (DoW), delivering measurable impact in support of the national security mission. Founded in 1984, the company is headquartered in Pittsburgh, USA, with a team of 501-1000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.