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Data Engineer Jobs in Ames, IA (NOW HIRING)

RFA Engineering

Data Engineer

Urbandale, IA · On-site

$80K - $120K/yr

Data Engineer As a Data Engineer, you will enable engineers, analysts, and data scientists to more effectively access, explore, and leverage enterprise data to generate insights, build models, and ...

SHAZAM

Data Architect

Johnston, IA · On-site

$120K - $170K/yr

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field, along with 5+ years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, data analytics, or a similar ...

RFA Engineering

AI Test Automation Engineer

Urbandale, IA · On-site

$90K - $150K/yr

Analyze testing data and system behavior to identify trends, inefficiencies, and optimization opportunities * Integrate automation tools with APIs, databases, cloud services, and existing engineering ...

Kellton

Imaging Data Scientist

Johnston, IA · On-site

$75/hr

Collaboration with discovery and strategy teams; ability to work across biology, engineering, and data science groups. Soft Skills * Strong stakeholder communication and the ability to translate ...

CIBC

Data Security Consultant

Nevada, IA · On-site +1

$130K - $150K/yr

Professional certifications such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP), or Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE) are ...

CIBC US

Data Security Consultant

Nevada, IA · On-site +1

$130K - $150K/yr

Professional certifications such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP), or Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE) are ...

RFA Engineering

Senior Hydraulics Engineer

Ankeny, IA · On-site

$70K - $100K/yr

Compile and furnish necessary information (engineering decisions and reports of pertinent design analyses data) to document the design solution required for building of prototypes and adoption of the ...

RFA Engineering

Mechanical Design Engineer

Ankeny, IA · On-site

$65K - $90K/yr

Compile and furnish necessary information (engineering decisions and reports of pertinent design analyses data) to document the design solution required for building of prototypes and adoption of the ...

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All JobsData Engineer JobsData Engineer Jobs in Ames, IA

Data Engineer information

See Ames, IA salary details

$43.5K

$126.9K

$173.6K

How much do data engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for data engineer in Ames, IA is $126,887.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $112,000.00 and $134,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is a data engineer a difficult job?

A data engineer role involves designing, building, and maintaining data pipelines and infrastructure, which requires strong programming skills, knowledge of databases, and familiarity with tools like SQL, Python, and cloud platforms. The job can be challenging due to the complexity of managing large-scale data systems and ensuring data quality and security, but it is manageable with proper training and experience.

What is the difference between Data Engineer vs Data Scientist?

AspectData EngineerData Scientist
Primary FocusBuilding and maintaining data pipelines and infrastructureAnalyzing data to extract insights and create models
SkillsSQL, ETL, programming (Python, Java), database managementStatistics, machine learning, data analysis, programming (Python, R)
Work EnvironmentData warehouses, cloud platforms, backend systemsData analysis environments, research labs, visualization tools
Common ToolsApache Spark, Hadoop, Airflow, SQLJupyter, RStudio, Tableau, scikit-learn

Data Engineers focus on creating and maintaining the infrastructure that allows data to be collected, stored, and processed efficiently. Data Scientists analyze this data to generate insights, build predictive models, and support decision-making. While their skills overlap, Data Engineers are more involved in data pipeline development, whereas Data Scientists focus on data analysis and modeling.

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

To thrive as a Data Engineer, you need a strong background in computer science, data modeling, and programming languages such as Python or Java, often coupled with a relevant degree. Familiarity with ETL tools, big data frameworks (like Hadoop or Spark), and cloud platforms (such as AWS or Azure) is typically required, along with certifications like AWS Certified Data Analytics. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication set exceptional data engineers apart. These skills and qualities are essential for building robust data pipelines, ensuring data quality, and supporting data-driven decision-making across organizations.

What Does a Data Engineer Do?

The job duties of a data engineer involve helping with the development of systems, software, and infrastructure used to process, store and analyze data. Your responsibilities in this career include working to install data management software. Your employer may expect you to perform maintenance and install updates to all software and systems that they use for data acquisition, management, and analysis. Data engineers also analyze existing data systems to find ways to improve efficiency and accessibility. You then suggest upgrades or changes based on your assessment.

What are Data Engineers?

Data Engineers are IT professionals who design, construct, install, and maintain large-scale processing systems and other infrastructure for collecting, storing, and analyzing data. They build and optimize data pipelines and architectures that allow organizations to efficiently access and use data for business insights. Data Engineers work closely with data scientists, analysts, and other stakeholders to ensure that data is reliable, accessible, and secure. Their responsibilities often include working with databases, cloud platforms, and big data tools.

How do Data Engineers typically collaborate with Data Scientists and Analysts within an organization?

Data Engineers play a crucial role in ensuring that Data Scientists and Analysts have reliable, well-structured data for their projects. This collaboration often involves building and maintaining data pipelines, optimizing data storage solutions, and troubleshooting data quality issues. Regular communication and agile teamwork are common, with Data Engineers frequently participating in meetings to understand analytical requirements and adjust data processes accordingly. By working closely together, these teams can quickly iterate on data models and deliver actionable insights to drive business decisions.

What does a data engineer actually do?

A data engineer designs, builds, and maintains the infrastructure and pipelines that enable organizations to collect, store, and process large volumes of data. They work with tools like SQL, Python, and cloud platforms to ensure data is accessible, reliable, and ready for analysis by data scientists and analysts.

Is a data engineer entry level?

Data engineering is typically an intermediate to senior role that requires experience with programming, databases, and data pipelines. Entry-level positions may be available for those with relevant internships, certifications, or strong foundational skills in SQL, Python, or cloud platforms, but most roles expect prior experience or demonstrated technical competence.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior data engineers with extensive experience, advanced skills in big data tools, and certifications can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $500,000 annually, especially in high-cost-of-living areas or within large tech companies. Such compensation often includes bonuses, stock options, and other incentives. These roles typically require strong programming, cloud platform expertise, and a deep understanding of data architecture.
More about Data Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Data Engineer jobs in Ames, IA? The most popular types of Data Engineer jobs in Ames, IA are:
What are popular job titles related to Data Engineer jobs in Ames, IA? For Data Engineer jobs in Ames, IA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Data Engineer jobs in Ames, IA look for? The top searched job categories for Data Engineer jobs in Ames, IA are:
What cities near Ames, IA are hiring for Data Engineer jobs? Cities near Ames, IA with the most Data Engineer job openings:
Data Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Data Engineer job openings in Ames, IA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 71% Full Time, and 29% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $126,887 per year, or $61 per hour.

Data Engineer

RFA Engineering

Urbandale, IA • On-site

$80K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 22 days ago

Job description

RFA Engineering (www.rfamec.com) supports industry-leading clients through the full software development lifecycle to build cutting-edge precision agriculture, machine guidance, vehicle automation and autonomy applications. We are seeking passionate, talented engineers to work on exciting projects using the latest tools and technologies including robotics, computer-vision, machine learning, IoT, cloud computing, and much more. Collaborate with a team of industry experts onsite at our client's world-class engineering center and contribute to developing innovative solutions that drive sustainable agriculture practices.
This is a full-time position with a full benefit package listed below that includes opportunities for professional growth, direct hire by our customers, and additional opportunities within our own organization.
Data Engineer
As a Data Engineer, you will enable engineers, analysts, and data scientists to more effectively access, explore, and leverage enterprise data to generate insights, build models, and make data-driven decisions. This role focuses on designing scalable cloud-based data solutions, developing high-quality datasets, and creating data products that empower individual contributors to work independently with complex, high-volume data.
A key component of this role involves collaborating with embedded and digital engineering teams to define, capture, and analyze system performance, UI, and health metrics. You will help translate raw signals into actionable insights through analytics, dashboards, and monitoring tools.
Responsibilities
  • Design, build, and maintain cloud-based data pipelines and data products that support analytics, machine learning, and exploratory data analysis
  • Enable self-service data access by developing well-structured, documented, and discoverable datasets for individual contributors
  • Partner with embedded and digital engineering teams to define required performance, UI, and system health metrics and ensure appropriate data capture
  • Perform analytics and data aggregation to translate raw signals into meaningful insights and visualizations
  • Develop and maintain production-ready Python code and data workflows using SQL, PySpark, Databricks, and related technologies
  • Manage and optimize storage of diverse data types, including images, raster data, parquet files, time-series data, geo-tagged data, text, and other unstructured data
  • Build dashboards and interactive data applications using tools such as Tableau, Plotly Dash, or similar web-based visualization frameworks
  • Develop alerting and monitoring solutions (e.g., automated email notifications) to identify system performance issues or data pipeline failures
  • Collaborate in code reviews, documentation, and best-practice development to ensure maintainable and reproducible solutions
  • Manage multiple projects, priorities, and milestones while maintaining a strong sense of ownership and accountability

Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent professional experience
  • Demonstrated experience designing and implementing cloud-based data solutions in production environments
  • Strong proficiency in Python for data engineering and analytics applications
  • Experience working with data access and processing technologies such as SQL, PySpark, Databricks, Postgres, and MongoDB
  • Experience building and maintaining datasets at scale across multiple data formats and structures
  • Familiarity with vehicle or embedded system data, including CAN signals
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to lead meetings, clearly document work, communicate proof-of-concepts, and collaborate across teams

Desired Attributes
  • Experience developing dashboards and visual analytics solutions using tools such as Tableau, Plotly, or similar platforms
  • Familiarity with spatial data and visualization tools such as Folium or Plotly
  • Experience implementing system monitoring, alerting, and health-tracking solutions
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to debug complex data and system issues
  • Ability to work effectively in a self-directed environment with minimal oversight
  • Proven ability to manage multiple schedules, deliverables, and stakeholders simultaneously
  • Knowledge of off-highway, agricultural, construction, or industrial equipment data systems is a plus

Visa sponsorship is NOT available for this position.
Salary Range: $80,000-$120,000/year: Commensurate with experience
About RFA Engineering
RFA Engineering has provided product development and engineering services to industry leading customers since 1943. Our primary focus is the development of off highway equipment including agricultural, construction, mining, recreational, industrial, and special machines. Our work includes concept development, product design, documentation, problem-solving, simulation, optimization, and testing of components, systems and complete machines. Our engineering staff is located at our Engineering Center in Minneapolis, branch office in Dubuque, IA, and at numerous customer sites throughout the U.S.
Competitive Benefits
  • Health and Dental Insurance
  • TelaDoc Healthiest You
  • Supplemental Vision Insurance
  • Company Paid Life Insurance
  • Company Paid Long-Term Disability
  • Short-term Disability
  • Retirement Savings Account (Traditional 401k & Roth 401k)
  • Flexible Spending Plan Dependent Care
  • HSA for Medical Expenses
  • Bonus Plan (Exempt Employees Only)
  • Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Paid Holidays
  • Bereavement Leave
  • Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
  • Education Assistance

Equal Opportunity and Veteran Friendly
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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