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Data Leader Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Peraton

Senior Data Architect

Herndon, VA

$135K - $216K/yr

This role will serve as a senior data leader across FAA BNATCS and Peraton Labs data streams and will help ensure that the Digital Command Center (DCC) is built on a strong data foundation. The ideal ...

Peraton

Senior Data Architect

Herndon, VA · On-site

$135K - $216K/yr

This role will serve as a senior data leader across FAA BNATCS and Peraton Labs data streams and will help ensure that the Digital Command Center (DCC) is built on a strong data foundation. The ideal ...

Peraton

Senior Data Architect

Herndon, VA · On-site

$135K - $216K/yr

This role will serve as a senior data leader across FAA BNATCS and Peraton Labs data streams and will help ensure that the Digital Command Center (DCC) is built on a strong data foundation. The ideal ...

Peraton

Data Engineer - Analytics Platforms

Herndon, VA · On-site

$86K - $138K/yr

Work closely with architects, data leads, and software teams to ensure solutions are scalable, supportable, and aligned to broader platform goals * Support rapid iteration in a dynamic environment ...

Peraton

Data Engineer - Analytics Platforms

Herndon, VA

$117K - $141K/yr

Work closely with architects, data leads, and software teams to ensure solutions are scalable, supportable, and aligned to broader platform goals * Support rapid iteration in a dynamic environment ...

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Data Leader information

What is a data leader?

A Data Leader is a senior professional responsible for developing and implementing an organization’s data strategy, ensuring that data assets are effectively managed and leveraged to drive business value. They oversee data governance, data quality, analytics initiatives, and often manage teams of data scientists, engineers, and analysts. Data Leaders play a key role in shaping data-driven decision-making, aligning data projects with business objectives, and ensuring compliance with data regulations. Their work helps organizations unlock insights from data, improve operations, and gain a competitive advantage.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a data leader?

To thrive as a Data Leader, you need expertise in data analytics, data management, and strategy, often backed by an advanced degree in a quantitative field and experience in data-centric roles. Familiarity with tools like SQL, Python, data visualization platforms (e.g., Tableau, Power BI), and cloud data systems is typically required. Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills help drive organizational alignment and data-driven decision-making. These competencies are crucial for shaping effective data strategies, ensuring data quality, and delivering business value through insights.

How do data leaders typically balance strategic oversight with hands-on involvement in data projects?

Data Leaders often face the challenge of balancing high-level strategy with direct involvement in data initiatives. While their primary responsibility is to set the vision for data governance, analytics, and architecture, they also need to stay engaged with teams to ensure alignment and remove obstacles. This often means participating in key project meetings, reviewing major deliverables, and facilitating communication between technical and business stakeholders. Effective Data Leaders delegate operational tasks but remain accessible for critical decision-making and mentorship, fostering both team autonomy and strategic coherence.

What is the difference between Data Leader vs Data Analyst?

AspectData Leader
ResponsibilitiesStrategic data management, setting data vision, leading data teams
Skills & CertificationsData strategy, leadership, advanced analytics, often with certifications like CDMP or DAMA
Work EnvironmentExecutive-level, cross-departmental collaboration, senior management
FocusHigh-level data governance, business impact, long-term data strategy

While a Data Leader focuses on strategic oversight, governance, and leading data initiatives at an organizational level, a Data Analyst primarily handles data analysis, reporting, and supporting decision-making through data insights. Both roles require strong analytical skills, but the Data Leader emphasizes leadership and strategy, whereas the Data Analyst concentrates on technical analysis and data interpretation.

What are popular job titles related to Data Leader jobs in Virginia?

For Data Leader jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Data Leader jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Data Leader jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Data Leader jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Data Leader job openings:

Data Leader jobs near you
Infographic showing various Data Leader job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 19% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution.

Senior Data Architect

Peraton

Herndon, VA

$135K - $216K/yr

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago

Peraton rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 56 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

52nd of 225 rated it services

Job description

Responsibilities

Peraton Labs is seeking a Senior Data Architect - Aviation Analytics to support FAA BNATCS CTO in identifying, acquiring, modernizing, integrating, and operationalizing data required for advanced analytics, visualization, and agentic AI-enabled workflows. This role will serve as a senior data leader across FAA BNATCS and Peraton Labs data streams and will help ensure that the Digital Command Center (DCC) is built on a strong data foundation. The ideal candidate combines strategic data leadership with practical experience in multi-domain data environments, ETL, and data fusion.

Within this role you will define the data backbone behind advanced analytics and AI-enabled mission support. You will play a critical role in ensuring the right data is available, usable, and ready to support highly visible capabilities that inform decision-making and modernization at scale.

Key responsibilities may include:

  • Support data strategy and execution supporting DCC and CTO-driven capabilities
  • Identify, assess, and prioritize data sources needed to support analytics, visualization, and AI-enabled workflows
  • Coordinate data acquisition efforts across internal teams, stakeholders, and program partners
  • Define and improve approaches for data fusion, modernization of data capture, and data pipeline readiness
  • Guide ETL and data preparation efforts needed to support dashboards, analytics models, and downstream AI/ML use cases
  • Partner with systems, software, and analytics teams to align data architecture with mission needs
  • Help identify data gaps, dependencies, quality issues, and integration challenges affecting program success.
Qualifications

Required Qualifications

  • Minimum of 10+ w/ BS/BA, 8+ w/ MS/MA, or 5+ w/Ph.D. years of relevant experience in data engineering, software engineering, aerospace, systems engineering, systems/enterprise architecture, or related fields
  • Demonstrated experience with data identification, data acquisition, ETL, and multi-source data integration
  • Experience with advanced data analysis and data fusion
  • Familiarity with modern data capture, transformation, and preparation approaches that support advanced analytics
  • Ability to work across multiple teams and stakeholders to align data efforts with mission objectives
  • US Citizenship with ability to obtain/maintain an FAA Public Trust suitability
  • Must be local and able to commute to one of our following locations: Annapolis Junction, MD, Bowie, MD, or Herndon, VA.

Desired Qualifications

  • Experience with synthetic data generation
  • Familiarity with FAA systems or aviation operational data environments
  • Experience supporting analytics platforms, dashboards, AI/ML pipelines, or decision-support systems
  • Knowledge of metadata, lineage, governance-aware data practices, or data architecture strategy
  • Experience with cloud data platforms, APIs, and modern data engineering ecosystems
Peraton Overview

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. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Target Salary Range$135,000 - $216,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual's experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.EEOEEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.Employment Type: FULL_TIME

What Peraton employees say

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Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

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About Peraton

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Peraton, we re at the forefront of delivering the next big thing every day. We re the partner of choice to help solve some of the world s most daunting challenges, delivering bold, new solutions to keep people around the world safer and more secure.

Industry

It services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Herndon, VA, US

Year founded

2017

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