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Entry Data Engineer Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Tecolote Research

Senior Data Scientist

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$130K - $160K/yr

Programming languages such as Python(inclusive of libraries that are used in data science e.g ... Establishing and integrating large datasets, data entry , data conditioning and cleaning, data ...

SteerBridge

Senior Data Engineer

Vienna, VA

$135K - $160K/yr

Your mission will be to enhance and optimize data entry, management and extraction within this ... Programming and Software Engineering * Strong proficiency in Python and SQL for data processing ...

SteerBridge

Senior Data Engineer

Vienna, VA

$106K - $144K/yr

Your mission will be to enhance and optimize data entry, management and extraction within this ... Programming and Software Engineering * Strong proficiency in Python and SQL for data processing ...

SteerBridge

Senior Data Engineer

Vienna, VA · On-site

$106K - $144K/yr

Your mission will be to enhance and optimize data entry, management and extraction within this ... Bachelor's Degree or Above in Systems Engineering, Computer Science or related field. * An active ...

BCMC

Data Automation Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

Citizenship • Active TS/SCI clearance • Ability to obtain Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Entry on Duty (EOD) Suitability • 5+ years of experience in automation engineering, data ...

NewGen

Data Automation Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

They are seeking a Data Automation Engineer to support this critical customer mission. The Data ... Ability to obtain Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Entry on Duty (EOD) Suitability * BS in ...

BCMC

Data Automation Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

Citizenship - Active TS/SCI clearance - Ability to obtain Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Entry on Duty (EOD) Suitability - 5+ years of experience in automation engineering, data engineering ...

BCMC

Data Automation Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

Citizenship - Active TS/SCI clearance - Ability to obtain Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Entry on Duty (EOD) Suitability - 5+ years of experience in automation engineering, data engineering ...

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All JobsEntry Data Engineer JobsEntry Data Engineer Jobs in Washington

Entry Data Engineer information

See Washington salary details

$12

$22

$32

How much do entry data engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for entry data engineer in Washington is $22.06, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.51 and $24.76 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Entry Data Engineer vs Data Analyst?

AspectEntry Data EngineerData Analyst
Required CredentialsBachelor's in CS, IT, or related field; knowledge of SQL, Python, ETL toolsBachelor's in Statistics, Math, or related; proficiency in Excel, SQL, visualization tools
Work EnvironmentData engineering teams, cloud platforms, data warehousesBusiness units, reporting teams, data visualization tools
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, finance, healthcare, e-commerceMarketing, finance, consulting, retail

Entry Data Engineers focus on building and maintaining data pipelines and infrastructure, while Data Analysts interpret data to generate insights. Both roles require SQL and data handling skills, but Data Engineers typically work more on data architecture, whereas Data Analysts focus on analysis and reporting.

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

To thrive as an Entry Data Engineer, you need a solid understanding of programming (often Python or SQL), data structures, and database fundamentals, typically supported by a relevant degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with ETL tools, cloud data platforms (such as AWS or Azure), and version control systems like Git is commonly required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication help you collaborate with teams and troubleshoot data issues. These skills are crucial to ensure high-quality, efficient data pipelines and enable data-driven decision-making within organizations.

What are some common challenges faced by entry-level data engineers during their first year on the job?

Entry-level data engineers often encounter challenges such as learning new data pipeline tools, understanding complex legacy systems, and adapting to the fast pace of data-driven environments. Balancing requests from multiple stakeholders and ensuring data accuracy can also be demanding, especially when dealing with large datasets. However, most teams provide mentorship and training to help new hires get up to speed, and collaboration with experienced engineers is encouraged to support skill development.

What does an Entry Data Engineer do?

An Entry Data Engineer is responsible for assisting in the design, development, and maintenance of data pipelines and databases. They work with raw data, helping to clean, organize, and prepare it for analysis by more senior engineers or data scientists. Their tasks often include writing basic SQL queries, automating data collection processes, and supporting data quality initiatives. Entry-level data engineers typically work under the guidance of more experienced team members to learn best practices and develop their technical skills.
What are popular job titles related to Entry Data Engineer jobs in Washington? For Entry Data Engineer jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Entry Data Engineer jobs in Washington look for? The top searched job categories for Entry Data Engineer jobs in Washington are:
Entry Data Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Data Engineer job openings in Washington as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $45,875 per year, or $22.1 per hour.
Associate Client Data Engineer

Associate Client Data Engineer

Strada Education Foundation

Washington, DC • On-site

$18 - $23.50/hr

Full-time

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

About the Role

As an Associate Client Data Engineer at CredLens, you will focus on the client-onboarding workflow that brings new credential-issuer data into our platform.  You will learn the platform and the fundamentals of production data engineering with direct support from more senior engineers, and gain hands-on experience across the full onboarding workflow, with a clear path to grow into a broader data-engineering role over time. Because so much of the work involves direct client interaction, excellent customer-service skills and clear communication are essential.

This is an early-career, hands-on role focused exclusively on onboarding: partnering directly with clients to receive their data, understanding and documenting the data structure, and cleaning, transforming, and validating the data so it is ready for CredLens' data pipeline. This is an excellent opportunity to start a data career from the ground level by continuing to build a data engineering skillset while working in a role that directly impacts end users. You will work within a small, cohesive Data Engineering team, reporting to the Data Engineering Team Lead. The team is based in Washington, DC. This is a hybrid role requiring in-person attendance at the office at least two days a week, likely Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Note: this is not a "big data" or "real-time" analytics role. It best suits a mission-aligned individual who cares about using data to create more equitable outcomes and who focuses on quality, reliability, and a smooth client experience.

Context

CredLens is building a nonprofit national data trust focused on verified outcomes for non-degree credentials.  The effort is an initiative launched by the Strada Education Foundation in 2024.  CredLens will deliver actionable insights and power ongoing research for industry-based, professional, and workforce credentials.  

CredLens is designed to fill the data gap for non-degree credentials.  The attainment of these credentials is growing, but there is little to no data tracking their outcomes.  CredLens will offer tailored data analytics and visualizations to credential issuers, workforce training providers, philanthropic funding partnerships, and state system partnerships to support the continuous improvement of credential quality and to support informed funding and scaling decisions.

Key Responsibilities

Core responsibility areas, listed below with the approximate time required for execution in the first 12 - 18 months of work if the incumbent is new to the role:

  • Serve as the data engineering point of contact for new clients during onboarding, guiding them through what data to provide and in what format.

  • Receive incoming client data and perform exploratory data analysis to understand its structure, quality, and completeness.

  • Identify and flag missing, malformed, or inconsistent fields early, and coordinate with the client to resolve them.

  • Clean, transform, and validate client data so it conforms to CredLens' standards and is ready for downstream ingestion.

  • Build and run the models and transformations that move a client's data through the onboarding stages of the pipeline, using SQL, Python, DBT, and Airflow.

  • Document each client's onboarding: data sources, decisions made, and any exceptions, contributing to shared onboarding procedures and templates.

  • Track onboarding progress and time, and surface areas of friction to improve the process so that it becomes faster and more repeatable over time.

  • Work with the broader Data Engineering team to research, learn, and implement new improvements to the onboarding pipeline's efficiency & scalability so it can grow with us.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, data science, or a related field is required. OR, equivalent practical experience is required, at least two years.

Experience Required

  • Suitable for a new or recent graduate; no prior professional experience required. Internships, academic projects, or other hands-on data work are a plus, as is a demonstrated ability to learn quickly.

  • Working proficiency in SQL and Python for data manipulation and analysis.

  • Some past experience working with and cleaning raw datasets.

  • Strong customer-service orientation and the ability to communicate clearly with non-technical clients.

  • Attention to detail, particularly around data quality, validation, and documentation.

  • Consistently takes initiative to learn and try new things, and keeps a mindset of constant improvement.

Experience Preferred

  • Exposure to Redshift, Snowflake, PostgreSQL, or similar databases.

  • Experience with Pandas DataFrames, Jupyter notebooks, and other quick data processing tools.

  • Familiarity with DBT, Airflow, or other data pipeline and orchestration tooling.

  • Familiarity with AWS S3 and Lambda functions, or other AWS services.

  • Experience working with Github, or another code version control platform.

  • Experience handling sensitive or confidential data and following security best practices.

  • Experience working in a startup, nonprofit, or mission-driven environment.

Skills Required

  • SQL

  • Python

  • Data cleaning & manipulation

  • Interpersonal skills

About CredLens

Non-degree credentials are reshaping how people move from learning to earning. Millions of learners are pursuing certificates, bootcamps, and workforce programs as pathways to better jobs and higher wages. But growth has outpaced clarity.

Thousands of offerings, uneven definitions, and fragmented outcomes data make it nearly impossible to distinguish impact from activity. When results are unclear, learners carry the risk, strong programs can't stand out, and investment can't reliably flow to what works.

CredLens exists to fix that.

We are a neutral, trusted source of high-quality outcomes data for non-degree credentials - connecting issuer-verified credential records to real-world employment, earnings, and education outcomes. Our partners use that data to improve programs, guide investment, and strengthen career pathways for learners.

Two years in, we have a firmly established platform, a growing client base, and the backing of Strada Education Foundation. We are not a startup finding its footing. We are a company beginning to scale - and we are building the team that will take us there.

Mission and Value Alignment
Committed to providing equitable pathways to opportunity through postsecondary education and training (PSET), particularly for individuals who have faced significant barriers. Demonstrated alignment with CredLens' guiding values, commitment to building a strong and healthy workplace culture, and working in a collaborative environment.
Travel Requirements

Approximately 5% domestic travel anticipated.

 
$74,850 - $91,700 a year

plus annual bonus

The pay range listed is based on national compensation benchmark data and may vary depending on skills, experience, job-related knowledge, variations in cost of labor, and in some cases, geographic location. The exact job offer will be determined based on several factors such as the candidate's individual skills, qualifications and experience relative to the requirements of the role. The range displayed with the job posting represents the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across the U.S.
 
The company also reviews and considers internal equity (current employee salary) when hiring new employees to the organization. The range is the expected starting base salary for someone hired into this position with room to grow professionally, including increased earning potential beyond the starting pay range. Beyond a new hire's base salary, CredLens also offers all full-time employees a comprehensive employee benefit package.
Mission and Values Alignment:
Committed to providing equitable pathways to opportunity through PSET, particularly for individuals who have faced significant barriers. Demonstrated alignment with CredLens' guiding values, commitment to building a strong and healthy workplace culture, and working in a collaborative environment.    

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to CredLens' organizational vibrancy, employee experience, and mission. We strongly encourage applicants from people of color/the global majority, immigrant, bilingual, and bicultural individuals; people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQIA2S+  and gender nonconforming communities; and people with other diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. We believe every member on the team enriches our workplace by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and discover, design, and deliver critical insights and solutions.
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