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Entry Data Engineer Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Data Automation Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$99K - $206K/yr

... Entry on Duty (EOD) Suitability - 5+ years of experience in automation engineering, data ... engineering, or software development - Strong programming skills in Python, with experience in data ...

... Entry on Duty (EOD) Suitability - 5+ years of experience in automation engineering, data ... engineering, or software development - Strong programming skills in Python, with experience in data ...

Data Automation Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$77K - $163K/yr

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 ...

Data Automation Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$77K - $163K/yr

Citizenship -ActiveTS/SCIclearance -Abilityto obtainDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS) Entry on Duty (EOD) Suitability -5+ years of experience in automation engineering, data engineering, or ...

... a strong entry point into technology. Companies need people who can transform raw data into ... We Focus on Java /Full stack/Devops and Data Science /Data Engineers/Data analysts/BI Analysts ...

... data engineering and integration responsibilities over time. Experience Level: ENTRY/MID (2-4 years experience) Location: Washington, DC or Plant City, FL Travel Allocation: 0-10% Clearance: Secret ...

... data engineering and integration responsibilities over time. Experience Level: ENTRY/MID (2-4 years experience) Location: Washington, DC or Plant City, FL Travel Allocation: 0-10% Clearance: Secret ...

Showing results 21-40

Entry Data Engineer information

See Washington salary details

$12

$22

$32

How much do entry data engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 25, 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:
Infographic showing various Entry Data Engineer job openings in Washington as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $45,875 per year, or $22.1 per hour.

Data Automation Engineer

Nightwing

Arlington, VA • On-site

$99K - $206K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

Nightwing provides technically advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration and intelligence mission support services to meet our customers' most demanding challenges. Our capabilities include cyber space operations, cyber defense and resiliency, vulnerability research, ubiquitous technical surveillance, data intelligence, lifecycle mission enablement, and software modernization. Nightwing brings disruptive technologies, agility, and competitive offerings to customers in the intelligence community, defense, civil, and commercial markets.
Nightwing is supporting a U.S. Government customer to provide support for onsite incident response to civilian Government agencies and critical asset owners who experience cyber-attacks, providing immediate investigation and resolution. Contract personnel perform investigations to characterize the severity of breaches, develop mitigation plans, and assist with the restoration of services. Nightwing is seeking a Data Automation Engineer to support this critical customer mission.
The Data Automation Engineer will develop and implement automation solutions to support technology integration activities, focusing on data pipeline development, automated analysis workflows, and integration automation. This role addresses manual workflow pain points and enables scaling of technology capabilities through intelligent automation.
Responsibilities:
- Develop automated data pipelines for technology integration initiatives
- Create automation workflows for malware sample collection, detonation, and taxonomy
- Implement data integration automation between pilot and production systems
- Support Automated Malware Analysis (AMA) platform development and enhancement
- Develop scripts and tools to automate repetitive technical tasks
- Create data transformation and normalization automation
- Support AI/ML data preparation and feature engineering automation
- Develop monitoring and alerting automation for integrated systems
- Implement API integrations for data sharing and workflow automation
- Document automation solutions and maintain code repositories
- Support scaling automation from pilot to production environments
- Optimize automation performance and efficiency
- Collaborate with analysts to identify automation opportunities
- Ensure automation solutions maintain data quality and integrity
- Support continuous improvement of automated capabilities
Required Skills:
- U.S. Citizenship
- Active Secret clearance, TS/SCI preferred
- Ability to obtain Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Entry on Duty (EOD) Suitability
- 5+ years of experience in automation engineering, data engineering, or software development
- Strong programming skills in Python, with experience in data manipulation libraries
- Experience developing data pipelines and ETL processes
- Knowledge of automation frameworks and orchestration tools
- Experience with APIs and integration technologies
- Understanding of database systems and data modeling
- Familiarity with version control (Git) and CI/CD practices
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
- Ability to translate business requirements into automated solutions
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Excellent documentation and communication abilities
Desired Skills:
- Experience with malware analysis automation or cybersecurity tools
- Knowledge of AI/ML pipelines and data preparation
- Experience with workflow orchestration tools (Airflow, Prefect)
- Background in cybersecurity or threat intelligence automation
- Experience with containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes)
- Knowledge of streaming data platforms (Kafka, Kinesis)
- Familiarity with big data technologies (Spark, Hadoop)
- Experience supporting federal cybersecurity programs
Required Education:
BS in Computer Science, Data Science, or related degree, or HS Diploma and 7+ years of directly relevant experience
Desired Certifications:
- DoD 8140 IAT Level III
- CSSLP
Syndeo: ESS-3609
Salary & Benefits
The salary associated with this position ($99,000-$206,000) is commensurate with the selected candidate's qualifications, years of relevant experience, and demonstrated level of expertise. Compensation will be determined based on these factors to ensure alignment with skills, responsibilities, and market standards.
Nightwing offers medical, vision and dental insurance coverage in addition to a 401k plan, PTO, Holidays, and additional insurances.
Nightwing is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.