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Entry Level Junior Data Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Data Engineer Junior

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$118K - $141K/yr

Position Overview The Junior Data Engineer supports the design, development, and maintenance of data pipelines and infrastructure that enable efficient data ingestion, processing, and storage within ...

Data Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

$129K - $155K/yr

Analytica is seeking Data Engineers across multiple experience levels--from junior to senior--to join our growing team and support the design and development of scalable data platforms and analytics ...

This is an entry level role requiring the individual to have the aptitude to learn and to ... Experience with programming languages such as Python, R Studio, SQL * Familiarity in working with ...

Data Engineer

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$110K - $132K/yr

... Junior Data Engineer to join Waystar's Business Data & Architecture team and support our data modernization journey on Google Cloud Platform (GCP). This is an entry-level role, ideal for a recent ...

Data Engineer

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$110K - $132K/yr

... Junior Data Engineer to join Waystar's Business Data & Architecture team and support our data modernization journey on Google Cloud Platform (Google Cloud Platform). This is an entry-level role ...

Data Engineer

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$110K - $132K/yr

... Junior Data Engineer to join Waystar's Business Data & Architecture team and support our data modernization journey on Google Cloud Platform (GCP). This is an entry-level role, ideal for a recent ...

Data Engineer

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$110K - $132K/yr

... Junior Data Engineer to join Waystar's Business Data & Architecture team and support our data modernization journey on Google Cloud Platform (GCP). This is an entry-level role, ideal for a recent ...

Showing results 41-60

Entry Level Junior Data Engineer information

See salary details

$33.5K

$71.8K

$109.5K

How much do entry level junior data engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level junior data engineer in the United States is $71,799.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48,500.00 and $80,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an entry level junior data engineer do?

An Entry Level Junior Data Engineer helps build and maintain the systems that collect, store, and process large amounts of data for a company. They typically assist in setting up data pipelines, cleaning and organizing raw data, and supporting more senior data engineers in managing databases and cloud storage solutions. Their work ensures that data is accessible, reliable, and ready for analysis by data scientists and analysts. Junior data engineers often use programming languages like Python or SQL and may work with big data tools such as Hadoop or Spark.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry level junior data engineer?

To thrive as an Entry Level Junior Data Engineer, you need a solid understanding of programming languages (such as Python or SQL), data modeling, and database systems, usually backed by a relevant degree or coursework. Familiarity with data warehousing tools, ETL pipelines, and platforms like AWS or Azure is commonly expected, along with experience using version control systems like Git. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are vital soft skills for collaborating with teams and handling data issues. These skills and qualities ensure data integrity, efficient workflow, and successful support of business intelligence initiatives.

What are some common challenges faced by entry level junior data engineers when transitioning from academic projects to real-world data pipelines?

One common challenge for Entry Level Junior Data Engineers is adapting to the complexity and scale of real-world data systems, which often involve messy, incomplete, or inconsistent data from multiple sources. Unlike academic projects, production environments require strict attention to data quality, security, and efficient processing. Junior engineers may also need to learn how to work within established team workflows, use version control, and collaborate closely with data scientists, analysts, and senior engineers to support business objectives. Building strong communication skills and proactively asking for feedback can help overcome these initial hurdles and accelerate professional growth.
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What are the most commonly searched types of Junior Data Engineer jobs?

The most popular types of Junior Data Engineer jobs are:

Infographic showing various Entry Level Junior Data Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Part Time. Highlights an 50% In-person, 25% Hybrid, and 25% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $71,799 per year, or $34.5 per hour.

Data Engineer Junior

ASM Research

Fairfax, VA • On-site

$118K - $141K/yr

Other

Posted 26 days ago


ASM Research rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 14 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

32nd of 224 rated it services


Job description

Position Overview
The Junior Data Engineer supports the design, development, and maintenance of data pipelines and infrastructure that enable efficient data ingestion, processing, and storage within a regulated enterprise environment. The role focuses on building scalable data workflows, implementing transformation logic, and ensuring data quality and integrity across mission-critical systems for analytics and reporting. The engineer collaborates with analysts, data scientists, and security teams to deliver reliable datasets, contribute to data governance and lineage tracking, and drive continuous improvement of data platform performance and reliability.
Key Responsibilities
  • Develop, operate, and maintain automated ETL/ELT pipelines using tools such as Python, SQL, or Spark to process structured and unstructured data across enterprise data platforms.
  • Implement data models, schemas, and storage solutions in relational and non-relational databases, including data lakes and data warehouses, to support analytics and reporting requirements.
  • Apply data quality validation techniques, including anomaly detection, schema enforcement, and automated testing frameworks, to ensure accuracy, completeness, and consistency of data.
  • Support orchestration and scheduling of data pipelines using workflow managers such as Apache Airflow or similar tools, ensuring reliable, repeatable execution.
  • Optimize data processing performance through indexing, partitioning, and distributed computing approaches to meet latency and throughput targets.
  • Implement data security controls, including encryption, access management, and adherence to applicable federal data protection standards, in coordination with security teams.
  • Track and document data lineage and metadata in support of data governance, auditability, and regulatory reporting expectations.
  • Troubleshoot pipeline failures, latency issues, and data inconsistencies across integrated systems, coordinating with cross-functional teams to resolve root causes.
  • Collaborate with data scientists, analysts, and business stakeholders to translate analytics requirements into scalable, maintainable data solutions and improvements to the data platform.

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Engineering, or a related field; or equivalent relevant experience in data engineering or data development.
  • Typically 1-3 years of experience in data engineering, data development, or a closely related field supporting data pipelines, databases, or analytics platforms.
  • Hands-on experience with Python and SQL for building data pipelines, transformations, and queries; exposure to distributed processing frameworks such as Spark is strongly preferred.
  • Experience working with both relational and non-relational data stores (e.g., SQL databases, NoSQL, data lakes, or warehouses) in an enterprise or federal IT environment.
  • Familiarity with data quality practices, including validation rules, automated testing, and monitoring of data reliability.
  • Must have a current SECRET-level security clearance as required by the client environment.
  • U.S. Citizenship required to meet federal staffing and clearance requirements.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with cloud data services on platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud (e.g., managed databases, data lakes, orchestration services).
  • Familiarity with big data ecosystems such as Hadoop or Spark, including experience tuning jobs or managing distributed data processing.
  • Exposure to data governance frameworks, metadata management, and lineage tools in regulated or federal environments.
  • Experience working with workflow orchestration tools such as Apache Airflow or similar schedulers in production environments.

Compensation Ranges
Compensation ranges for ASM Research positions vary depending on multiple factors; including but not limited to, location, skill set, level of education, certifications, client requirements, contract-specific affordability, government clearance and investigation level, and years of experience. The compensation displayed for this role is a general guideline based on these factors and is unique to each role. Monetary compensation is one component of ASM's overall compensation and benefits package for employees.
EEO Requirements
It is the policy of ASM that an individual's race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation or national origin are not and will not be considered in any personnel or management decisions. We affirm our commitment to these fundamental policies.
All recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting for all job classifications is done without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, or age. All decisions on employment are made to abide by the principle of equal employment.
Physical Requirements
The physical requirements described in "Knowledge, Skills and Abilities" above are representative of those which must be met by an employee to successfully perform the primary functions of this job. (For example, "light office duties' or "lifting up to 50 pounds" or "some travel" required.) Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with qualifying disabilities, who are otherwise qualified, to perform the primary functions.
Disclaimer
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

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