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Lead Data Engineer Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Lead Data Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$160K - $230K/yr

We are looking for a visionary Lead Data Engineers to guide our engineering efforts in designing, building, and optimizing high-throughput big data solutions. In this role, you will lead automated ...

Lead Data Engineer (Bank Tech) Do you love building and pioneering in the technology space? Do you enjoy solving complex business problems in a fast-paced, collaborative, inclusive, and iterative ...

Lead Data Engineer (Bank Tech) Do you love building and pioneering in the technology space? Do you enjoy solving complex business problems in a fast-paced, collaborative, inclusive, and iterative ...

Lead Data Engineer

Bethesda, MD

$122K - $146K/yr

You'll lead a team that owns the AI self-service portal and the related set of microservices. You'll work with a cross-functional team of engineers to contribute to our data platform. The role also ...

Lead Data Engineer

Bethesda, MD · On-site +1

$122K - $146K/yr

You'll lead a team that owns the AI self-service portal and the related set of microservices. You'll work with a cross-functional team of engineers to contribute to our data platform. The role also ...

Lead Data Engineer - Payment Networks

Mclean, VA · On-site

$103K - $136K/yr

Lead Data Engineer - Payment Networks Do you love building and pioneering in the technology space? Do you enjoy solving complex business problems in a fast-paced, collaborative, inclusive, and ...

Lead Data Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$158 - $237/hr

Job Summary This job leads in the design and management of sophisticated data engineering solutions ... Support a culture of inclusion in how you work and lead. * Do what's right for each other, our ...

New

Lead Data Engineer - Payment Networks

Mclean, VA · On-site

$103K - $136K/yr

Lead Data Engineer - Payment Networks Do you love building and pioneering in the technology space? Do you enjoy solving complex business problems in a fast-paced, collaborative, inclusive, and ...

Lead Data Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$158 - $237/hr

Job Summary This job leads in the design and management of sophisticated data engineering solutions ... Support a culture of inclusion in how you work and lead. * Do what's right for each other, our ...

Lead Data Engineer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$103K - $136K/yr

Lead Data Engineer Do you love building and pioneering in the technology space? Do you enjoy solving complex business problems in a fast-paced, collaborative, inclusive, and iterative delivery ...

Lead Data Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$158K - $237K/yr

Job Summary This job leads in the design and management of sophisticated data engineering solutions ... Support a culture of inclusion in how you work and lead. * Do what's right for each other, our ...

Senior Lead Data Engineer (Bank Tech) Do you love building and pioneering in the technology space? Do you enjoy solving complex business problems in a fast-paced, collaborative, inclusive, and ...

New

Showing results 41-60

Lead Data Engineer information

See Washington salary details

$48.1K

$140.2K

$204.4K

How much do lead data engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead data engineer in Washington is $140,198.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $116,100.00 and $152,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a lead data engineer?

Lead Data Engineers are senior professionals responsible for designing, building, and managing large-scale data systems and architectures within an organization. They oversee data engineering teams, set technical standards, and ensure efficient data flow and storage. Their role involves collaborating with data scientists, analysts, and other stakeholders to deliver reliable data solutions that support business goals. Lead Data Engineers also mentor junior engineers and help define best practices and strategies for data management.

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

To thrive as a Lead Data Engineer, you need advanced expertise in data architecture, database design, and programming languages like Python or Scala, typically supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with big data technologies (e.g., Hadoop, Spark), cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), and relevant certifications such as Google Professional Data Engineer are highly valued. Strong leadership, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication help drive team performance and translate business needs into technical solutions. These skills ensure robust, scalable data pipelines and successful collaboration across technical and business stakeholders.

How does a lead data engineer typically collaborate with data scientists and other engineering teams?

As a Lead Data Engineer, you play a central role in bridging the gap between raw data and actionable insights. You’ll collaborate closely with data scientists to understand their requirements, ensuring data pipelines deliver clean, reliable datasets for modeling and analysis. Additionally, you’ll work with software engineers and DevOps teams to integrate data solutions into production systems, maintain data infrastructure, and uphold best practices for data governance and security. Effective communication and cross-functional teamwork are key aspects of this role.

What is the difference between Lead Data Engineer vs Data Engineer?

AspectLead Data EngineerData Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS, Data Science, or related; often certifications in cloud platforms or data toolsBachelor's in CS, Data Science, or related; similar certifications
Work EnvironmentLeads data projects, mentors teams, designs architectureBuilds data pipelines, maintains databases, implements data solutions
Industry UsageUsed in organizations with complex data needs, overseeing data teamsCommon in companies handling large-scale data processing

The main difference is that Lead Data Engineers oversee data projects and teams, focusing on architecture and strategy, while Data Engineers focus on building and maintaining data pipelines. Both roles require similar skills and certifications, but the Lead Data Engineer has additional leadership responsibilities.

What are the most commonly searched types of Lead Data Engineer jobs in Washington?

The most popular types of Lead Data Engineer jobs in Washington are:

What are popular job titles related to Lead Data Engineer jobs in Washington?

For Lead Data Engineer jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Lead Data Engineer jobs in Washington look for?

The top searched job categories for Lead Data Engineer jobs in Washington are:

What cities in Washington are hiring for Lead Data Engineer jobs?

Cities in Washington with the most Lead Data Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Lead Data Engineer job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $140,198 per year, or $67.4 per hour.

Lead Data Engineer

Nyla Technology Solutions

Arlington, VA • On-site

$160K - $230K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired 2 days ago. Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

Job Description

*AWAITING FINAL AWARD*


At Nyla, we are proud to deliver solutions that make a real impact!  We are looking for a visionary Lead Data Engineers  to guide our engineering efforts in designing, building, and optimizing high-throughput big data solutions.


In this role, you will lead automated big-data extraction and ingestion pipelines using Unity Catalog and PySpark while steering team strategy. You'll drive the core Data Observability Layer for the platform, direct technical execution, and support delivery in Enterprise Platform Data Observability, and solve complex enterprise analytic challenges. You will be building "enterprise capabilities" within the Department of War's authoritative data analytics platform (War Data Platform) for the Chief Digital and AI Officer (DoW CDAO).


Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead the development and operation of end-to-end, automated data ingestion pipelines using PySpark and Databricks.

  • Guide the team in maintaining and optimizing data structures using Delta Tables to enable seamless data versioning, backups, and rollback safeguards.

  • Partner with Platform and Solution Architects to align architecture, connecting Delta Tables with Vector Databases while strictly enforcing Role-Based Access Controls (RBAC).

  • Mentor engineers, oversee technical delivery, and uphold high engineering standards across data reliability and observability initiatives.


The annual base salary range for this role is $160,000-$230,000 (USD) , which does not include discretionary bonus compensation or our comprehensive benefits package. Actual compensation offered to the successful candidate may vary from posted hiring range based upon geographic location, work experience, education, and/or skill level, among other things.

, Required Skills
  • Big Data Pipelines: Expertise in Python, PySpark, and Databricks for building and operating end-to-end automated data ingestion pipelines.

  • Data Architecture Management: Hands-on experience with Delta Lake Architecture, Delta Tables, and Unity Catalog to manage versioning, backups, and rollbacks.

  • Automation Querying: Strong proficiency in SQL and ETL/ELT automation practices.

  • Access Integration: Familiarity with Role-Based Access Controls (RBAC) and connecting data structures to Vector Databases.

  • Clearance: Active Top Secret, SCI Eligible

  • Experience: 10+ years of progressive professional experience in data engineering, software engineering, or a related technical discipline (Levels III and IV).
    • Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Technology, or a related field.

    • Work Location: Arlington County, VA (Hybrid)
, Desired Skills
  • Strong track record of technical mentorship and leading collaborative engineering efforts alongside Platform and Solution Architects.

  • Exceptional problem-solving skills focused on driving scalable, high-throughput solutions.

  • Passion for fostering team innovation in delivering high-impact data reliability and observability tools.

, About Nyla Technology Solutions

Nyla Technology Solutions delivers exceptional Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, and Software Engineering services for the U.S. Government. Nyla embraces a forward-thinking and bold approach at every turn,  earning us a solid reputation of technical trendsetters within the industry. We have a passion for developing solutions that have a quick and immediate impact on mission. Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, our customers love how we tackle their most challenging problems and get things done.


If you have the unique experience and expertise we are seeking, along with the desire and determination to invest your time and energy as a part of Nyla’s team, 


Taking Care of All of You

Nyla provides a top-of-market compensation and benefits package. And through our unique Nyla FLEX program, we custom tailor these benefits to best fit your lifestyle. 


The Nyla FLEX benefit program is designed to offer you flexibility in the 3 biggest areas of your life: your pay, your leave, and your schedule. 


PAY - Nyla starts with 4 weeks of Annual Leave plus 11 holidays and an additional day of Annual Leave for each year you’re at the company. You have the flexibility to cash out your annual leave hours, opt out of other Nyla benefits, and/or arrange for additional hours on contract* (over 40 hrs/week). There’s even an option to earn 1.3 times your hourly rate once you work over 1880 hours on contract!


LEAVE - Want to spend more time with the family? Want more time to travel the world? You can BUY additional annual leave for a total of 6 weeks of annual leave. That’s up to 240 hours of leave plus 11 holidays! That’s not even including paid anniversary leave!


SCHEDULE - Does the traditional 40-hour workweek no longer fit your lifestyle? With Nyla FLEX, you have the freedom to scale down to 30-32 hours while still enjoying the top-notch Nyla benefits you know and love. It's flexibility that works for you without compromising the perks!


WHAT ABOUT OTHER BENEFITS?  Nyla’s health care (medical, dental, and vision) is 100% covered by the company. We provide 10% 401k matching - with full vesting day 1! Our Professional Development offers $5,000 per year to be used towards fees, tuition, or time off for your continued growth. We even have a student loan repayment program and we provide 8 hours of volunteering annually so you can support your community, making your world a better place.  


To learn more about Nyla's culture and our exceptional benefit packages click here.

Nyla is an equal opportunity employer.