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Principal Data Engineer Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Navy Federal Credit Union

Principal Data Engineer

Vienna, VA · On-site

$114K - $138K/yr

The Principal Data Engineer will provide senior-level engineering expertise, architectural direction, and technical ownership across enterprise Data and Analytics Modernization initiatives. This role ...

Leidos

Principal Data Engineer

Bethesda, MD · On-site

Leidos has an exciting opportunity for a Data Engineer in our Intel Sector's Analysis Solutions Business Area . Our talented team is at the forefront in Security Engineering, Computer Network ...

Leidos

Principal Data Engineer

Bethesda, MD · On-site

Leidos has an exciting opportunity for a Data Engineer in our Intel Sector's Analysis Solutions Business Area . Our talented team is at the forefront in Security Engineering, Computer Network ...

Leidos

Principal Data Engineer

Bethesda, MD · On-site

Leidos has an exciting opportunity for a Data Engineer in their Intel Sector's Analysis Solutions Business Area. The role involves designing, developing, and administering a Next Generation ...

Jobtailor

Principal Data Engineer

Vienna, VA · On-site

$150 - $190/hr

* Provide technical leadership and hands‑on engineering expertise for Enterprise Data and Analytics Modernization initiatives across data engineering, analytics, reporting, and data consumption

New

IC-CAP LLC

Senior Principal Data Engineer 114-005

Herndon, VA · On-site

$129K - $177K/yr

Senior Principal DATA ENGINEER : The selected candidate will perform data engineering associated with synchronizing new and existing systems for DIA as part of the Five Eyes partner alliance. The ...

MasterCard

Senior Principal, Data Engineering

Arlington, VA · On-site

$144K - $199K/yr

Mastercard Services Technology is seeking a Senior Principal Data Engineer to help drive our mission of unlocking the full potential of our data assets through innovation, automation, and engineering ...

eSimplicity

Principal Data Lead

Columbia, MD · On-site

$188K - $200K/yr

Our engineers, designers, and strategists cut through complexity to create intuitive products and ... Position overview The Principal Data Lead will lead data strategy execution, data supply chain ...

eSimplicity

Principal Data Lead

Columbia, MD · On-site

$188K - $200K/yr

Our engineers, designers, and strategists cut through complexity to create intuitive products and ... Position overview The Principal Data Lead will lead data strategy execution, data supply chain ...

eSimplicity

Principal Data Lead

Columbia, MD · On-site

$188K - $200K/yr

Our engineers, designers, and strategists cut through complexity to create intuitive products and ... Position overview The Principal Data Lead will lead data strategy execution, data supply chain ...

Capital One

Principal Data Analyst

Mclean, VA · On-site

Principal Data Analyst At Capital One, data is at the center of everything we do. When we launched ... Degree specialized in a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics discipline * Scripting ...

Capital One

Principal Data Analyst

Mclean, VA · On-site

Principal Data Analyst At Capital One, data is at the center of everything we do. When we launched ... Degree specialized in a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics discipline * Scripting ...

Capital One

Principal Data Analyst

Mclean, VA · On-site

Principal Data Analyst At Capital One, data is at the center of everything we do. When we launched ... Degree specialized in a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics discipline * Scripting ...

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All JobsPrincipal Data Engineer JobsPrincipal Data Engineer Jobs in Washington

Principal Data Engineer information

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$83.8K

$166.7K

$240.7K

How much do principal data engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal data engineer in Washington is $166,741.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $134,200.00 and $195,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal data engineer?

A Principal Data Engineer is a senior-level technical role responsible for designing, building, and maintaining large-scale data infrastructure. They lead data engineering teams, establish best practices, and ensure efficient data pipelines to support analytics and machine learning. This role involves working with cloud platforms, big data technologies, and distributed systems to optimize data processing. Principal Data Engineers collaborate with data scientists, analysts, and business stakeholders to drive data-driven decision-making. Their work is critical in enabling organizations to leverage data effectively for insights and innovation.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a principal data engineer?

As a Principal Data Engineer, your day-to-day responsibilities generally include designing and optimizing large-scale data pipelines, developing architectural strategies, and overseeing the implementation of robust data solutions. You'll collaborate closely with data scientists, analysts, and software engineers to ensure the organization's data infrastructure is efficient, scalable, and secure. You may also mentor junior team members, review code, and set data engineering best practices. This role frequently requires balancing hands-on technical work with strategic planning and stakeholder communication to align data initiatives with business goals.

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

To thrive as a Principal Data Engineer, you need a deep understanding of data architecture, data modeling, ETL development, and distributed computing, often supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Proficiency with technologies such as Hadoop, Spark, Python, SQL, and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud), as well as certifications in relevant tools or data engineering, is highly valuable. Strong leadership, problem-solving skills, and effective cross-functional communication are essential soft skills for this role. These combined abilities enable Principal Data Engineers to design scalable data solutions, drive engineering best practices, and lead complex projects to successful completion.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Principal Data Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Data Engineer job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $166,741 per year, or $80.2 per hour.

Principal Data Engineer

Navy Federal Credit Union

Vienna, VA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago

Navy Federal Credit Union rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 276 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

65th of 154 rated financial services

Job description


Navy Federal Credit Union currently does not provide sponsorship for this role. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future sponsorship.
The Principal Data Engineer will provide senior-level engineering expertise, architectural direction, and technical ownership across enterprise Data and Analytics Modernization initiatives. This role is responsible for advancing the organization's data strategy by modernizing legacy data and analytics ecosystems, enabling trusted and governed data products, and accelerating AI and analytics capabilities through scalable, cloud-native architectures.
The role will design and implement scalable cloud data pipelines, modernize legacy Analytical Data Stores and BI workloads, strengthen data quality controls, automate validation and reconciliation processes, and enable governed data consumption through enterprise data platform powered by Azure, Databricks, Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Tableau, Alation, and related tools.
Responsibilities
  • Provide technical leadership and hands-on engineering expertise for Enterprise Data and Analytics Modernization initiatives across data engineering, analytics, reporting, and data consumption.
  • Design, develop, and optimize scalable batch, near real-time, and real-time data pipelines using Spark, Python, SQL, Databricks, Microsoft Fabric, Azure Data Factory, and related Azure cloud services.
  • Modernize legacy Analytical Data Store and BI workloads by migrating fragmented reporting and data assets into secure, standardized, governed, and cloud-native analytics platforms.
  • Lead the design and implementation of API-driven and event-based data onboarding patterns leveraging enterprise API management, integration, and streaming platforms (Gravitee, MuleSoft, Kafka, and related technologies) to deliver secure, scalable, and reusable data ingestion capabilities for analytics, AI, and data products.
  • Establish reusable engineering ETL frameworks, design patterns, and automation capabilities for ingestion, transformation, validation, reconciliation, monitoring, and production support.
  • Implement automated data quality validation, reconciliation controls, exception handling, alerting, monitoring, SLA management, and production readiness practices.
  • Enable metadata management, lineage, cataloging, and access governance through tools such as Unity Catalog, Alation, and related governance capabilities.
  • Partners with data architects, analysts, product owners, business stakeholders, governance teams, and platform teams to translate business needs into scalable technical solutions.
  • Guide engineering teams through architecture reviews, implementation decisions, coding practices, design standards, performance tuning, and operational resilience improvements.
  • Ensure compliance with Navy Federal, industry engineering, information security, data governance, and regulatory expectations for secure and reliable data solutions.
  • Support Agile delivery, DevSecOps practices, CI/CD deployment, release readiness, defect resolution, and production support for critical modernization deliverables.
  • Mentor senior and mid-level engineers, promote engineering excellence, and drive adoption of enterprise standards for cloud data engineering and analytics modernization.

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in information systems, Computer Science, Engineering, Data Engineering, or a related field, or the equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
  • Advanced hands-on expertise in Spark, Python, SQL, Databricks, Azure Data Factory, Microsoft Fabric, and cloud-native data integration, transformation, and analytics solutions.
  • Strong experience in designing, building, and supporting scalable data pipelines, lakehouse architecture, data warehouses, data marts, and analytical data stores.
  • Expertise in automated data quality validation, data reconciliation, metadata management, lineage, monitoring, alerting, error handling, and SLA management.
  • Experience with governance and catalog platforms such as Unity Catalog, Alation, or similar tools.
  • Experience with BI and analytics platforms such as Power BI, Tableau, Microsoft Fabric, and enterprise reporting modernization patterns.
  • Working knowledge of Azure DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, Agile delivery, production deployment, and operational support practices.
  • Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to business stakeholders, technology leaders, engineers, and cross-functional delivery teams.
  • Strong problem-solving skills, architectural judgment, ownership mindset, and ability to lead delivery in complex, highly regulated enterprise environments.

Desired Qualifications
  • Master's degree in computer science, Information Technology, Engineering, Analytics, or a related discipline.
  • Experience modernizing legacy BI environments, Analytical Data Stores, and on-premises reporting platforms into Azure, Databricks, Microsoft Fabric, or similar cloud-native solutions.
  • Experience supporting enterprise Analytics Data Modernization across business, operational, risk, finance, member, or enterprise data and analytics domains.
  • Experience with AI-ready data product design, feature preparation, data observability, and governed self-service analytics capabilities.
  • Knowledge of financial services data governance, regulatory traceability, audit readiness, data privacy, information security, and operational risk management expectations.
  • Demonstrated ability to mentor engineering teams, establish reusable frameworks, influence technical standards, and drive enterprise-scale modernization outcomes.

Additional Information
Hours:
  • Monday - Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM

Location:
  • 820 Follin Lane, Vienna, VA 22180

About Us
Navy Federal provides much more than a job. We provide a meaningful career experience, including a culture that is energized, engaged and committed; and fierce appreciation for our teams, who are rewarded with highly competitive pay and generous benefits and perks.
Our approach to careers is simple yet powerful: Make our mission your passion.
  • FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® 2025
  • Yello and WayUp Top 100 Internship Programs
  • Computerworld® Best Places to Work in IT
  • Newsweek Most Loved Workplaces
  • 2025 PEOPLE® Companies That Care
  • Newsweek Most Trustworthy Companies in America
  • Military Times 2025 Best for Vets Employers
  • Best Companies for Latinos to Work for 2025
  • Forbes® 2025 America's Best Large Employers
  • Forbes® 2025 America's Best Employers for New Grads
  • Forbes® 2025 America's Best Employers for Tech Workers
  • 2025 RippleMatch Campus Forward Award Winner for Overall Excellence
  • Military.com Top Military Spouse Employers 2025
  • 2025 Handshake Early Talent Award

From Fortune. ©2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license. Fortune and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of, Navy Federal Credit Union.
Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, sex, color, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or any other basis protected by applicable law.
Accommodations: If you need accommodation or assistance for a qualifying condition to complete the online application (or during any stage of the hiring process), you can contact Navy Federal's Medical Accommodations team at medicalaccommodations@navyfederal.org or by calling 1-888-503-6013. This team cannot provide any information on job postings or application status.
Disclaimers: Navy Federal reserves the right to fill this role at a higher/lower grade level based on business need. An assessment may be required to compete for this position. Job postings are subject to close early or extend out longer than the anticipated closing date at the hiring team's discretion based on qualified applicant volume. Navy Federal Credit Union assesses market data to establish salary ranges that enable us to remain competitive. You are paid within the salary range, based on your experience, location and market position. For additional details regarding compensation and benefits, review the Benefits page of the Navy Federal Career Site.
Protect Yourself from Job Scams: Navy Federal Credit Union jobs are posted on our career site, jobs.navyfederal.org and reputable job boards (e.g., LinkedIn, Indeed). We do not post jobs on social media marketplaces, messaging apps or unverified websites. We will never ask candidates for payment, bank details or personal financial information during the hiring process.
Bank Secrecy Act: Remains cognizant of and adheres to Navy Federal policies and procedures, and regulations pertaining to the Bank Secrecy Act.

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About Navy Federal Credit Union

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Navy Federal Credit Union, based in Vienna, Virginia, United States, is a significant player in the financial services industry. Their official website is navyfederal.org. With its roots dating back to 1933, it was initially established to provide credit to Navy members. Over the years, Navy Federal has magnified its scope, evolving into a full-service credit union serving all branches of the military, the Department of Defense, veterans, and their families. The company’s core values include integrity, service, education, and leadership. Navy Federal aims to be the most preferred and trusted financial institution serving the military and their families.

Industry

Finance and insurance

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Vienna, VA, US

Year founded

1933

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