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Senior Principal Data Engineer Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

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 ...

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All JobsPrincipal Data Engineer JobsSenior Principal Data Engineer JobsSenior Principal Data Engineer Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

Senior Principal Data Engineer information

See Silver Spring, MD salary details

$84.8K

$160.7K

$221.7K

How much do senior principal data engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior principal data engineer in Silver Spring, MD is $160,680.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $129,700.00 and $178,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior principal data engineer?

Senior Principal Data Engineers are experienced professionals who design, develop, and oversee large-scale data systems and architectures for organizations. They lead teams in building robust data pipelines, ensure data quality, and implement best practices for data storage, processing, and security. Their role often involves collaborating with data scientists, analysts, and other stakeholders to support data-driven decision-making. They also mentor junior engineers and help set the technical vision for data engineering projects.

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

To thrive as a Senior Principal Data Engineer, you need deep expertise in data architecture, data modeling, distributed systems, and strong proficiency in programming languages like Python, Java, or Scala, often supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with big data technologies (e.g., Hadoop, Spark, Kafka), cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), and relevant certifications such as AWS Certified Data Analytics or Google Professional Data Engineer is highly valuable. Leadership, strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills help you guide teams and align data solutions with business goals. These capabilities are crucial for designing scalable, robust data infrastructure and driving data-driven decision-making at an organizational level.

How does a senior principal data engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams on large-scale projects?

Senior Principal Data Engineers often serve as technical leaders, working closely with data scientists, software engineers, product managers, and business stakeholders to design and implement robust data architectures. They facilitate communication across teams to ensure data solutions align with both technical requirements and business goals. Collaboration may involve leading design discussions, reviewing code, mentoring junior engineers, and establishing best practices for data quality and scalability. Their role is crucial in bridging gaps between technical and non-technical teams, ensuring successful project delivery.

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

AspectSenior Principal Data EngineerLead Data Engineer
CredentialsAdvanced degrees (MSc/PhD), extensive experienceBachelor's or Master's, significant data engineering experience
Work EnvironmentStrategic, architecture design, cross-team collaborationProject execution, team coordination, technical leadership
Industry UsageUsed in large organizations for high-level technical rolesCommon in tech companies and data-driven industries

The Senior Principal Data Engineer focuses on strategic architecture and high-level technical decisions, often working across teams. In contrast, the Lead Data Engineer manages project execution and team coordination. Both roles require strong technical skills, but the Senior Principal typically has more experience and a broader scope of responsibilities.

How much does a senior principal data engineer make?

A senior principal data engineer typically earns between $130,000 and $180,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. They often have advanced skills in data architecture, cloud platforms, and programming languages like Python or Scala, which can influence compensation levels.

What are popular job titles related to Senior Principal Data Engineer jobs in Silver Spring, MD?

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Cities near Silver Spring, MD with the most Senior Principal Data Engineer job openings:

Senior Principal Data Engineer jobs near you

Principal Data Engineer - Mission Data Pipelines

Galaxia Technologies Inc.

Reston, VA • On-site

$119K - $143K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 2 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
Galaxia Technologies Inc. is a company that blends technical expertise with agile thinking to deliver impactful solutions in national defense. They are seeking a Principal Data Engineer to design and maintain mission data pipelines that support the Department of the Air Force, focusing on secure and automated data flows for mission systems.
Responsibilities:
• Analyze mission workflows and DIFC2 system architectures to identify critical mission data artifacts.
• Define the structure, semantics, and lifecycle of DIFC2 mission data products.
• Ensure data standards support interoperability, traceability, and reuse across mission components.
• Serve as the technical liaison defining data exchange interfaces between DIFC2 and external mission systems.
• Collaborate with mission partners to define schema, formats, data transports, and integration expectations.
• Document interface specifications to ensure sustained system interoperability and mission assurance.
• Support the Risk Management Framework (RMF) process by defining secure technical data exchanges.
• Contribute to compliance documentation including data message definitions, PPSM (Ports, Protocols, and Services Management) entries, and topology diagrams.
• Work with cybersecurity teams to ensure data pipelines meet DoD security and RMF requirements.
• Design, implement, and maintain scalable ETL and data transformation pipelines for ingesting, persisting, and distributing mission-relevant data.
• Use low-code/no-code orchestration technologies (e.g., Apache NiFi, Apache Airflow) and custom tools to deliver automated solutions.
• Develop and maintain transformation logic in Python, leveraging libraries such as Pandas and NumPy as needed.
• Implement API endpoints and service interfaces (REST or platform-native) for downstream mission use.
• Ensure validation, normalization, and transformation processes maintain data accuracy and integrity.
• Establish monitoring, logging, and alerting mechanisms to maintain pipeline reliability and performance at scale.
• Deliver fully operational pipelines enabling automated ingestion and dissemination of DIFC2 mission data.
• Develop technical documentation detailing purpose, source systems, transformation logic, and access methods.
• Produce RMF artifacts and interface documentation supporting ongoing accreditation and audit readiness.
• Continuously refine data pipeline performance to meet evolving mission needs and operational tempo.
Qualifications:
Required:
• 9+ years of relevant experience and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or a related technical field; or 7+ years with a master’s degree, or 4+ years with a Ph.D. in a related discipline.
• 7+ years in software engineering, system integration, or data platform development in DoD, IC, or complex mission environments.
• Expertise in designing and implementing data pipelines, ETL workflows, and integration architectures.
• Experience working with structured and semi-structured data (JSON, XML, CSV, etc.).
• Active Top Secret clearance with eligibility to obtain and maintain SCI/SAP access and consent to a polygraph.
Preferred:
• Experience with Apache NiFi, Apache Airflow, or other orchestration ETL tools.
• Python proficiency, including data transformation and analytics libraries.
• Palantir Foundry Data Engineering experience (Pipeline Builder, AIP Logic, etc.).
• Experience fusing large-scale, multi-source datasets into operational pipelines.
• Familiarity with DoD mission data architectures and interoperability frameworks.
• Exceptional communication skills translating complex technical details into operational context for government and mission partners.
Company:
Founded in , the company is headquartered in Los Angeles, USA, with a team of 11-50 employees. The company is currently Early Stage.

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