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Staff Data Engineer Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Data Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

$129K - $155K/yr

Data Engineer (2+ years - Senior Level) Locations: Arlington / Pentagon, VA, Reston, VA and areas ... These solutions are built to empower 19 key Principal Staff members (Senior Executive Service ...

Data Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

$129K - $155K/yr

Data Engineer (2+ years - Senior Level) Locations: Arlington / Pentagon, VA, Reston, VA and areas ... These solutions are built to empower 19 key Principal Staff members (Senior Executive Service ...

Data Engineer Journeyman

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$116K - $140K/yr

The Data Engineer Journeyman designs, builds, and operates scalable data pipelines and platforms ... S.-only staffing context, with U.S. citizenship required. * Willingness and ability to work ...

Data Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$117K - $140K/yr

Client is seeking a data engineer to grow our team performing cutting edge client work in mission ... staff to include: - Flexible PTO Policy + 11 Paid Holidays - - Flexible Work Schedules (Remote ...

Data Engineer

Centreville, VA · Hybrid

$113K - $136K/yr

Client is seeking a data engineer to grow our team performing cutting edge client work in mission ... staff to include: - Flexible PTO Policy + 11 Paid Holidays - - Flexible Work Schedules (Remote ...

Data Engineer

Centreville, VA · On-site +1

$113K - $136K/yr

Client is seeking a data engineer to grow our team performing cutting edge client work in mission ... staff to include: - Flexible PTO Policy + 11 Paid Holidays - - Flexible Work Schedules (Remote ...

Data Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$200K - $220K/yr

With overwhelming amounts of large data, client is seeking a data engineer to support data ... staff to include: * Flexible PTO Policy + 11 Paid Holidays * Flexible Work Schedules (Remote ...

Data Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$117K - $140K/yr

Client is seeking a data engineer to grow our team performing cutting edge client work in mission ... staff to include: - Flexible PTO Policy + 11 Paid Holidays - - Flexible Work Schedules (Remote ...

Staff Data Scientist

North Bethesda, MD · On-site

$163K - $190K/yr

Xometry is looking for a technically deep and strategically minded Staff Data Scientist to lead a ... Your work will enable engineers to receive real-time manufacturability feedback and pricing the ...

Description We are seeking a talented Data Engineer to support the ingestion of mission-critical ... Syndicus NACON provides service-oriented staffing and recruiting services to small businesses ...

Xometry is looking for a technically deep and strategically minded Staff Data Scientist to lead a ... Your work will enable engineers to receive real-time manufacturability feedback and pricing the ...

AWS Data Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$119K - $143K/yr

Role: AWS Data Engineer Location- Reston, VA( In Person Interview at Herndon VA ) Duration ... Development | Staffing URL: http:/www.sidramtech.com | Email: rachael@sidramtech.com Direct ...

The Data Engineer - Mid designs, develops, and maintains scalable data pipelines, data models, and ... Experience supporting USMC CD&I or other DoD headquarters/staff organizations. AMERICAN SYSTEMS is ...

Data Engineer - Mid

Quantico, VA · On-site

$135K - $155K/yr

The Data Engineer - Mid designs, develops, and maintains scalable data pipelines, data models, and ... Experience supporting USMC CD&I or other DoD headquarters/staff organizations. Pay Transparency ...

Data Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

$129K - $155K/yr

Hands-on data engineering on AWS: Spark ETL (Glue, EMR), Python and PySpark, and S3 data-lake ... S. citizenship (this initial engagement may be staffed by U.S. citizens only) and the ability to ...

Showing results 21-40

Staff Data Engineer information

See Washington salary details

$26.1K

$112.5K

$218K

How much do staff data engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for staff data engineer in Washington is $112,501.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,100.00 and $141,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a staff data engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Staff Data Engineer, you need advanced proficiency in data architecture, programming (such as Python, Java, or Scala), and experience with large-scale data systems, supported by a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with big data tools (Hadoop, Spark), cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure), and relevant certifications like Google Professional Data Engineer or AWS Data Analytics are typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, effective communication, and leadership skills help drive cross-functional projects and mentor junior engineers. These skills ensure the design, implementation, and maintenance of robust data infrastructure that supports organizational decision-making and scalability.

What is a staff data engineer?

Staff Data Engineers are senior-level professionals responsible for designing, building, and maintaining large-scale data processing systems and architectures. They often lead technical initiatives, set data engineering standards, and mentor other engineers within a company. Staff Data Engineers work closely with data scientists, analysts, and other stakeholders to ensure reliable and efficient data pipelines. Their role requires deep expertise in data modeling, ETL processes, distributed systems, and cloud technologies. They play a crucial part in enabling organizations to make data-driven decisions at scale.

How does a staff data engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver data-driven solutions?

As a Staff Data Engineer, you’ll frequently partner with data scientists, analysts, and product managers to understand project requirements and design scalable data systems. You'll be responsible for translating business needs into technical specifications, recommending best practices, and mentoring junior engineers. Collaboration often involves participating in sprint planning, code reviews, and architecture discussions to ensure data solutions are robust, secure, and aligned with organizational goals. Effective communication and a proactive approach to problem-solving are key to successful collaboration in this role.

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

AspectStaff Data EngineerData Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in CS, experience with big data toolsBachelor's in CS or related field, some experience with data pipelines
Work EnvironmentSenior-level, cross-team collaboration, leadership rolesEntry to mid-level, focused on building data pipelines
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, large enterprises, data-driven organizationsStartups, small to medium enterprises, tech firms

The main difference is that a Staff Data Engineer typically has more experience, leadership responsibilities, and works on complex projects across teams, whereas a Data Engineer focuses on developing and maintaining data pipelines at an operational level.

What are popular job titles related to Staff Data Engineer jobs in Washington? For Staff Data Engineer jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Staff Data Engineer job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 45% In-person, 11% Hybrid, and 44% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $112,501 per year, or $54.1 per hour.

Data Engineer

Black Cape

Washington, DC • On-site

$129K - $155K/yr

Full-time

Retirement

Posted 28 days ago


Job description

Black Cape
Title: Data Engineer (2+ years - Senior Level)
Locations: Arlington / Pentagon, VA, Reston, VA and areas throughout the DMV area
ONSITE: Ability to go ONSITE 3-5 days per week
Clearance: MUST have an Active TS/SCI clearance
***MUST HAVE an Active TS/SCI clearance****
***If you do NOT have a US Citizenship AND a Security Clearance issued by a US Government Customer, we will likely not get back to you. It is a REQUIREMENT of the job.***
Black Cape has Won "Best Places to Work" every year in existence by either the Washington Business Journal & Virginia's Best Places to Work!
Want to be a part of an intelligent, talented, dynamic, and FUN team and keep building something GREAT?? Then, you should consider Black Cape!
  • We work with Department of Defense (DoW) and Intelligence Community (IC) customers to accomplish their missions
  • Come join us to work on cloud-native full-stack web applications, advanced data analysis tools, and machine learning capabilities
  • Be a part of a team that is making an impact and HAVE FUN while doing so!

About the company
Black Cape is a unique technology company with a focus on full-stack web applications, advanced data analysis tools, and integrating AI/ML capabilities for federal government customers. We are a COOL and FUN crew that works hard and plays maybe even a little harder. Our core team is an impressive group of engineers with exceptional leadership at the helm.
Black Cape is led by proven business and engineering leaders with a track record of building innovative technology companies focused on building mission applications. We support many programs and agencies as both a prime and a subcontractor and created a strong reputation working with top tier partners doing work for all major Intelligence Community agencies, DoW, and Special Operations customers.
Our engineer-led software teams develop technical solutions on an aggressive schedule across the DoW and IC to meet customer needs. Our engineers apply proven, repeatable software, technical, and analytical approaches to build solutions and have frequent interaction with end users to produce and deploy solutions.
We bring experience in building, integrating and deploying AI/ML solutions using Google TensorFlow, Python scikit-learn, and other tools. Black Cape's approach to solution development combines lessons learned from developing and deploying applications to customer cloud environments with industry best practices in Agile development and DevOps.
What we are Hiring:
Exceptional Data Engineers to ensure data availability (movement, modification, and storage) with Software Engineers and Data Scientists ensuring deployments and scalability for critical users!!
We are considering Mid to Senior Level Data Engineers.
We are expanding and need to hire motivated data engineers to help build innovative solutions for our customers. The ideal candidate needs limited direction and must be passionate about technology. A willingness and desire to pick up new technologies or languages quickly is a must.
Our team builds and deploys cutting-edge AI and Machine Learning applications that directly support national security missions. We leverage the Databricks platform for advanced data science and engineering, and transform complex model outputs into compelling, interactive dashboards using Qlik.
These solutions are built to empower 19 key Principal Staff members (Senior Executive Service members and General Officers) within the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense (OUSD) and the Intelligence community. Our products provide them with the critical, data-driven insights needed for strategic decision-making.
Our work is grounded in successful deployments on JWICS, NIPR, SIPR utilizing AWS, combining commercial best practices in an Agile environment to ensure we deliver impactful capabilities to senior defense leadership.
Required Technical Skills (MUST HAVES):
  • 3+ years of professional experience needed for MOST of our opportunities
  • Python experience with data manipulation, scripting, and more
  • Databricks experience
  • Proficient in designing and implementing Extract Transform Load (ETL) data processes
  • Experience with at least ONE relational database, such as PostgreSQL, MySQL or SQLite
  • Experience with Agile SCRUM methodologies

Preferred Technical Skills (NICE TO HAVES):
  • Familiar with database design, server management, connection protocols, database normalization, and principles of information theory
  • Experience with data cleaning or data organization
  • Familiar with NiFi, SQL, NoSQL and Graph Databases and Data Lakes
  • Familiar with Dashboarding tools similar to Qlik
  • Familiar with Cybersecurity with design and implementation of unique data transfer protocols

Great Benefits | 401K | Competitive Salary | Generous Time Off | Exceptional Team-Building & Fun Company Events | Mentorship & Professional Development Programs | Tuition Reimbursement | Parental Leave Policy