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Variable Data Programmer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Data Engineer - Senior Consultant

Mclean, VA · On-site

$115K - $139K/yr

Job Family: Data Engineering & Architecture Consulting Travel Required: Up to 10% Clearance ... Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus * Parental Leave and Adoption ...

Data Engineer - Senior Consultant

Mclean, VA

$115K - $139K/yr

Job Family: Data Engineering & Architecture Consulting Travel Required: Up to 10% Clearance ... Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus * Parental Leave and Adoption ...

Job Family: Data Engineering & Architecture Consulting Travel Required: Up to 10% Clearance ... Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus * Parental Leave and Adoption ...

Job Family: Data Engineering & Architecture Consulting Travel Required: Up to 10% Clearance ... Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus * Parental Leave and Adoption ...

Job Family: Data Engineering & Architecture Consulting Travel Required: Up to 10% Clearance ... Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus * Parental Leave and Adoption ...

Job Family: Data Engineering & Architecture Consulting Travel Required: Up to 10% Clearance ... Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus * Parental Leave and Adoption ...

Job Family: Data Engineering & Architecture Consulting Travel Required: Up to 10% Clearance ... Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus * Parental Leave and Adoption ...

Collaborate with data engineers, developers, and stakeholders to operationalize models within ... Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus * Parental Leave and Adoption ...

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Variable Data Programmer information

See Virginia salary details

$15

$27

$46

How much do variable data programmer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for variable data programmer in Virginia is $27.90, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.44 and $29.57 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Variable Data Programmer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Variable Data Programmer, you need a solid background in programming languages (such as SQL, JavaScript, or Python), strong data manipulation skills, and familiarity with print production or direct mail environments. Experience with variable data printing software (like EFI Fiery, XMPie, or Quadient Inspire) and knowledge of workflow automation tools are highly valued, and certifications in these platforms can enhance your qualifications. Excellent problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication are essential soft skills for managing complex variable data projects and working with cross-functional teams. These skills are critical for ensuring accurate, efficient, and customized data-driven output in high-volume, deadline-driven production settings.

What are some common challenges Variable Data Programmers face, and how are they addressed?

Variable Data Programmers often encounter challenges such as handling large and complex data sets, ensuring precise personalization, and troubleshooting data or formatting errors in print and digital outputs. Success in this role requires a meticulous approach to data validation, rigorous testing of templates, and efficient communication with designers, account managers, and IT staff to resolve any issues quickly. Many organizations invest in ongoing training and collaborative workflow tools to help programmers stay updated on best practices. By leveraging advanced software, thorough quality checks, and strong teamwork, most common challenges can be managed effectively, ensuring a smooth and accurate production process.

What is a Variable Data Programmer job?

A Variable Data Programmer is responsible for creating and managing dynamic, data-driven print and digital communications. They use specialized software to integrate variable text, images, and barcodes into templates for personalized output. This role requires expertise in programming languages like JavaScript, VBScript, or SQL, as well as proficiency in data manipulation and workflow automation. Their work is commonly used in direct mail, billing statements, and marketing materials to ensure accurate and efficient customization.

What are popular job titles related to Variable Data Programmer jobs in Virginia? For Variable Data Programmer jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Variable Data Programmer jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Variable Data Programmer jobs in Virginia are:
Infographic showing various Variable Data Programmer job openings in Virginia as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $58,034 per year, or $27.9 per hour.
Data Engineer - Senior Consultant

Data Engineer - Senior Consultant

Guidehouse

Mclean, VA • On-site

$115K - $139K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 27 days ago


Guidehouse rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 26 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

37th of 58 rated business consultants


Job description

Job Family:
Data Engineering & Architecture Consulting
Travel Required:
Up to 10%
Clearance Required:
Ability to Obtain Public Trust
What You Will Do:
  • Develop and maintain scalable data ingestion, transformation, and curation pipelines using Databricks (Delta Lake, Delta Live Tables, Auto Loader) and AWS services, supporting consistent delivery of analytics-ready datasets across the Data Platform.
  • Implement standardized batch and near real-time data pipelines that integrate legacy systems and cloud-native data sources, contributing to enterprise-wide data access, reuse, and platform consistency.
  • Support full data pipeline lifecycle activities, including intake, requirements analysis, source profiling, and technical implementation, aligning development work with defined intake processes, SLAs, and governance.
  • Build production-ready data pipelines that meet defined technical and documentation standards, including participation in validation, testing, and release processes to enable reliable and compliant production deployments.
  • Apply data quality checks, validation rules, and observability practices to improve pipeline reliability, support monitoring, and contribute to platform stability and operational performance targets.
  • Integrate pipelines with AWS services (e.g., S3, streaming frameworks, APIs) and enterprise data tools to support secure, scalable data movement and interoperability across the ecosystem.
  • Contribute to governed data engineering practices by implementing metadata capture, lineage tracking, and supporting access control patterns aligned to enterprise data governance standards.
  • Support analytics and reporting use cases by preparing curated datasets and enabling consumption through SQL-based access, dashboards, and enterprise BI tooling.

What You Will Need:
  • Bachelor's degree is required
  • Minimum FOUR (4) years of experience in data engineering, with hands-on development of data pipelines in cloud or distributed data environments.
  • Strong proficiency in Python, PySpark, and SQL for building and maintaining scalable ETL/ELT pipelines.
  • Experience working with Databricks and Delta Lake to support ingestion, transformation, and curated data layer development.
  • Working knowledge of AWS data services (e.g., S3, IAM, VPC) and integration patterns supporting secure and scalable data architectures.
  • Experience implementing data quality checks, monitoring, and basic performance optimization techniques for pipeline efficiency and reliability.
  • Familiarity with data governance concepts, including metadata, lineage, and access control frameworks in regulated environments.
  • Experience working within Agile delivery environments and contributing to CI/CD-enabled development workflows.

What Would Be Nice To Have:
  • Experience supporting enterprise data platforms or federal data modernization initiatives, particularly in highly regulated environments.
  • Exposure to streaming technologies such as Kafka, Kinesis, or EventBridge for near real-time data processing.
  • Familiarity with Databricks Unity Catalog and governance capabilities (RBAC, data masking, auditing).
  • Experience using metadata/catalog tools such as Informatica EDC or similar platforms.
  • Understanding of DevSecOps practices, including automated testing, deployment, and environment promotion across dev/test/prod.
  • Exposure to performance optimization techniques (e.g., partitioning, Z-ordering, clustering) for large-scale data processing workloads.

What We Offer:
Guidehouse offers a comprehensive, total rewards package that includes competitive compensation and a flexible benefits package that reflects our commitment to creating a diverse and supportive workplace.
Benefits include:
  • Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
  • Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
  • Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus
  • Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Basic Life & Supplemental Life
  • Health Savings Account, Dental/Vision & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
  • Student Loan PayDown
  • Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities
  • Skills Development & Certifications
  • Employee Referral Program
  • Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
  • Emergency Back-Up Childcare Program
  • Mobility Stipend

About Guidehouse
Guidehouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer-Protected Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.
Guidehouse will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law or ordinance including the Fair Chance Ordinance of Los Angeles and San Francisco.
If you have visited our website for information about employment opportunities, or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Guidehouse Recruiting at 1-571-633-1711 or via email at RecruitingAccommodation@guidehouse.com. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodation.
All communication regarding recruitment for a Guidehouse position will be sent from Guidehouse email domains including @guidehouse.com or guidehouse@myworkday.com. Correspondence received by an applicant from any other domain should be considered unauthorized and will not be honored by Guidehouse. Note that Guidehouse will never charge a fee or require a money transfer at any stage of the recruitment process and does not collect fees from educational institutions for participation in a recruitment event. Never provide your banking information to a third party purporting to need that information to proceed in the hiring process.
If any person or organization demands money related to a job opportunity with Guidehouse, please report the matter to Guidehouse's Ethics Hotline. If you want to check the validity of correspondence you have received, please contact recruiting@guidehouse.com. Guidehouse is not responsible for losses incurred (monetary or otherwise) from an applicant's dealings with unauthorized third parties.
Guidehouse does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Guidehouse and Guidehouse will not be obligated to pay a placement fee.

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