Data Engineer SME
About The Position
Iron EagleX (IEX), a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics Information Technology, delivers agile IT and Intelligence solutions. Combining small-team flexibility with global scale, IEX leverages emerging technologies to provide innovative, user-focused solutions that empower organizations and end users to operate smarter, faster, and more securely in dynamic environments. Job Description: We are seeking an Data Engineering SME to design, build, and operate data pipelines that ingest, store, and process high-volume, multi-source data primarily for modern AI/ML processes. You will partner with software, analytics, and product teams to create model-ready datasets (features, embeddings, and prompts), implement scalable storage layers (data lakehouse and vector stores), and enable low-latency retrieval for query, inference, and RAG. Responsibilities include orchestrating streaming and batch pipelines, optimizing compute for GPU/CPU workloads, enforcing data quality and governance, and instrumenting observability. This role is ideal for someone passionate about turning raw data into reliable, performant inputs for AI models and other analytics while right-sizing technologies and resources for scale and speed. This is an onsite position in Crystal City, VA.
Requirements
- Experience with Apache Airflow for workflow orchestration.
- Strong programming skills in Python.
- Experience with ElasticSearch/OpenSearch for data indexing and search functionalities.
- Understanding of vector databases, embedding models, and vector search for AI applications.
- Expertise in event-driven architecture and microservices development.
- Hands-on experience with cloud services (e.g. MinIO), including data storage and compute resources.
- Strong understanding of data pipeline orchestration and workflow automation.
- Working knowledge of Linux environments and database optimization techniques.
- Strong understanding of version control with Git.
- Due to US Government Contract Requirements, only US Citizens are eligible for this role.
- An active TS/SCI security clearance is REQUIRED, and candidates must have or be willing to obtain a CI Poly.
Nice To Haves
- Proficiency in Kafka for messaging and real-time data processing.
- Understanding of LLM prompt engineering and associated ETL applications.
- Knowledge of SuperSet for data visualization and analytics.
- Familiarity with Kubernetes for container orchestration.
- Exposure to Apache Spark for large-scale data processing.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and implement scalable data pipelines and ETL processes using Apache Airflow, with a focus on data for AI applications.
- Develop messaging solutions utilizing Kafka to support real-time data streaming and event-driven architectures.
- Build and maintain high-performance data retrieval solutions using ElasticSearch/OpenSearch.
- Implement and optimize Python-based data processing solutions.
- Integrate batch and streaming data processing techniques to enhance data availability and accessibility.
- Ensure adherence to security and compliance requirements when working with classified data.
- Work closely with cross-functional teams to define data strategies and develop technical solutions aligned with mission objectives.
- Deploy and manage cloud-based infrastructure to support scalable and resilient data solutions.
- Optimize data storage, retrieval, and processing efficiency.
Benefits
- Our benefits package for all US-based employees includes a variety of medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts, dental plan options, a vision plan, and a 401(k) plan offering the ability to contribute both pre and post-tax dollars up to the IRS annual limits and receive a company match.
- To encourage work/life balance, GDIT offers employees full flex work weeks where possible and a variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave.
- To ensure our employees are able to protect their income, other offerings such as short and long-term disability benefits, life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel and accident insurance are provided or available.
- We regularly review our Total Rewards package to ensure our offerings are competitive and reflect what our employees have told us they value most.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
