Data Infrastructure Engineer

Guidehouse•Tysons, VA

1d•$98,000 - $163,000

About The Position

We are seeking a Data Infrastructure Engineer to build and operate the data platform that powers AI/ML analytics modules. You will design and implement scalable data ingestion pipelines, robust ETL/ELT, and a modern data lake / delta lake (lakehouse) on AWS. You’ll also establish a managed metadata repository and governance layers (catalog, lineage, quality, access controls) and deliver automated cloud provisioning plus CI/CD for data pipelines to enable reliable, repeatable deployments across environments. This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys platform building, automation, and enabling advanced analytics through trusted, well-governed data.

Requirements

Must be able to OBTAIN and MAINTAIN a Federal or DoD "PUBLIC TRUST"; candidates must obtain approved adjudication of their PUBLIC TRUST prior to onboarding with Guidehouse. Candidates with an ACTIVE PUBLIC TRUST or SUITABILITY are preferred.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, IT, Computer Science, or related field (or equivalent experience).
Minimum of FOUR (4) years experience building production data pipelines and/or data platforms.
Strong experience implementing data ingestion and ETL/ELT workflows, including data modeling and transformation best practices.
Hands-on experience building a data lake / delta lake (lakehouse) on AWS (or equivalent cloud) using object storage and modern table formats/patterns.
Proficiency in SQL and one programming language commonly used for data engineering (Python preferred; Scala/Java acceptable).
Experience with metadata management and governance: cataloging, lineage, ownership, access controls, classification and policy enforcement.
Experience implementing automated AWS provisioning using IaC and operating across multiple environments.
Experience building or operating CI/CD pipelines for data workflows (testing, packaging, deployment automation, environment promotion).
Solid security fundamentals: IAM/least privilege, encryption, secrets management, secure SDLC practices.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience with Databricks
Hands-on experience utilizing modern DevOps practices, including tools like Git, Terraform, Jenkins, AWS CodePipeline, and Docker.
Experience utilizing AI-assisted coding tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, Cursor, Kiro) to safely accelerate implementation while maintaining strict code quality through testing, code reviews, and security practices.
Knowledge graph and Graph RAG experience, including: Graph modeling and ontology/taxonomy alignment Entity resolution and relationship extraction Hybrid retrieval approaches combining graph traversal with semantic/vector search to improve grounding and explainability

Responsibilities

Build & Operate Data Pipelines (Batch + Streaming)
Design and implement batch and streaming ingestion from APIs, relational databases, file drops, event streams, and external partners.
Build and optimize ETL/ELT pipelines to produce curated, analytics-ready datasets for reporting and ML consumption.
Implement incremental processing patterns, change data capture (CDC) approaches where appropriate, and data contract standards.
Deliver a Modern Lakehouse (Data Lake / Delta Lake)
Build and manage a scalable lakehouse on AWS object storage (e.g., S3) using open table/file formats and delta/lakehouse concepts (e.g., ACID tables, schema evolution, time travel patterns).
Optimize performance and cost through partitioning, compaction, lifecycle policies, and efficient compute/storage usage.
Establish environment standards for dev/test/prod and consistent promotion across stages.
Metadata, Governance, Lineage & Quality (Trust Layer)
Implement a managed metadata repository for dataset cataloging, ownership, glossary/definitions, tagging, and discoverability.
Enable end-to-end lineage (source → transformations → consumption) to support auditability and impact analysis.
Implement governance controls including policy-based access, data classification, retention, and secure data handling.
Build operational data quality checks (freshness, completeness, validity, anomaly detection) and publish SLAs/SLOs.
AWS Automation + CI/CD for Data Pipelines
Implement automated cloud provisioning in AWS using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for consistent environments and secure-by-default baselines.
Build and enhance CI/CD for data pipelines, including automated tests, validation gates, promotion workflows, and rollback strategies.
Improve observability with metrics/logs/alerts, dashboards, runbooks, and incident response readiness.
Cross-Team Collaboration & Documentation
Work closely with engineering, security, networking, and application teams to support mission needs and delivery timelines.
Maintain high-quality engineering documentation including SOPs, system diagrams, and secure configuration baselines.
Summarize and present findings and recommendations—both written and verbal—to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Benefits

Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
Parental Leave
401(k) Retirement Plan
Group Term Life and Travel Assistance
Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance
Health Savings Account, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Transit and Parking Commuter Benefits
Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development, Certifications & Learning Opportunities
Employee Referral Program
Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
Care.com annual membership
Employee Assistance Program
Supplemental Benefits via Corestream (Critical Care, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Assistance and ID theft protection, etc.)
Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus