Chief Data Engineer

Job ID: 2507828

Location: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, US

Date Posted: 2025-07-24

Category: Information Technology

Subcategory: Big Data Engineer

Schedule: Full-time

Shift: Day Job

Travel: Yes, 10 % of the Time

Minimum Clearance Required: Top Secret

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: TS/SCI

Potential for Remote Work: Yes

Description

SAIC is seeking a Chief Data Engineer to support the AF TENCAP HOPE 2.0 contract. The AF TENCAP HOPE 2.0 contract bridges intelligence community collection architectures, capabilities, and technologies with DoD operational and tactical requirements. This effort will deliver rapid, innovative, and cost-effective capabilities to meet warfighter needs, and will include bringing national capabilities to bear across all warfighting domains spanning intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, combat applications, battlespace awareness, command and control, multi-level security and mission programs. This next generation approach shall employ the latest advancements in geolocation and tagging, sensor and data fusion, unconventional / asymmetric warfare, situational awareness, cyberspace and spectrum warfare, large data analytics, data lake, jamming technologies, sensor technologies, geo-registration to deliver a cutting-edge approach.

The Chief Data Engineer for AF TENCAP is essential to the success of the HOPE 2.0 initiative, focusing on integrating advanced data systems and pipelines that leverage ISR, NTISR systems, and extensive data analytics to enhance the Air Force's multi-domain situational awareness and operational efficiency.

An ideal candidate for the Chief Data Engineer role is an experienced data professional adept at building and managing scalable, efficient data architectures. This role requires advanced proficiency in processing large volumes of data, optimizing data storage, and ensuring high standards of data quality and security. Familiarity with AI/ML integration, big data technologies, and algorithm development is crucial, as the candidate will work on enhancing the overall data processing capabilities and supporting advanced analytical needs to meet the evolving requirements of the U.S. Air Force.
Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain scalable and efficient data architectures and pipelines.
• Develop and implement robust ETL processes to integrate data from diverse sources.
• Optimize data storage and retrieval systems to enhance processing performance.
• Ensure data quality, consistency, security, and governance practices are followed.
• Troubleshoot, diagnose, and resolve complex issues in data pipelines.
• Contribute to the development of advanced analytics capabilities, including AI/ML models.
• Implement and maintain big data frameworks and data processing tools (e.g., Hadoop, Spark).
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance data processing performance and ensure seamless integration with AI/ML technologies.
• Support the design and management of data pipelines for rapid prototyping and deployment.
• Analyze large datasets to identify patterns, insights, and opportunities for optimization.
• Implement data visualization solutions to enhance data-driven decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with DoD data security standards and protocols.
• Stay updated with advancements in big data, AI/ML, and data engineering technologies.
• Manage and support a team of engineers, fostering a collaborative environment.

Candidate must have experience in the following:

Data Acquisition and Management:

• Securely acquire data from authorized sources and manage the entire data lifecycle, including recording, storing, accessing, and disposing of data according to established policies.
• Special attention to handling data that includes Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and Protected Health Information (PHI) while ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.

Data Integration and Architecture:

• Design and implement integration plans, including technical architecture and functional dependencies, to ensure seamless integration of data systems.
• Conduct fit/gap analyses to assess compatibility and gaps in the existing data infrastructure.

Data Security and Compliance:

• Support application of Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) to ensure the security of the data infrastructure.
• Support accreditation processes based on the Risk Management Framework (RMF) by providing necessary data and documentation.

Technical Documentation and Support:

• Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation, including design specifications, technical architecture, and Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
• Participate in the development and execution of the Systems Engineering Management Plan (SEMP) and provide support for documenting Interim Authority to Test (IATT) and Authority to Operate (ATO).

Qualifications
REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Active Top Secret Clearance with the ability to obtain a TS/SCI.
• Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
• 18 years of experience in Data Collection, Processing, or Analysis systems.
• 5 years of experience with classified DoD/IC systems and Data Engineering.
• 5 years of experience leading technical teams.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, and SQL.
• Expertise in big data frameworks (Hadoop, Spark) and data processing tools.
• Familiarity with relational and NoSQL databases (e.g., MySQL, MongoDB, Cassandra).
• DoD 8570/8140 certifications or equivalent in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity (e.g., Security+ or higher).

DESIRED EXPERIENCE:

• Knowledge of military operations and multi-domain operational requirements.
• Experience automating and managing data flows between various systems (NiFi).
• Experience with AI/ML frameworks (TensorFlow, Keras, PyTorch).
• Familiarity with cloud computing services and architectures (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform).
• Proficiency with advanced data analytics and visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).
• Experience in managing and deploying data solutions in classified DoD/IC environments.
• Understanding of MLOps pipelines and CI/CD for model deployment.
• Experience with GPU computing and leading AI/ML libraries.

Target salary range: $200,001 - $240,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.