Data Engineer

ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION: Data Engineers develop, construct, test, and maintain architectures such as databases and large-scale data processing systems. They create pipelines of common architecture and infrastructure to optimize data for consumption through the design and construction of massive reservoirs for big data. They solve problems associated with database access and integration and unstructured data sets to provide clean, usable data for customers and IT counterparts. They cross collaborate with teams to ensure that their information and network security procedures align with Agency data policies, governance, standards, and requirements. Data engineers employ CI/CD solutions to deploy machine learning/AI models. These engineers serve as integrators between data architects, data scientists, data stewards, and other data consumers. They apply knowledge of cloud architecture, ETL (extract, transform, load) methods, scripting tools, programming languages, standards, and software packages (e.g., Nifi, Kakfa, and Informatica) to build the data pipelines that enable faster, better, data-informed decision-making within the Agency.
Promotion Opportunity
PROMOTION OPPORTUNITY: Promotion opportunities allow applicants at all band levels to be considered. Qualifications for NGA positions do not include specific time-in-band requirements. NGA will emphasize quality of experience, rather than duration, and assess how the quality of the experience demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary for successful job performance in the NGA occupational structure.
Additional Information
This Job Announcement will be used to build a pool of qualified applicants for a hiring event taking place on 28 February 2026 thru 1 March 2026.
Qualifications Mandatory
MANDATORY QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: For this particular job, applicants must meet all competencies reflected under the Mandatory Qualification Criteria to include education (if required). Online resumes must demonstrate qualification by providing specific examples and associated results, in response to the announcement’s mandatory criteria specified in this vacancy announcement:

1. Demonstrated experience utilizing standards and best practices for data interfaces such as extract-transform-load (ETL) and application programming interfaces (API).
2. Demonstrated experience working with data storage, access and exchange technologies, e.g. S3, FTP WFS, FeatureServer, Elasticsearch, SDK, etc.
3. Demonstrated ability to develop, modify, or evaluate data and data structures.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: A. Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Information Science, Information Systems Management, Mathematics, Operations Research, Physical Sciences, Statistics, Technology Management, or a degree that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of the fields identified above and required the development or adaptation of applications, systems, or networks. -OR- B. Combination of Education and Experience: A minimum of 24 semester (36 quarter) hours of coursework in any area listed in option A, plus experience in developing, constructing, testing and maintaining architectures and/or related technologies, or in a related field that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the duties associated with this work. As a rule, every 30 semester (45 quarter) hours of coursework is equivalent to one year of experience. Candidates should show that their combination of education and experience totals 4 years. -OR- C. Experience: A minimum of 4 years of experience in developing, constructing, testing and maintaining architectures and/or related technologies, or in a related field that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the duties associated with this work. -AND- IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies: Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Oral Communication, and Problem Solving.
Qualifications Desirable
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: In addition to the mandatory qualifications, experience in the following is desired:

1. Demonstrated experience implementing, configuring, or designing databases with one or more current database technologies. e.g., relational (Oracle, MySQL, Postgresql, etc.), noSQL (MongoDB, Accumulo, Elastic, etc.), graph (Allegrograph, JanusGraphy, Neo4J, etc.).
2. Demonstrated experience with coding and scripting languages such as Python, JSON, BASH, and/or PowerShell.
3. Certification in cloud native services such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), containers, Kubernetes, DevSecOps pipeline tooling, and/or microservices architecture
Special Info External
As a condition of employment at NGA, persons being considered for employment must meet NGA fitness for employment standards.

- U.S. Citizenship
- Security Clearance - Top Secret /Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)
- Polygraph & Drug Test
- Direct Deposit
- Trial Period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. We may consider: performance conduct; needs and interests of the agency; and whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government and the efficiency of the Federal service