Data Engineer with Security Clearance

External Header
Source: External Applicants Only
Open: 2026-10-19
Closed: 2027-09-30
Band: 03
Location: Springfield, VA, St Louis, MO
Cover Letter
Applicants are not required to submit a cover letter for employment consideration with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. However, a cover letter is recommended. Applicants will have the option to attach a cover letter in the Qualifications - Attachments step of the online application. Pay Band, Salary Range - Ext
2026 DC Salary Chart (Step 10 Max):
Band 3 $85,447 - $158,322 2026 St.

Louis Salary Chart (Step 10 Max)

Band 3 $76,573 - $141,880
Permanent Change in Station
PERMANENT CHANGE IN STATION: PCS expenses are not authorized. NGA Marketing Message
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is the world leader in Geospatial Intelligence. We analyze imagery and data from many sources and incorporate it into visual displays of essential information for use in national defense, homeland security and safety of navigation. The extraordinary talents and skills of our teams of analysts and other professionals are vital to our success as the worldwide provider of GEOINT.

Know the World, Show the Way...from Seabed to Space!

Assignment Description
ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION: Data Engineers develop, construct, test, optimize, and maintain microservice architectures. Data engineers employ Continuous Integration (CI)/Continuous Deployment (CD) methods to deploy containerized solutions and data pipelines to support various capabilities (e.g., machine learning/AI models, data cleaning and preparation). They solve problems associated with data access and integration. They collaborate with teams to confirm that their information and network security procedures align with Agency data policies, governance, standards, and requirements. These engineers serve as integrators between other security stakeholders, data professionals, and end-users.

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
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This Open Continuous Job Announcement is used in building a pool of qualified applicants. There is no immediate job opening. Applications will be reviewed only when staffing needs arise. There will be multiple selections and placements for agency allocation as positions open.

The jobs range from analytic operations teams working with GEOINT mission partners to build data pipelines with data holdings and structuring data for integration into enterprise systems to specific teams creating machine ready data for SI models and systems to deliver on enterprise and disparate systems on different data fabrics. Specific duties range from data management across different systems to deploying GEOINT mission data. Other responsibilities include quality assurance across deployed systems along with integrating new datasets into already developed workflows.

Data Engineers work on teams with mission partners to include analysts and/or data professionals depending on the office structure.

Additional duties include: Utilize a variety of languages and tools (e.g., scripting languages) to build data pipelines to pull together information from different source systems, Collaborate with data architects, modelers, and IT team members on project goals; ensure systems meet Agency requirements and industry practices, design, construct, install, test, and maintain highly scalable data management systems and develop data set processes for data discovery, modeling, mining, and production This position may be eligible for a RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE: selected candidates may be offered an incentive as part of the offer of employment.

To receive the incentive, selected candidates must be eligible under 5 CFR Part 575, Subpart A, upon issuance of the Final Offer Letter. Changes in federal employment status prior to issuance of the Final Offer Letter may affect eligibility. To receive the incentive, selected candidates will be required to sign a service agreement to stay within the position at NGA for the agreed upon time. If the service agreement is terminated before its completion, the employee may be required to repay a pro rata share amount of the incentive to the government.

Additional information regarding recruitment incentives for current federal employees can be found in DoDI 1400.25, Volume 2006.

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: Experience identifying and translating customer needs to create data products that satisfy customer requirements. Demonstrated ability to develop, modify, or evaluate data and data structures.

Demonstrated experience utilizing standards and best practices for data interfaces such as extract-transform-load (ETL) and application programming interfaces (API). Demonstrated experience working with data storage, access and exchange technologies, e.g. S3, FTP WFS, FeatureServer, Elasticsearch, SDK, etc. Demonstrated proficiency in applied programming and/or manipulation of data with any programing language such as Python, R, or Java.

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 experience in designing, implementing, and maintaining scalable data pipelines, ETL processes, and data integration solutions, 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 experience in designing, implementing, and maintaining scalable data pipelines, ETL processes, and data integration solutions, 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: Demonstrated experience recommending courses of action in alignment with information and technology strategic guidance and data security best practices. 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.).

Demonstrated experience with coding and scripting languages such as Python, JSON, BASH, and/or PowerShell. 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

Applicant Evaluation Process
APPLICANT EVALUATION PROCESS: 1) All applicants will be evaluated using the Mandatory Qualification Criteria,
2) Qualified applicants will then be evaluated by an expert or panel of experts using a combination of qualification criteria to determine the best-qualified candidates,
3) Best-qualified applicants may then be further evaluated through an interview process. Military retiree applicants, if selected, may be impacted by the 180-day appointment restrictions of DODI 1402.01. HD personnel will provide additional information if applicable. Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the Assignment Description, Additional Information Provided By the Selecting Official, and the Qualification Requirements; and then construct their resumes to highlight their most relevant and significant experience and education for this job opportunity. This description should include examples that detail the level and complexity of the performed work. Applicants are encouraged to provide any education or degree information referenced in the announcement that is relevant. If education is listed as a mandatory requirement, only degrees obtained from an institution accredited by an accrediting organization recogn