Senior DataStage Engineer

Job Title: Senior DataStage Engineer
Location: McLean, VA
Work Mode: In Office
Experience Required: 6–20 Years
Employment Type: Full-Time / Contract

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior DataStage Engineer to modernize enterprise data platforms by designing, developing, and optimizing IBM DataStage ETL solutions. This role focuses on transforming legacy ETL processes into modern cloud-based data platforms such as Snowflake and AWS, while leveraging AI-assisted tools to accelerate large-scale modernization initiatives.

The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in IBM DataStage, SQL, UNIX/Linux, and ETL modernization, with experience working across cloud, governance, and data engineering teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain enterprise-scale IBM DataStage ETL workflows that deliver reliable, high-quality data.
• Analyze DataStage job metadata and XML transformation logic to modernize legacy ETL processes into Snowflake, AWS, or enterprise metadata platforms.
• Optimize ETL performance using advanced SQL, parallel processing techniques, and UNIX/Linux shell scripting.
• Collaborate with architects, cloud engineers, and data governance teams to deliver scalable, secure, and auditable data migration solutions.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, participate in code reviews, testing, deployment, and production support activities.
• Apply ETL best practices to improve data quality, reliability, and operational efficiency.
• Support enterprise data modernization and cloud migration initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• 6+ years of hands-on experience with IBM DataStage development.
• Proven experience designing and developing end-to-end ETL workflows, including extraction, transformation, and loading of enterprise data.
• Strong expertise in SQL, including:
  • Complex joins
  • Subqueries
  • Window functions
  • Performance tuning
• Solid knowledge of UNIX/Linux operating systems, including:
  • File systems
  • Permissions
  • Process management
• Hands-on experience with Shell Scripting (Bash/Korn Shell) for automation and operational support.
• Experience working with DataStage job metadata and XML transformation logic.
• Ability to analyze and modernize legacy ETL solutions into Snowflake, AWS-native services, or enterprise data governance platforms.
• Familiarity with AI-assisted development or automation tools used for ETL modernization and code analysis.
• Strong understanding of:
  • Data Warehousing
  • ETL Best Practices
  • Data Quality Frameworks
• Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Collibra or other enterprise metadata and data governance platforms.
• Familiarity with AI-assisted tools for code analysis, metadata interpretation, and ETL modernization.
• Experience supporting enterprise cloud migration or large-scale modernization initiatives.
• Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices for data engineering.
• Experience working in financial services or other highly regulated industries.