About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Information Technology.

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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Role Overview

Confidential Client is seeking a Junior Data Engineer to join a hybrid team in San Diego, CA. You will design, build, and maintain data pipelines and transformation workflows to produce governed, analytics-ready datasets that support mission-critical decision making. This is an entry-level to early-career role (3–5 years experience preferred) supporting Department of Defense-related programs; the ability to obtain a Secret security clearance is required.

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What You’ll Do / Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain scalable ETL/ELT data pipelines using Databricks and PySpark
• Implement and optimize data transformations in Python and SQL
• Analyze operational datasets that may lack predefined analytic requirements and surface actionable insights
• Translate ambiguous data needs into clear, testable engineering deliverables in partnership with stakeholders
• Ensure data quality, governance, lineage, and consistency across pipelines
• Document pipeline architecture, data models, and operational procedures
• Integrate engineered datasets with downstream applications, dashboards, and reporting systems
• Troubleshoot pipeline failures and implement monitoring and alerting to maintain reliable delivery

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Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or related field — equivalent professional experience considered
• 3–5 years of experience in data engineering or related roles
• Demonstrated experience with Databricks and PySpark for large-scale data processing
• Strong Python programming skills and experience authoring production-quality code
• Solid SQL skills: writing, optimizing, and debugging complex queries
• Proven ability to derive analytics needs and useful outputs from datasets without established requirements
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for cross-functional collaboration
• Must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance
• Ability to work in a hybrid setting in San Diego, CA; minimal travel as required

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Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with React for front-end development or visualization integration
• Familiarity with Palantir Foundry or similar data-platform frameworks
• Prior experience supporting Department of Defense programs
• Active security clearance a plus

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Compensation & Classification

• Job level: Associate (Entry level)
• Employment type: Full-time
• Salary: $85,000 – $100,000 per year (provided by source)

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Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Typical office/hybrid environment
• Primarily computer-based work; extended periods sitting and using a monitor
• Occasional lifting up to 20 lbs, reaching, and moderate physical activity
• Reasonable accommodations available for applicants with disabilities

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Additional Information

• This is a mission-driven technical role supporting defense-related systems. Applicants should be comfortable working with classified or sensitive program requirements once cleared.
• Confidential Client and Careertakes are committed to reasonable accommodation and inclusive hiring practices.

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Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.