Data Engineer III

This senior-level Data Engineer will lead the design and development of scalable, secure, and automated data pipelines across our portfolio of federal digital services. The Data Engineer III will architect and implement cloud-native solutions that enable agencies to make better, faster, data-informed decisions. This role will collaborate closely with product owners, analysts, DevSecOps engineers, and federal data teams to build robust systems for ingesting, transforming, and delivering high-value datasets-aligned with federal mandates such as the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act, Federal Data Strategy, and CIO Council Data Maturity Goals.

The Impact You Will Create:

This project supports the modernization of a large-scale federal disclosure and data management platform. The work involves designing, developing, and maintaining a secure, cloud-based system that improves how information is submitted, processed, and accessed by the public. The team will leverage Agile, DevSecOps, and user-centered design practices to deliver scalable, high-impact digital services that enhance transparency, compliance, and accessibility. Efforts include building modern APIs and web interfaces, implementing Zero Trust security, automating testing and deployments, and driving continuous improvement through cloud-native and AI-enabled solutions.

Your Responsibilities in This Role:

At Fearless, we seek candidates who blend technical know-how with sharp problem-solving and advisory skills to drive real impact in the communities we serve. Here are the key qualifications for this role.

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable ETL/ELT pipelines using tools like Apache Airflow, AWS Glue, Spark, Databricks, or custom Python solutions.
• Implement data workflows in cloud platforms, primarily AWS, using native services with IaC.
• Create and maintain logical, conceptual, and physical data models to support analytics, APIs, and operational workloads.
• Ensure data lineage, provenance, classification, and access controls follow NIST 800-53, OMB M-19-23, and agency-specific data policies.
• Implement automated data quality checks, validation logic, and reconciliation processes to ensure data integrity.
• Collaborate with analysts and scientists to support BI dashboards, AI/ML pipelines, and predictive analytics initiatives.
• Support data access through secure, well-documented RESTful APIs, GraphQL, and data catalogs.
• Participate in sprint ceremonies, backlog grooming, and estimation with cross-functional Agile teams.
• Develop documentation (runbooks, lineage diagrams, schema definitions) to support ATO, audit readiness, and internal knowledge sharing.

Skills and Qualifications We Require at Fearless:

At Fearless, we seek candidates who blend technical know-how with sharp problem-solving and advisory skills to drive real impact in the communities we serve. Here are the key qualifications for this role.

• Must possess or have the ability to obtain a Public Trust clearance
• Bachelor's Degree required
• 7+ years of professional experience in data engineering or backend data systems Development.
• Strong fluency in SQL and Python for ETL workflows.
• Expertise with cloud data platforms.
• Experience with data pipeline orchestration.
• Solid understanding of data modeling, data warehousing, and performance tuning.
• Familiarity with DevOps/CI/CD tools and version-controlled data assets.
• Experience working with data cataloging and metadata tools.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal data governance, privacy, and security controls (NIST 800-53, FISMA, FedRAMP).
• Strong communication skills and ability to work across teams (analysts, security, product owners).

Project Specific Qualifications:

This role includes additional qualifications to help us deliver bold, impactful work for our clients.

• Prior experience supporting federal data platforms.
• Experience with Apache Spark, Databricks, or AWS EMR for large-scale data processing.
• Familiarity with BI tools.
• Exposure to data lakehouse architecture and Delta Lake or Iceberg formats.
• Familiarity with semantic layer/ontology development for metadata-rich environments.
• Knowledge of AI/ML pipelines and integration with model-serving platforms (e.g., SageMaker, MLflow).

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to sit for extended periods while working on a computer or during meetings.
• Must be able to travel occasionally to client sites or company meetings.
• Ability to communicate effectively via phone, email, and in-person, requiring clear speech, listening, and written communication skills.
• Ability to move within an office environment, including reaching for files, using office equipment, and occasional light lifting (up to 10 pounds).
• The role will require working primarily on-site in Washington, D.C. for at least the first six months of the project.

Life at Fearless

We're a digital integration consultancy on a mission to build a better tomorrow. At Fearless, we combine technology, people, and organizational development to solve meaningful problems. Through iterative development, we deliver smart, user-friendly solutions that make tech work better-for everyone.

But great tech is just part of the story. What really makes us Fearless is our Purple Culture.

What Makes Us Purple?

Being Purple means you:

• Are valued as a whole person-not just a job title
• Get matched with work that plays to your strengths and passions
• Are supported by coaches, not micromanagers
• Have the autonomy and clarity to make decisions and drive impact
• Join a community that celebrates equity, curiosity, and innovation
• Do work that matters-every day

We believe in flexibility, growth, and balance. Our benefits and culture are designed to support you in doing your best work-while making space for what matters to you outside of it.

We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer. At Fearless, we're building a workplace that welcomes and respects everyone-across race, gender, age, religion, identity, background, and ability.

Compensation at Fearless

Fearless is committed to providing a competitive compensation package that will meet your current and future needs. Our philosophy is aimed at rewarding team member contributions, supporting long-term financial growth and security, and overall well-being.

We believe in paying people fairly, so we've established a compensation model aimed to ensure everyone at Fearless - regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age, nationality, or willingness/ability to negotiate - is consistently paid fairly based on alignment to the needs and requirements of the role.

The salary range for this position is:

Minimum Salary: $102,540

Salary Midpoint: $133,302

Maximum Salary: $164,064

Hiring Range for Role: $102,540 - $133,301

*For part-time roles, the salary will be pro-rated based on the full-time equivalent salary ranges listed above.

Benefits at Fearless

At Fearless, we take care of our team-because when you're supported, you can do your best work. We offer a flexible, family-friendly environment with benefits designed to support your health, growth, and life outside of work.

For Full-Time Team Members (Starting Day One):

• Flexible, life-friendly schedules
• 100% coverage for our medical HSA plan + HSA contributions
• Dental & vision covered 100% for you and your dependents
• Competitive premiums for HMO/PPO and dependent coverage
• 401(k) with 4% match & immediate vesting
• Paid Parental Leave and 12 weeks paid FMLA
• Generous PTO, 11 Federal Holidays, a Birthday Holiday, and Sick Leave
• Up to 15 days for Jury Duty and Bereavement Leave
• Education, wellness, and tech allowances
• Referral bonus: $6K-$12K for each successful referral
• Pet insurance & discount plans
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Legal support, life insurance, disability coverage

Part-Time & Interns:

• 8.75 days of safe & sick leave annually
• Eligible for our 401(k) plan with employer contributions

Reasonable Accommodations

Fearless is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for applicants and candidates with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Human Resources Department at hr@fearless.tech.

So, What's Next?

We've refined our hiring approach to make sure every team member is a great fit for Fearless-and that we're a great fit for you, too. If there's alignment, we'll reach out to kick off the interview process. Depending on the role or project, your experience may vary slightly, but it typically includes:

Introductory Interview

You'll connect with a recruiter to:

• Build rapport and get to know each other
• Review your experience and skills
• Talk through salary expectations and role details
• Set expectations for the rest of the process

Skills + Business Fit Interview

This is where we dig deeper to:

• Review findings from any technical assessments
• Walk through situational and values-based questions
• Explore how your approach aligns with Fearless culture and project needs

Some roles may also include customer interviews based on specific project requirements in addition to background check and security clearance requirements.