Data Engineer

Who we are:

Raft (https://TeamRaft.com) is a customer-obsessed non-traditional defense tech company dedicated to empowering U.S. military and government agencies with cutting-edge AI/ML and data solutions. We are a leader in autonomous data fusion and Agentic AI, with a purposeful focus on Distributed Data Systems, Platforms at Scale, and Complex Application Development. With headquarters in McLean, VA, our range of clients includes innovative federal and public agencies leveraging design thinking, cutting-edge tech stack, and cloud-native ecosystem. We build digital solutions that impact the lives of millions of Americans.

We’re looking for an experienced Data Engineer to support our customers and join our passionate team of high-impact problem solvers.

About the role:

Data Engineers on our Distributed Systems team are focused on building data platforms that make it easy for different types of user personas to access data from a central control plane. This includes building backend services, connecting OSS projects in a repeatable and performant way, and extending feature sets. Experience involving data engineering and all things data. Utilizing new tools like DuckDB, Apache Pinot, Apache Superset, and others. As the Staff Data Engineer you will be working closely with Technical SMEs on the government stakeholders to build, configure, and deploy the next generation of data platform for mission-critical needs.

Required Qualifications: 

• Subject Matter Expertise on a backend language like Java, Go, Python 
• Hands-on experience with Kafka and Delta Lake in real-world applications.
• Must have educational background in STEM such as Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and Mathematics
• Up-to-date knowledge of industry trends in Data Engineering, Data Streaming, and Data Search, actively engaging with the community.
• Proven expertise in working with DoD datasets, with a deep understanding of data transformation techniques.
• Ability to break down complex requirements into smaller, actionable tasks, demonstrating feasibility through proof-of-concepts (POCs).
• Experience with Kubernetes, along with a strong background in CI/CD pipelines and Platform as a Service (PaaS) environments.

Highly preferred:

• Hands-on experience with Trino and/or DuckDB, as well as Flink or another Stream Processing Engine.
• Experience in building quick POCs and evaluating the operational pros and cons of Custom Off-The-Shelf (COTS) products versus their Open Source Software (OSS) alternatives.

Clearance Requirements:

• Active Secret security clearance
• Must be able to maintain and obtain a Top Secret clearance

Work Type: 

• Onsite at Hanscom AFB
• May require up to 15% travel

Salary Range:

• $140,000 - $180,000
• The determination of compensation is predicated upon a candidate's comprehensive experience, demonstrated skill, and proven abilities

What we will offer you:

• Highly competitive salary
• Fully covered healthcare, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) and company match
• Take as you need PTO + 11 paid holidays
• Education & training benefits
• And More!

Our Vision Statement: 

We bridge the gap between humans and data through radical transparency and our obsession with the mission. 

Our Customer Obsession: 

We will approach every deliverable like it's a product. We will adopt a customer-obsessed mentality. As we grow, and our footprint becomes larger, teams and employees will treat each other not only as teammates but customers. We must live the customer-obsessed mindset, always. This will help us scale and it will translate to the interactions that our Rafters have with their clients and other product teams that they integrate with. Our culture will enable our success and set us apart from other companies.

How do we get there? 

Public-sector modernization is critical for us to live in a better world. We, at Raft, want to innovate and solve complex problems. And, if we are successful, our generation and the ones that follow us will live in a delightful, efficient, and accessible world where out-of-box thinking, and collaboration is a norm. 

Raft’s core philosophy is Ubuntu: I Am, Because We are. We support our “nadi” by elevating the other Rafters. We work as a hyper collaborative team where each team member brings a unique perspective, adding value that did not exist before. People make Raft special. We celebrate each other and our cognitive and cultural diversity. We are devoted to our practice of innovation and collaboration.