Data Engineer - Palantir / Python (Only USC) (W2 Only)
Job Title: Data engineer - Palantir / Python Locations: Washington, D.C. | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Tampa, Florida | McLean, VirginiaWork Authorization: Only USCSecurity Clearance: Active Secret Clearance required | SCI strongly preferredEmployment Type: Contract - W2 onlyOverview: We are hiring experienced Senior Data Engineers to support high-impact defense and intelligence initiatives. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in scalable data engineering, Python development, and enterprise data architecture. Candidates with hands-on experience using Palantir Foundry or related Palantir technologies will be highly prioritized.This position involves designing and implementing advanced data solutions within highly secure environments supporting mission operations and strategic analytics.Responsibilities:Architect and develop enterprise-scale data pipelines and integration frameworksDesign robust ETL/ELT workflows for high-volume, mission-critical datasetsLead data engineering initiatives using Python and modern big data technologiesBuild and optimize scalable data models and processing architecturesCollaborate with government stakeholders, analysts, and engineering teamsImplement data governance, quality, and security best practicesSupport cloud-native and hybrid infrastructure deploymentsMentor junior engineers and contribute to engineering standards and best practicesParticipate in architecture reviews, technical planning, and solution design sessionsRequired Qualifications:5+ years of experience in Data Engineering, Software Engineering, or related fieldStrong expertise in Python developmentAdvanced SQL and data modeling experienceExperience building scalable distributed data systemsHands-on experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google CloudStrong understanding of APIs, orchestration tools, and data integration frameworksExperience working in Agile/Scrum environmentsActive Secret Clearance requiredPreferred Qualifications:Strong experience with Palantir Foundry, Gotham, Gaia, or Palantir ecosystem toolsPrior support of Department of Defense or Intelligence Community programsExperience with Spark, Kafka, Airflow, Databricks, or SnowflakeKubernetes, Docker, and CI/CD pipeline experienceActive SCI ClearanceExperience leading technical teams or projects