Data & AI Engineer

Dark Wolf Solutions is seeking a Data & AI Engineer to design, deploy, and scale advanced data, ML, and generative AI workflows on Google Cloud Platform (GCP). This role supports secure enterprise data platform engineering with a strong focus on zero-trust controls, governance, and resilient operations across air-gapped and multi-cloud environments. The position is based in Herndon, VA with a hybrid work setup.

This opportunity also involves leading technical execution within an Agile team, coordinating delivery against spring commitments, and mentoring data engineering staff. The engineer will operate in regulated contexts where compliance automation, data lineage, and DoD/DISA Authority to Operate (ATO) support are essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead architectural design and implementation of cloud-native distributed batch and streaming data platforms.
• Optimize distributed execution engines to support petabyte-scale datasets under strict SLAs.
• Implement and collaborate on Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to provision data platform assets across multi-cloud infrastructure.
• Establish zero-trust security controls, data lineage tooling, and automated compliance scanning for regulated data environments.
• Design and manage ETL/ELT pipelines using Cloud Storage, Dataflow, Cloud Run, Agent Platform, and BigQuery.
• Apply knowledge of big data processing frameworks for large-scale datasets, including Apache Spark.
• Architect and process large-scale datasets and cloud data warehouses using Google BigQuery and Knowledge Catalog.
• Build automation scripts, manage data structures, and connect to APIs through programming.
• Configure and manage GCP services including Compute Engine, App Engine, Kubernetes Engine, Cloud Storage, BigQuery, Dataflow, and Cloud SQL.
• Enforce cloud security best practices and support DoD/DISA Authority to Operate (ATO) processes.
• Serve as Technical Pod Lead, driving Agile spring deliverables, defining technical standards, and mentoring data engineering staff.
• Stay current with the latest GCP services and technologies.
• Collaborate in a fast-paced Agile team environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
• 4+ years of data engineering experience.
• 4+ years architecting data structures for model grounding and engineering pipelines that convert raw data into tool-accessible assets for agentic workflows.
• 4+ years programming experience with Python, Scala, SQL, and Go for high-performance data platform development.
• 4+ years experience with distributed systems internals, LMS trees, column-family stores, and data warehouse and lakehouse storage formats.
• 4+ years Kubernetes experience including cluster management, custom operators for data platforms, and service mesh integration.
• 4+ years enterprise data strategy experience, conceptual-to-physical data modeling, and streaming data schema contracts.
• 4+ years experience on GCP supporting AI/ML research, experimentation, and production delivery.
• Experience with Apache Spark, Flink, Kafka, Ray, and workflow orchestration engines.
• Experience architecting multi-cloud and hybrid cloud data platform solutions using IaC via Terraform.
• Understanding of DevSecOps pipelines, automated compliance testing, and secret rotation management.
• Strong understanding of GCP services and technologies.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• U.S. Citizen with an active Secret Security Clearance.

Technologies

• Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Google services, Cloud Storage, Dataflow, Cloud Run, Agent Platform, BigQuery
• Apache Spark, Knowledge Catalog, Compute Engine, App Engine, Kubernetes Engine, Cloud SQL
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Terraform, Python, Scala, SQL, Go
• Kubernetes, service mesh integration, Apache Flink, Kafka, Ray, workflow orchestration engines

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Google Cloud Professional Certification (e.g., Data Engineer, ML Engineer, Cloud Architect) or CISSP.
• Proven track record architecting data solutions for deployment in air-gapped or high-assurance defense networks.
• Experience with GCP security/compliance products such as Security Command Center and Assured Workloads, along with DoD/DISA cybersecurity policies.

Compensation: USD 120,000 - 190,000 per year.