Junior Data Engineer / Active Secret

Peraton is seeking a Junior Data Engineer to support the Department of State Diplomatic Security Cyber Mission (DSCM) program. This hybrid role will help onboard and maintain the Cyber Event Data Node (CEDN), a cloud-based platform used to process and distribute cybersecurity data.

Role Summary

The position supports onboarding and ongoing operation of the CEDN environment for cybersecurity data processing and distribution. Responsibilities include configuring data pipelines, automating ingestion workflows, performing data-quality checks, and integrating CEDN outputs with cybersecurity and analytics platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Support onboarding of new cybersecurity systems and data sources into the CEDN environment.
• Coordinate with system owners, cybersecurity analysts, architects, and engineers to define source data, collection requirements, formats, schemas, data volumes, retention needs, and downstream use cases.
• Configure and maintain Cribl pipelines for data collection, routing, parsing, transformation, enrichment, compression, filtering, and replay.
• Assist with developing and maintaining Databricks data pipelines for raw, enriched, and normalized data layers in Delta Lake.
• Build and maintain automation using Python, SQL, and scripting for ingestion, transformation, validation, and reporting.
• Map structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data into standardized schemas and security data models.
• Perform data-quality checks to verify completeness, accuracy, timeliness, correct formatting, and successful delivery to downstream systems.
• Troubleshoot issues related to ingestion failures, malformed events, schema changes, pipeline errors, latency, and data-flow problems.
• Support integrations with cybersecurity and analytics platforms including Splunk Cloud, ServiceNow, Power BI, Tableau, and other authorized consumers.
• Apply metadata, tagging, access controls, and data-handling requirements supporting both classified and unclassified environments.
• Monitor pipeline health, throughput, storage consumption, and processing performance, and help identify optimization opportunities.
• Develop and maintain onboarding documentation such as checklists, data-flow diagrams, interface documentation, configuration records, test plans, standard operating procedures, and troubleshooting guides.
• Participate in testing and validation prior to releasing new data sources into production.
• Operate within established change-management, configuration-management, security authorization, and system development lifecycle processes.
• Collaborate with senior data engineers, security engineers, data scientists, threat analysts, and mission stakeholders to translate operational needs into reliable data products.
• Support knowledge transfer and provide basic technical guidance to data owners and platform users.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, data science, cybersecurity, engineering, or a related technical field, plus 1–2 years of experience.
• Four additional years of relevant experience may be substituted for the degree.
• Possess or obtain prior to start, and maintain one of the following certifications: CCNA Security, CEH, CISSP, CySA+, GICSP, GSEC, Security+ CE, CND, or SSCP.
• Foundational experience with data engineering, data integration, ETL/ELT, application integration, or log-management technologies.
• Working knowledge of Python and SQL.
• Familiarity with structured and semi-structured data formats including JSON, CSV, XML, syslog, and API-delivered data.
• Understanding of databases, data lakes, data pipelines, schemas, metadata, and data lifecycle concepts.
• Basic knowledge of cloud computing and cloud storage services.
• Ability to analyze technical documentation and translate system requirements into actionable data-integration tasks.
• Ability to document configurations, testing results, data mappings, technical procedures, and operational issues clearly.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate while managing multiple assignments and established deadlines.
• Ability to learn new platforms and technologies through hands-on work, formal training, and mentorship.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Active Secret security clearance, with ability to obtain a final Top Secret clearance.

Technologies

Cribl, Cribl Stream, Cribl Edge, Databricks, Apache Spark, Delta Lake, Python, SQL, JSON, CSV, XML, syslog, API, Splunk Cloud, ServiceNow, Power BI, Tableau, Git, CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code, DevSecOps, Microsoft Azure, Azure Data Lake Storage, Notebooks, lakehouse architectures.

Location and Work Model

• Beltsville, MD or Washington DC (hybrid)
• Flexible for occasional telework; candidate must be local to the work location

Compensation

• USD 66,000 - 106,000 per year

Peraton Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life
• Health savings account
• Short/long term disability
• EAP
• Parental leave
• 401(k)
• Paid time off (PTO) for vacation
• Company paid holidays

About Peraton

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy.

Program Overview

The program provides technical, engineering, data analytics, cyber security, management, operational, logistical, and administrative support for Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Cyber and Technology Security Directorate in three key offices or functional areas: Cyber Monitoring and Operations, Cyber Threat and Investigations, and Technology Innovation and Engineering State.

Application and Interview Notes

• The application period is estimated to be 30 days from the job posting date.
• During review, you may be required to participate in an on-camera interview and a process to verify identity.
• Use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools of any kind during Peraton interviews is strictly prohibited unless prior written authorization is obtained.
• All interview responses must be the candidate’s own.

EEO Statement

Peraton is an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.