Data Engineer

Overview

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com.

Our work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work. Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities. If this specific job opportunity and the chance to work at a nationally renowned R&D innovation company appeals to you, apply now www.draper.com/careers.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Draper is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer.   We understand the value of diversity and its impact on a high-performance culture.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information.   

Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact hr@draper.com.

Responsibilities

The Data Architecture and Development group is seeking a Data Engineer for an opportunity to develop unique and creative solutions to complex system-level problems. The group works across multiple domains, including strategic deterrent systems, missile defense systems, space systems, precision guided munitions, autonomous vehicles, and biotechnology systems. This group architects and builds Data-as-a-Service for the suppliers and consumers of data within the Digital Engineering Ecosystem, while ensuring quality, protection, and availability of data. We specialize in data definition, storage, retrieval, and related data pipeline development using modern, scalable, and secure capabilities to support needs across the entire system lifecycle.

The ideal candidate will have interests and skills in data modeling, database technologies, developing data pipelines, and model-based engineering applications such as digital thread and digital twin.  The individual will be expected to work effectively both independently and with cross-functional teams. The successful candidate must possess effective communication skills, both written and oral, as the ability to communicate technical concepts effectively with customers, engineers, managers, and other stakeholders of all relevant disciplines is a must.  Flexibility to multi-task and adapt to evolving priorities will be required. We value continuous learning and professional growth.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications: 

• S. degree or higher in Computer Science, Data Science, Systems Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Aerospace, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering, or related field
• 2+ years of applicable experience in data engineering principles and tools such as databases, data modeling, SQL, Extract Transform Load (ETL), data pipelines, data warehouses/lakes, etc.
• Proficient in one or more programming languages such as Python, Java, C++, or MATLAB®
• Familiarity with Application Programming Interface (e.g. RESTful API) definition, design, and maintenance for use with web-based user interfaces and automated processes
• Prior experience utilizing data analytics and data visualization dashboards
• Strong understanding of best practices in coding, data manipulation, storage, and optimization
• Ability to develop and enforce internal standards for data administration and data system documentation
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Experience with relational, graph, and NoSQL databases with ability to identify tradeoffs between these database options
• Experience with Engineering problem-solving methodology
• Familiarity with Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or Natural Language Processing
• Familiarity with containerization, orchestration, and/or service management 
• Familiarity with digital twin and digital thread architecture and development
• Familiarity with Agile Development best practices

#LI-MF1