Principal Software Engineer

Summary

Join Nava, a public benefit corporation, as a Data Engineer to help modernize data architectures and pipelines in critical government programs. Collaborate with government stakeholders and Nava's engineering, design, and product teams to design and implement data models and databases. Improve data pipelines, enhance data security, and write code to process terabytes of critical data. Provide subject matter expertise in data and architecture review meetings, supporting data integration requirements and developing pipelines from raw data to consumable data for analysts and scientists. Deploy and operate mission-critical systems, adopting data engineering best practices, and supporting software developers and infrastructure engineers on data initiatives. Make a significant strategic impact on Nava's mission to reimagine how our government serves its people. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working directly with clients and possess strong communication skills.

Requirements

• 7+ years data engineering experience
• 3+ years of experience in cloud data architecture (AWS preferred) and big data technologies
• Experience with Kimball's Dimensional modeling methodology
• Experience with building ETL/ELT pipelines in Python or Java
• Experience with Databricks and date lakehouse architecture
• Proficient with relational databases and advanced SQL queries
• Experience with data cleaning and data modeling while protecting sensitive data
• Proficient with building data integrations using both API and file-based protocols
• Proficient in refining high-level goals into high-impact, low-effort tasks and milestones based on human-centered design practices to prioritize options for stakeholders
• Tenacity to dive into problems and iterate in working code
• Equal parts systems thinker and advocate for users
• Highly resourceful, reliable, and detail-oriented
• Ability to think strategically around trade-offs and short-term vs. long-term benefits
• An adaptive, empathetic, collaborative, and positive mindset
• Excellent written and real-time communication, technical and otherwise
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States
• Must meet any other requirements for government contracts for which candidates are hired
• Work authorization that doesn’t require visa sponsorship, now or in the future
• May be subject to a government background check or security clearance, depending on the contract

Responsibilities

• Document, improve, and maintain data strategies and artifacts, including logical and physical data models, data dictionary, data architecture roadmap, and data security policies, using industry best practices and adhering to federal standards, along with operational runbook procedures
• Collect data access patterns and review current data models to optimize designs for customer use cases
• Standardize data ingestion and processing pipelines to scale with increasing utilization
• Audit and reverse-engineer business rules in legacy systems, and build data connectors for integrating them into a data and analytics platform
• Implement large-scale data ecosystems within cloud-based platforms that include data management and data governance of structured and unstructured data
• Leverage and enhance automation to speed development and improve reliability and performance
• Work with cross-functional project teams to gather business requirements and translate to detailed technical specifications
• Work with Government partners to assist and develop data engineering applications and pipelines that will enable data services and processing capabilities
• Design, develop, test, automate, and deploy data engineering solutions in a cloud platforms, such as Azure
• Participate in software design and code reviews
• Develop automated testing, monitoring and alerting, and CI/CD for production systems
• Maintain security and privacy standards in all aspects of the data pipeline

Benefits

• Health coverage – Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans to support your overall health needs
• Time off – Vacation, holidays (including Juneteenth), and floating days to rest and recharge
• Company holidays- Enjoy 12 paid federal holidays each year on top of your regular PTO
• Annual bonus – When Nava meets goals, eligible employees receive a performance-based annual bonus
• Parental leave – Paid time off for new parents, plus weekly meals delivered to your home
• Wellness program – Full platform offering physical, mental, & emotional health resources & support tools
• Virtual care – See doctors online with no copay through UnitedHealthcare’s virtual visit program
• Sabbatical leave – Earn extended paid leave after continuous service for personal growth or rest
• 401(k) match – Nava matches 4% of your salary to support your retirement savings plan
• Flexible work – Remote-first environment with flexibility built around your schedule and responsibilities
• Home office setup – Company laptop & setup assistance provided via Staples for remote work needs
• Utility support – Monthly reimbursement to help offset eligible home office utility expenses
• Learning opportunities – Internal training programs and resources to help grow your professional skills
• Development budget – Annual allowance for courses, tuition, certifications, & LinkedIn Learning access
• Referral bonus – Get rewarded when you refer great people who join the Nava team
• Commuter benefits – Pre-tax commuter programs to support in-office travel when applicable
• Insurance coverage – Nava provides disability, life, and accidental death insurance at no cost
• $135,900 - $171,000 a year