Security Data & Automation Engineer

COMPANY OVERVIEW

XCEL Engineering, Inc. is an award-winning small business that provides trusted information technology, engineering, consulting and project management solutions and services to federal agencies and organizations. Originally founded in 1971 by professional engineers at the University of Tennessee, XCEL was acquired in 2003 by U.S. Army and Navy veterans and in 2023 became a MartinFed company.

XCEL Engineering is a part of IT Lab Partners (ITLP) which was created to support a leading research facility in the East Tennessee region in recruiting the best and the brightest technical talent. Consider joining our impressive team today!

JOB OVERVIEW

Xcel Engineering seeks a highly skilled Security Data & Automation Engineer with hands-on experience in data acquisition, pipeline development, ETL processes, automation, API integration, and application development. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background in Python, data engineering, and secure data management, with the ability to develop scalable data pipelines, integrate diverse data sources, support advanced AI capabilities, and ensure data is accurate, secure, and accessible for downstream analysis and operational use.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Identify, connect to, and acquire data from diverse sources, including databases, APIs, file systems, and streaming platforms.
• Design, develop, automate, and maintain scalable data pipelines and ingestion workflows.
• Transform, clean, validate, parse, enrich, and convert raw data into reliable, usable formats.
• Integrate data from multiple sources to create cohesive, accurate, and accessible datasets.
• Design, implement, monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize ETL processes, automation workflows, and advanced API integrations.
• Develop and maintain custom applications, scripts, and automation tools using Python and Git-based development workflows.
• Troubleshoot data ingestion, processing, workflow, and integration issues to ensure reliable performance and scalability.
• Support advanced AI integration, including hardware and software deployment, inference workflows, and performance optimization.
• Implement secure data storage and management practices to ensure data integrity, availability, and accessibility for downstream systems and users.
• Document data sources, ingestion processes, transformations, integrations, and workflows in accordance with established standards.
• Ensure data engineering and automation solutions comply with applicable security, governance, and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with technical teams and stakeholders to identify requirements, improve data workflows, and implement effective automation and integration solutions.
• Communicate technical concepts, project updates, and solutions clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoE security clearance.
• B.S. degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Data Engineering, Software Engineering, or a similar technical field.
• Minimum 10 years of substantial progressive experience in data engineering, software development, automation, systems integration, or a related technical field.
• Strong proficiency in Python for application development, scripting, data processing, and automation.
• Demonstrated experience designing, developing, and maintaining data pipelines, ingestion workflows, and ETL processes.
• Experience acquiring, transforming, validating, and integrating data from multiple sources, including databases, APIs, and file systems.
• Experience developing and maintaining API integrations, automated workflows, and scalable data processing solutions.
• Proficiency with Git-based development workflows, including version control and collaborative software development practices.
• Experience with data integration, ETL, or workflow automation tools such as Apache NiFi, Talend, Informatica, or similar platforms.
• Familiarity with data processing and streaming technologies such as Kafka, Spark, or Hadoop.
• Knowledge of secure data storage, data integrity, access controls, and applicable data governance requirements.
• Experience troubleshooting complex data ingestion, integration, automation, and application development issues.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills, with the ability to translate technical requirements into effective solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across technical teams and stakeholder groups.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and deliver reliable, secure, and scalable technical solutions.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience supporting data engineering, automation, or application development in a government, defense, or other security-sensitive environment.
• Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform.
• Familiarity with orchestration frameworks, workflow automation platforms, and distributed data processing environments.
• Experience integrating AI/ML capabilities into data pipelines, applications, or operational workflows.
• Knowledge of AI inference workflows, model deployment, and hardware/software environments used to support AI capabilities.
• Experience optimizing data pipeline performance, scalability, reliability, and resource utilization.
• Familiarity with data security best practices, regulatory compliance, and enterprise data governance.
• Experience developing custom integrations and automation solutions across complex enterprise systems.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

• Inside office environment.
• Working on a computer for long periods of time.
• May involve long period of sitting at a desk.
• The work environment is fast-paced and sometimes involves extreme deadline pressures.

OTHER DUTIES

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Xcel Engineering is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, religious creed, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, protected Veteran Status, genetics or any other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or disabled veteran, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access Xcel Engineering's current openings as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by calling 855.212.1810. Thank you for your interest in Xcel Engineering.