Defense Unicorns logoD

Data Engineer

Defense Unicorns

Remote · United StatesFull Time$124k–$167k

Data Engineer at Defense Unicorns is a full time role based in Remote · United States (remote). The listing states pay of $124k–$167k. It was published on 28 July 2026 and was open at last check.

Data Engineer at Defense Unicorns — key details
RoleData Engineer
CompanyDefense Unicorns
LocationRemote · United States (remote)
Employment typeFull Time
Pay (as listed)$124k–$167k
Published28 July 2026
StatusOpen at last check

EMPLOYER IS A CONTRACTOR FOR THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. THIS POSITION WILL REQUIRE U.S. CITIZENSHIP.

Responsibilities:

  • Designing data workflows, pipelines, and pathways to support ETL/ELT, while ensuring data-quality and exchange of sensitive information across AWS cloud and on-prem environments.
  • Implementing systems engineering principles to ensure the reliability, scalability, and maintainability of data layer systems, including backup and recovery strategies
  • Architecting, deploying, and operating data streaming technologies (Kafka, Redpanda, Kinesis, etc ) on Kubernetes with an emphasis on declarative definitions to reduce complexity in day-2 operations
  • Working with a platform team to implement best practices for configuration management, security, and performance optimization within Kubernetes and AWS environments
  • Working with a platform team to automate infrastructure provisioning, monitoring, and scaling using tools such as Terraform working with cybersecurity SMEs to incorporate best practices and techniques to defend our data layer against potential threats
  • Ensuring that our data layer systems are compliant with industry and DoD regulations, standards, and best-practices
  • Staying up-to-date with industry trends and emerging technologies related to Kubernetes, containerization, and data engineering

Travel Expectations/Requirements: 6-10 times per year

The listed responsibilities are not exhaustive and additional responsibilities may be assigned based on the evolving needs of the organization. We are seeking a dynamic individual who is able to adapt and take on new responsibilities as they arise.

  • Preferred Experience and Qualifications:
  • Demonstrated experience (minimum 5 years) in building and maintaining production data pipelines, databases, and data exchange services on Kubernetes Experience in designing, deploying, and operating Kafka / Redpanda data streaming solutions on Kubernetes
  • Experience in creating data pipelines from scratch with the ability to process data in large volumes and manage data stores
  • Experience with containerization technologies such as Docker and container orchestration systems like Kubernetes
  • Knowledge of systems engineering principles to ensure the reliability, scalability, and maintainability of data layer systems Familiarity with API Security, Container Security, AWS Cloud Security Familiarity with cybersecurity principles and best practices for securing data layer systems
  • Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team
  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas to both technical and non-technical team members
  • The selected candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background check ("CBI") and must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret-level DoD security clearance
  • Experience with machine learning and generative AI models

Full compensation packages are based on candidate experience. Compensation ranges are established using national benchmarking data and apply across all geographic locations within the United States.

Remote - USA

$124,250—$166,750 USD

Who We Are

Defense Unicorns delivers mission value by streamlining software delivery so our customers can focus on the most important challenges. We share a vision of freedom and security for the advancement of progress and innovation. Our commitment to this vision, and to our mission-driven customers, means a commitment to speed, user experience and optionality, without compromising security. Our team is composed of innovators, software engineers, and veterans with decades of experience delivering technology programs across the federal market.

What We Do

We create and deliver secure solutions for continuous software integration and delivery. Defense Unicorns consolidates the best practices for security pipelines, testing, and deployment automation in order to meet the high security requirements valued by mission owners. Our solutions are agnostic by design and we believe that growing a robust ecosystem of secure, cloud-native software solutions can help enterprise customers inside and outside the federal market buy and integrate software more easily.

Who We Serve

Defense Unicorns’ customers are mission-focused leaders across public and private enterprises. We proudly support defense and civil agencies across the U.S. government and we work closely with the creators of leading-edge software solutions to deliver value to the mission-owner by improving the security and consumability of commercial software products.

What We Work On

  • Kubernetes
  • Cloud Environments (AWS/GCP and Azure)
  • Infrastructure-as-code (like Terraform/Pulumi)
  • Continuous Delivery and automation tooling
  • GitOps
  • Containers
  • CNCF projects and open source products and packages
  • Helm/Kustomize-Value Stream Mapping
  • Building and improving security delivery
  • Building Kubernetes and cloud native applications

Benefits Our Unicorns Enjoy

Health:

  • Medical/Dental/Vision
  • Premiums are 100% Company Paid
  • Health Savings Account
  • Life Insurance
  • Disability Insurance

Financial:

  • 401k Retirement Plan
  • Company Stock Options
  • Home Office Budget

Leave:

  • We offer all full-time Unicorns Flexible Time Off (FTO) plus all Federal Holidays, one week for Thanksgiving, and two weeks for Christmas and New Year’s
  • Paid Parental Leave

Learning:

  • Reimbursement for approved trainings/subscriptions
  • Conferences (travel, lodging, and fees)

Don’t have all the preferred experience or qualifications? Studies show that underrepresented groups like women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs if they don't meet every requirement listed.

At Defense Unicorns, we're committed to diversity. If you're enthusiastic about the role but don't match every criteria, we encourage you to apply. You could be the perfect fit for this or another role! Defense Unicorns is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

CCPA DISCLOSURE

Originally posted on Himalayas

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Create your free OnJob profile to apply — we'll take you to Defense Unicorns's application after sign-up. · Posted 28 Jul 2026.

Data Engineer at Defense Unicorns — questions answered

What does the Data Engineer role at Defense Unicorns pay?

The Data Engineer at Defense Unicorns listing states pay of $124k–$167k for the Remote · United States (remote) position. That figure is taken directly from the employer's own posting as published, not estimated or averaged from other roles.

Is the Data Engineer role at Defense Unicorns remote?

Yes — Defense Unicorns advertises this Data Engineer role as remote, tied to Remote · United States, and it is listed as full time work. Remote terms come from the employer's own posting, so confirm the expected working hours, timezone and any on-site days with Defense Unicorns before you apply.

Is the Data Engineer role at Defense Unicorns still open?

The Data Engineer posting at Defense Unicorns was open at OnJob's last check of the employer's careers page, having been published on 28 July 2026. OnJob re-checks source listings on each build and marks a role closed once it disappears, but listings can close without notice, so the employer's own page is the final word.

How do you apply for the Data Engineer role at Defense Unicorns?

Apply to the Data Engineer at Defense Unicorns role through OnJob with a free profile: OnJob scores your fit against the listing, shows the skills lowering that score, and submits an ATS-ready profile to Defense Unicorns's own application page. Creating a profile is free and needs no card.

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