Data Engineer (Contingent offer)

We are seeking a Data Engineer (Cloud Security) that will support operations, maintenance and analytic support for the Food and Drug Administration (DA) Information Technology systems and services, with a strong emphasis on data integration, harmonization, data linkage, data standards, interoperability, and secure data infrastructure practices. This role ensures that all data engineering activities align with federal security standards (FISMA, NIST, FedRAMP) and FDA policies while maintaining high availability and integrity of the data platform.

Occasional Travel to FDA White Oak HQ, Silver Spring, MD--(Contingent hire )

MUST HAVE : Federal security, NIST, FISMA, FedRAMP, ATO, and security‑control implementation experience

Requirements

Key Responsibilities:

· Design and maintain Databricks /ETL pipelines for ingestion, data linkage, and integration of diverse data into the repository.

· Integrate security controls into data workflows, including access controls, logging, and data protection mechanisms.

· Collaborate with DevOps and security teams to enforce secure coding practices (OWASP, NIST guidelines)

· Ensure all development and data processing environments comply with FDA security configuration baselines.

· Enforce encryption, patching, antivirus, and secure configuration standards for all systems.

· Support implementation of automated configuration management and compliance validation tools.

· Validate system configurations after updates or changes to maintain compliance.

· Monitor and manage software and platform lifecycle, ensuring all tools remain within supported versions.

· Plan and execute upgrades, migrations, and decommissioning of deprecated technologies.

· Ensure compliance with HHS/FDA End-of-Life policies and minimize operational risks.

· Implement and maintain Information Security Continuous Monitoring (ISCM) processes.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, Data Engineering, or related field
• 8+ years of experience in data engineering within secure or regulated environments
• Strong experience with:
• Cloud platforms (AWS required)
• Databricks / Snowflake/ Spark-based data engineering
• ETL pipeline development and orchestration
• Hands-on experience with NIST 800-53, FISMA, FedRAMP, or similar frameworks
• Experience supporting ATO processes and security documentation (SSP, SAR, POA&M)
• Ability to balance data engineering performance with stringent security requirements.
• Meticulous with strong documentation and audit support skills.
• Effective collaboration with security, infrastructure, and program management teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in federal healthcare or life sciences environments
• Knowledge of HIPAA, PHI/PII data protection requirements
• Familiarity with DevSecOps practices and secure CI/CD pipelines
• Experience supporting security audits and regulatory compliance reviews.

YOU CAN APPLY https://careers.cognizancetech.com/jobs/Careers/837639000000983002/Data-Engineer?source=CareerSite

Pay: $165,000.00 - $175,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Health insurance

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Silver Spring, MD 20907