Data Engineer
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory · Richland, WA
$100,100–$150,200from the description
Jul 20, 2026
Richland, WA
Jul 22, 2026
What this job asks for AI summary
An early-career data engineering role focused on keeping a production Data Warehouse running reliably while helping migrate it toward an Azure Databricks lakehouse architecture. Day-to-day work involves writing and maintaining SQL logic, supporting data modeling and documentation, and assisting with data mapping and validation tasks. Suits candidates with foundational SQL and relational database knowledge who want structured mentorship and a path into modern cloud data platforms.
Junior level · 2+ years · Kennewick-Richland, WA · Bachelor's required · Full-time
“or” means any one of them counts — you don't need all of them.
We read this from the posting text with AI. Skim the description below before ruling yourself out.
How this req sits in the market our data
Roughly 60 people in WA plausibly meet what this posting asks for (database architects). range 35–95
Applicant volume Moderate — A normal amount of company. The rare requirements below are what will separate a shortlisted application from the rest.
Most people in this occupation already list these. Still required — just not what gets you shortlisted.
What the occupation pays Median $131,591 (middle half $104,212–$164,448). This posting is about at that midpoint.
Estimated from BLS employment for this occupation and area, per-skill prevalence across our listing corpus, and published wage benchmarks — as of Jul 28, 2026. It is a model, not a headcount.
Why we read it this way (5)
This role is explicitly described as 'early-career' and the posting frames all technical skills — including SQL, relational databases, dimensional modeling, Azure, and Databricks — under 'Preferred Qualifications' only. There are no hard-gated technical skills in the Minimum Qualifications section, which states only a degree and 2 years of relevant experience.
The SOC classification is a judgment call: the role spans both data warehouse operations (closer to 15-1242 Database Administrators) and lakehouse/pipeline modernization work (closer to 15-1243 Database Architects). The migration and data modeling responsibilities tipped the classification toward 15-1243, with 15-1242 as the runner-up.
U.S. Citizenship is required for access to sensitive systems, but no formal security clearance is stated as a gate — the background investigation described is a standard federal PIV credential process, not a named clearance level.
The posting does not explicitly state full-time, but the benefits package (pension, 401k, vacation accrual, health insurance) and the career-growth framing strongly imply a permanent full-time position.
PNNL is located in Richland, WA, which falls within the Kennewick-Richland, WA CBSA.
Read the full posting
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