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University of Maryland

Junior Data Engineer (Faculty Specialist)

🇺🇸 Remote - MD 🕑 Full-Time 💰 $80K - $100K 💻 Data Science 🗓️ June 9th, 2026
SQL Python ETL

Edtech.com's Summary

UM01 University of Maryland College Park (UMCP) is hiring a Junior Data Engineer (Faculty Specialist). This role involves designing, developing, and supporting over 40 relational database instances as well as distributed Cassandra and Hadoop systems to create stable, secure, and reliable data platforms for custom transportation data analytics applications. The position also includes defining, documenting, and testing transportation data analytics and operations software while staying current with emerging technologies and best practices.

Highlights
  • Design, develop, and support relational and distributed database systems (Cassandra, Hadoop).
  • Develop stable, secure, and reliable data platforms for transportation data analytics.
  • Write ETL scripts and standalone applications using Python and/or Java.
  • Expertise in writing and tuning SQL queries and maintaining production-level database servers.
  • Experience with PostgreSQL server administration, performance tuning, and failover configurations preferred.
  • Familiarity with non-relational data storage and processing technologies like Spark, Iceberg, and Sedona preferred.
  • Work with geospatial datasets using extensions such as PostGIS.
  • Experience with Linux (RHEL) and scripting with Bash is preferred.
  • Use version control and collaboration tools such as Git, Jira, Confluence, and Bitbucket.
  • Knowledge of cloud platforms including AWS and GCP is preferred.
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field with relevant academic or internship experience.
  • Salary range of $80,000 to $100,000 with regular faculty benefits.
  • Position can be fully remote within the United States with periodic on-site collaboration.
  • Role is within the ENGR-Civil-Center for Advanced Transportation Technology department.
  • Compliance with background checks and employment eligibility verification required.

Junior Data Engineer (Faculty Specialist) Full Description

Job Description Summary

Organization's Summary Statement:
The A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland serves as the catalyst for high-quality research, innovation, and learning, delivering on a promise that all graduates will leave ready to impact the Grand Challenges (e.g., energy, environment, security, and human health) of the 21st century. The Clark School is dedicated to leading and transforming the engineering discipline and profession, to accelerating entrepreneurship, and to transforming research and learning activities into new innovations that benefit millions.
The Center for Advanced Transportation Technology (CATT) Laboratory is the industry leader for transportation information analysis, visualization, and user interface design. We provide cutting-edge analytics products and an integrated suite of situational awareness tools for transportation practitioners. These products and services are rapidly changing the way governments operate and make decisions. You can learn more about our products at https://ritis.org/.

We receive hundreds of gigabytes of transportation data daily, making our petabytes of archived data likely the largest collection of traffic data in the world. Our clients use our software to monitor real-time operations and analyze historical data to generate valuable insights. Our work saves taxpayers money, improves the environment, and saves lives!

We're as passionate about transportation as we are about building great software. We care about building usable, stable, and secure software to analyze massive amounts of data. We use cutting-edge tech to build and maintain our software. We have a mature development process and use industry best practices to build the best software possible. Our team is composed of application developers, analysts, UX designers, data scientists, IT, quality assurance specialists, and customer support operating in an Agile environment.

Our office is in College Park near the University of Maryland, easily accessible by DC Metro, MARC train, bus, car, and bike. Local employees are welcome to work in our office, or other locations, with a flexible schedule around our core hours. We also have many employees who are fully remote and work from different states. UMD requires all employees to live in the US, and we periodically bring remote employees to work with colleagues on-site.

We believe varied perspectives build better products, are proud to have a diverse team, and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

When you join our team, you will work to define, document, and test a wide variety of transportation data analytics and operations applications. You will learn new skills and stay current with industry best practices and emerging technologies.


The CATT Lab is seeking an early career Data Engineer to join our Data Platform team. This individual will work to design, develop, and support over 40 relational database instances and distributed Cassandra and Hadoop instances. They will apply their knowledge, skills, and experience to create stable, secure, and reliable data platforms supporting custom data analytics applications. They will learn new skills and stay current with industry best practices and emerging technologies. If you're looking for complex data problems in the GIS domain to collaboratively solve with a brilliant research and development team, please apply!

Can be 100% remote (US based only)

Physical Demands:
Sedentary work performed in an office environment. Regularly required to communicate and exchange information and to use technology/devices. Position can be 100% remote (US based only)

Minimum qualifications:
B.S. Degree in Computer Science or related field
Relevant academic or internship experience with design, development, and administration of data platform solutions
Experience writing ETL scripts and standalone applications in Python and/or Java
Expertise writing and tuning SQL queries
Experience deploying, configuring, maintaining, and upgrading production-level database servers and services

Preferences:
Experience administering PostgreSQL servers, performance tuning, streaming replication, and PgBouncer failover configuration
Experience with non-relational data storage and processing solutions like Cassandra, Hadoop, Spark, Iceberg, Sedona etc.
Experience working with geospatial datasets, using geospatial extensions (such as PostGIS) and querying features.
Experience with Linux (RHEL), including writing robust Bash scripts.
Experience architecting and implementing backup and recovery strategies.
Experience with Git, Jira, Confluence, and Bitbucket.
Experience with cloud platforms including AWS and GCP.


Licenses/ Certifications:

Additional Job Details

Required Application Materials:

  • Resume/CV
  • LinkedIn profile link
  • Link to repository (GitHub or similar) to show work
  • References upon request

Can this statement be added? "This position requires the employee to maintain a work presence within the United States for the duration of employment, including while performing remote work.

Best Consideration Date: 06/15/2026

 

Posting Close Date: 08/23/2026

 

Open Until Filled: Yes

 

Financial Disclosure Required

No

For more information on Financial Disclosure, please visit Maryland's State Ethics Commission website.

Department

ENGR-Civil-Center for Advanced Transportation Technology

Worker Sub-Type

Faculty Regular

Salary Range

$80,000-$100,00

Benefits Summary

For more information on Regular Faculty benefits, select this link.

Background Checks

Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify anyone from employment. Before any adverse decision, the finalist will have an opportunity to provide information to the University regarding disclosable background check information. The University reserves the right to rescind the offer of employment or otherwise decline or terminate employment if the information reported by the background check is deemed incompatible with the position, regardless of when the background check is completed.

Employment Eligibility

The successful candidate must complete employment eligibility verification (on Form I-9) by presenting documents that establish identity and work authorization within the timeframe required by federal immigration law, and where applicable, to demonstrate renewed employment authorization.  Failure to complete employment eligibility verification or reverification within the timeframe set forth by law may result in suspension or termination of employment.

EEO Statement

The University of Maryland, College Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment. Please read the University's Equal Employment Opportunity Statement of Policy.

Title IX Non-Discrimination Notice

Resources

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