IBM

Introduction

At IBM, work is more than a job, it’s a calling: To build. To design. To code. To consult. To collaborate with clients and teammates to deliver impactful solutions to solve meaningful problems at scale in complex mission environments.

IBM has been building and applying advanced analytics, machine learning, and data-driven systems for decades, solving some of the most complex technical challenges long before they became industry buzzwords. That experience shapes how we approach today’s problems: with discipline, practicality, and a focus on delivering real-world outcomes.

We’re looking for early-career data professionals who are ready to build strong technical capabilities and contribute to real mission problems. You bring a solid foundation and a desire to grow into a well-rounded technologist who can both build data systems and extract meaning from them.

You may enter with a strength in data engineering or data science. What matters is your willingness to expand beyond it. In this role, you won’t be siloed, you’ll work across the full data lifecycle, contributing to how data is ingested, shaped, analyzed, and used.

You’ll be part of a collaborative, high-performing team where expectations are high, ownership is shared, and growth is earned through delivery, working alongside experienced team members who actively support your development. This role is for someone who wants to build real systems, solve meaningful problems, and continuously improve alongside a team that values both contribution and growth.

If you’re looking for a place where you can build strong technical capabilities, contribute early, and gain meaningful experience working on real mission problems, this is that opportunity as we help build the next generation of data capability in mission environments.

Your role and responsibilities

• US Citizenship is required. Candidates must possess an active Top Secret/SCI (TS/SCI) clearance with a Full Scope Polygraph on Day 1 and be able to work onsite in the Washington, DC Metro area (Chantilly, VA). Work is performed in a secure environment with limited remote flexibility.

The Junior Data Engineer / Data Scientist is a hands-on technologist and analytical problem-solver who works in collaboration with team members while developing expertise across both data engineering and data science disciplines.

The successful candidate will contribute to both data systems and analytical workflows, supporting delivery of capabilities that are technically sound, operationally practical, and aligned to mission outcomes.

Required education

Non-Degree Program

Preferred education

Bachelor's Degree

Required technical and professional expertise

• Clearance & Logistics: US Citizenship is required. Candidates must possess an active Top Secret/SCI (TS/SCI) clearance with a Full Scope Polygraph on Day 1 and be able to work onsite in the Washington, DC Metro area (Chantilly, VA). Work is performed in a secure environment with limited remote flexibility.
• Programming & Data Fundamentals: Hands-on experience with Python and SQL, including the ability to manipulate, transform, and analyze data. Candidates should demonstrate working knowledge of core data concepts, including data ingestion, transformation (ETL/ELT), and working with structured and unstructured data.
• Foundational Analytical & Processing: Demonstrated familiarity with statistical analysis or basic machine learning concepts, along with experience using tools such as Jupyter, Pandas, or similar data-focused libraries to explore and process data.
• Development Practices & Tooling: Experience working with version control systems such as Git, and an understanding of writing clean, maintainable, and collaborative code in a team environment.
• Ways of Working: Demonstrates a mission-oriented mindset and an understanding of how technical outputs support real-world outcomes. Operates effectively in team-based environments with shared ownership and accountability. Adapts to evolving or ambiguous situations and demonstrates a consistent commitment to developing across both engineering and analytical domains.
• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Mathematics is preferred, or related technical discipline with 1-3 years of relevant professional experience, or a Master’s degree in related field with little to no professional experience. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to apply academic or hands-on experience to real-world data challenges

Preferred technical and professional experience

Candidates may enter the role with a lean towards either data engineering or analytics but should demonstrate exposure to both areas and a willingness to expand across the full data lifecycle.

• IC Sector Experience: 3+ years within the last 5 years supporting or architecting systems for that National Security or Defense sector, with exposure to air-gapped delivery and secure AI requirements.
• Data Engineering Exposure: Experience contributing to data pipelines or ETL/ELT workflows, with familiarity in working with datasets, data modeling, or integrating data from APIs and external sources. Exposure to improving data quality, reliability, or performance is a beneficial.
• Data Science & Analytical Foundations: Academic or project-based experience applying statistical analysis or machine learning techniques. Familiarity with tools such as scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, or similar frameworks, along with the ability to explore data and identify meaningful patterns or trends.
• Cloud & Modern Data Environments: Experience creating visualizations, dashboards, or reporting outputs that help communicate insights to technical and non-technical audiences and support decision-making.
• Integration & Tooling: Familiarity with REST APIs, JSON-based data exchange, or system integrations. Exposure to containerization or deployment tools such as Docker or Kubernetes is beneficial.
• Demonstrated Application of Skills: Demonstrated project experience is highly valued. Candidates are encouraged to provide examples of relevant work (e.g., GitHub repositories, technical projects, or applied data work) that showcases their ability to build, analyze, and deliver practical solutions.
• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or related technical discipline with 1-3 years of relevant professional experience, or a Master’s degree in related field with little to no professional experience. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to apply academic or hands-on experience to real-world data challenges

ABOUT BUSINESS UNIT

IBM Consulting is IBM’s consulting and global professional services business, with market leading capabilities in business and technology transformation. With deep expertise in many industries, we offer strategy, experience, technology, and operations services to many of the most innovative and valuable companies in the world. Our people are focused on accelerating our clients’ businesses through the power of collaboration. We believe in the power of technology responsibly used to help people, partners and the planet.

YOUR LIFE @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you’ll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you’ll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?

ABOUT IBM

IBM’s greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we’re also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 500 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.

At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it’s time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, or other characteristics protected by the applicable law. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

OTHER RELEVANT JOB DETAILS

IBM offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program. Eligible employees may have access to:

• Healthcare benefits including medical & prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, and mental health & well being
• Financial programs such as 401(k), cash balance pension plan, the IBM Employee Stock Purchase Plan, financial counseling, life insurance, short & long- term disability coverage, and opportunities for performance based salary incentive programs
• Generous paid time off including 12 holidays, minimum 56 hours sick time, 120 hours vacation, 12 weeks parental bonding leave in accordance with IBM Policy, and other Paid Care Leave programs. IBM also offers paid family leave benefits to eligible employees where required by applicable law
• Training and educational resources on our personalized, AI-driven learning platform where IBMers can grow skills and obtain industry-recognized certifications to achieve their career goals
• Diverse and inclusive employee resource groups, giving & volunteer opportunities, and discounts on retail products, services & experiences

We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.

This position was posted on the date cited in the key job details section and is anticipated to remain posted for 21 days from this date or less if not needed to fill the role.

US Citizenship Required.

The compensation range and benefits for this position are based on a full-time schedule for a full calendar year. The salary will vary depending on your job-related skills, experience and location. Pay increment and frequency of pay will be in accordance with employment classification and applicable laws. For part time roles, your compensation and benefits will be adjusted to reflect your hours. Benefits may be pro-rated for those who start working during the calendar year.

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