Principal Apache NiFi/Data Integration Engineer

Apache NiFi Engineer / Data Integration Engineer

Position Overview

Red Arch Solutions is seeking a highly skilled Apache NiFi Engineer to support enterprise data onboarding, integration, and transformation initiatives within a Zero Trust environment. The successful candidate will design, develop, deploy, and maintain complex Apache NiFi data flows that enable secure, scalable, and reliable movement of mission and enterprise data across disparate systems.

This role requires deep expertise in Apache NiFi architecture, custom processor development, enterprise integration patterns, metadata management, data transformation, and workflow automation. The engineer will work closely with Data Stewards, Enterprise Architects, Zero Trust Core Services teams, Data Catalog personnel, system owners, and mission stakeholders to onboard new data sources and ensure compliance with enterprise data standards and security requirements.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Apache NiFi Development & Engineering

• Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain complex Apache NiFi data flows supporting enterprise data onboarding and integration requirements.
• Engineer scalable and fault-tolerant ingestion pipelines capable of processing structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data.
• Develop reusable flow frameworks and integration patterns to accelerate onboarding activities.
• Optimize flow performance, throughput, latency, and resource utilization across clustered environments.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex data movement, transformation, and processing issues.

Advanced Processor Development

• Develop custom Apache NiFi processors, controller services, reporting tasks, and extensions using Java.
• Create specialized processors supporting:
  • Metadata extraction
  • Schema validation
  • Data tagging
  • Attribute enrichment
  • Security classification enforcement
  • Data quality validation
  • API integrations
  • Workflow automation
• Extend NiFi capabilities to support mission-specific onboarding requirements.
• Develop shared processor libraries and reusable components.

Enterprise Data Integration

• Integrate enterprise systems using:
  • REST APIs
  • SOAP Services
  • JDBC/ODBC Connections
  • Message Queues
  • Kafka
  • File-Based Transfers
  • Cloud Storage Services
• Design data ingestion and routing strategies across multiple environments.
• Support onboarding of mission and enterprise data assets into approved repositories and data services.

Metadata & Data Governance

• Implement metadata collection, tagging, and enrichment capabilities within data onboarding workflows.
• Support enterprise data catalog and governance initiatives.
• Ensure onboarding workflows comply with metadata standards, taxonomy requirements, and stewardship processes.
• Collaborate with Data Stewards and Data Owners to improve data quality and discoverability.

Zero Trust & Security Integration

• Implement secure data movement patterns aligned with Zero Trust principles.
• Integrate authentication, authorization, encryption, and auditing capabilities into data pipelines.
• Coordinate with cybersecurity and Zero Trust teams to ensure compliance with enterprise security requirements.
• Support Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) and policy-driven data access models.

Technical Leadership

• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and onboarding specialists.
• Participate in architecture reviews, design sessions, and technical working groups.
• Contribute to engineering standards, best practices, and automation strategies.
• Develop technical documentation, standard operating procedures, and onboarding guides.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience

• 20 years experience. Experience working with users to help define their database use, data analytics, and the data user experience.
• 12+ years of data integration, ETL, or enterprise middleware experience.
• 8+ years of hands-on Apache NiFi development experience.
• Experience designing and supporting large-scale enterprise data ingestion architectures.
• Experience onboarding new data sources and integrating complex systems.

Advanced Apache NiFi Skills

Demonstrated expertise with:

• NiFi Flow Design
• Process Groups
• Remote Process Groups
• Site-to-Site Communications
• Controller Services
• Parameter Contexts
• Flow Versioning
• NiFi Registry
• Clustered Deployments
• Provenance Tracking
• Back-Pressure Management
• Flow Performance Tuning
• Secure Flow Design

Exceptional Processor Development Skills

Experience developing custom:

• Java-based NiFi Processors
• Controller Services
• Reporting Tasks
• Custom APIs
• Schema Validation Components
• Metadata Extraction Processors
• Content Parsing Processors
• Security Enforcement Processors
• Data Quality Validation Processors

Technical Expertise

Strong experience with:

• Java
• Spring Framework
• JSON
• XML
• Avro
• Parquet
• REST APIs
• SQL
• PostgreSQL
• Elasticsearch
• Kafka
• Git
• Docker
• Kubernetes
• Linux

Security & Architecture

Understanding of:

• Zero Trust Architecture
• Data-Centric Security
• PKI
• TLS
• Identity and Access Management
• Data Governance
• Metadata Management
• Enterprise Architecture Principles

Clearance

• Active TS/SCI clearance required.

Education (Desired)

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related technical discipline.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience supporting DIA, NSA, NGA, or other Intelligence Community customers.
• Experience integrating with Data Catalog platforms and metadata repositories.
• Experience with ontology, taxonomy, and semantic tagging implementations.
• Familiarity with Cloudera DataFlow, Hortonworks DataFlow, or large-scale NiFi deployments.
• Experience developing automated onboarding workflows.
• Knowledge of enterprise data governance and stewardship processes.
• Experience operating in highly regulated or classified environments.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is not simply a NiFi user, but a NiFi architect and developer who can build custom processors from scratch, solve complex integration challenges, optimize enterprise-scale data flows, and lead onboarding efforts across multiple systems and organizations. This individual should be the technical expert that other engineers rely upon for advanced flow design, custom processor development, and enterprise data integration solution

Salary Range for this opening $220-255K #CJ

The Red Arch Solutions pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Determination of official compensation or salary relies on several factors including, but not limited to, level of position, job responsibilities, geographic location, scope of relevant work experience, educational background, certifications, contract-specific affordability, organizational requirements, alignment with local internal equity as well as alignment with market data.

Red Arch Solutions Benefits Snapshot:

• 100% paid employee healthcare premiums. CareFirst Advantage Best in Class Benefits.
• HaloScripts Concierge prescription medication service
• Generous PTO.
• 10 % 401K 6% match vested day one and up to 4% profit sharing contribution.
• Annualized bonus compensation.
• Spot bonuses for hard work.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• 529 College Saving Plan.
• College Loan Pay Back Program.
• 11 Paid Federal Holidays
• Generous Referral Bonuses.

Red Arch Solutions provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Have more questions about Red Arch? Email us at [email protected]