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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Data Governance SME - **Company:** STEAMPUNK INC. - **Location:** McLean, VA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Training Data, Microsoft Excel, Artificial Intelligence, Data Analysis, Information Systems, Data Architecture, Datacards, Data Governance, Data Security, Digital Assets, Key Management, Machine Learning, Meta-Data Management, Metadata Repositories, Cloud Services, SQL Databases, Technical Data Management Systems, Data Classification, Information Technology, Data Lineage, Collibra, Data Management, Database Tools and Utilities - **Published:** September 30, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.clearancejobs.com/jobs/9202771/data-governance-sme ## About the Role * Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance * Bachelor's degree, preferably in Information Systems, Data Management, Data Science, Business Analytics, Computer Science, or a related field, and 10+ years of total experience * 6+ years of data governance, data management, or data science experience * Demonstrated experience assessing data quality and building data governance frameworks, including stewardship operating models * Understanding of metadata types (business, technical, operational), data lineage, and schema management concepts * Familiarity with data privacy, security, and access control concepts, including experience supporting data access-request workflows * Proficiency with data analysis and query tools (e.g., SQL, Excel) to assess data quality and structure * Working knowledge of machine learning/AI training data concepts sufficient to assess data quality, origin, and bias considerations (not hands-on model development) * Strong written and verbal communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to translate technical data findings for both technical and executive audiences * Local to Baltimore, MD metro area and willing to go on client site at least 2 days a week Preferred: * Experience assessing bias or quality issues in training data for AI/ML use cases * Federal data governance experience * Master's degree in a related field * Experience with data cataloging/governance platforms (e.g., Collibra, Alation, Atlan, Informatica, or cloud-native catalog tools) * Familiarity with cloud data platforms * DAMA CDMP (Associate or Practitioner), Collibra Ranger, or Alation Steward certification ## Description Steampunk is seeking a Data Governance SME to design, implement, and help operationalize data governance practices - including metadata management, data cataloging, and stewardship workflows - for a large federal client's data environment, ensuring data assets are discoverable, trustworthy, and well-governed. The role also supports assessment of data quality, governance maturity, and AI-related data risk. Contributions * Assess current-state data assets, governance practices, and interoperability constraints, and deliver a Data Management Framework * Implement and maintain data catalogs, metadata repositories, and business glossaries to improve data discoverability * Support definition and rollout of data stewardship and ownership models, including issue management and lifecycle processes * Conduct exploratory data analysis to uncover trends and identify data quality issues informing remediation priorities * Operate a data-quality remediation tracking process with monthly reporting, supporting identification and remediation of data quality issues * Facilitate alignment between technical teams and business stakeholders on data definitions, quality expectations, and usage standards * Support streamlined, user-centered data access-request workflows and access controls, in alignment with data classification principles * Partner with the Data Architect to ensure the underlying data environment supports accurate, complete, and consistent data, including metadata capture and lineage tracking * Deliver quarterly data maturity assessments with specific improvement recommendations, including catalog coverage and adoption metrics * Communicate data quality and governance maturity findings clearly to technical and executive stakeholders * Support technical analysis behind the AI Compliance and Risk Management Plan's bias and training-data-quality sections, including data origin, quality, and known limitations * Contribute data lineage and data card documentation supporting the AI Compliance and Risk Management Plan's data origin and quality assessments * Maintain well-organized, audit-ready documentation of data assessments, findings, and remediation activity ## Related Videos - [Blueprints for Success: Steering a Global Data & AI Architecture](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1577-blueprints-for-success-steering-a-global-data-ai-architecture) - [Enjoying SQL data pipelines with dbt](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/823-enjoying-sql-data-pipelines-with-dbt) - [Modern Data Architectures need Software Engineering](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1030-modern-data-architectures-need-software-engineering) - [A Data Mesh needs Open Metadata](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/505-a-data-mesh-needs-open-metadata) - [Data Governance in the Era of AI](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1622-data-governance-in-the-era-of-ai) - [The New Financial Stack: AI, Agents and Trust](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100002-the-new-financial-stack-ai-agents-and-trust) ## Related Articles - [Coffee with Developers - Maria Apazoglou - Making AI understandable for all in production](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/475-coffee-with-developers-maria-apazoglou-making-ai-understandable-for-all-in-production) - [Data Engineer Salary UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/253-data-engineer-salary-uk) - [Got AI ideas but no money? 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