Senior Data Engineer

Job Summary:

The Senior Data Engineer independently designs, develops, optimizes, and supports backend data solutions that enable reliable analytics, reporting, and operational use of institutional data. The role is focused on ETL/ELT development, data pipeline orchestration, cloud data infrastructure, relational and dimensional data modeling, data warehousing/lake house solutions, integration frameworks, and modernization of legacy Microsoft data platforms.

This position works primarily with technologies such as Azure Data Factory, Azure SQL and SQL Server, Azure storage services, SQL/T-SQL, Python, and related Microsoft data engineering tools. The Senior Data Engineer may interact with data owners, business stakeholders, or clients to clarify requirements and troubleshoot source or integration issues. Power BI or other front-end BI experience is beneficial for understanding downstream consumption, but dashboard design and visualization are not the primary focus of the role.

Key Responsibilities:

ETL/ELT & Data Pipeline Engineering (35%)

• Architect, develop, optimize, and operate complex batch and event-driven pipelines across diverse enterprise sources.

• Create reusable SQL, Python, Spark, and orchestration patterns with robust logging, exception handling, and alerting.

• Lead modernization of legacy ETL and Microsoft BI integrations into approved Azure or Fabric architectures.

Azure Data Platform & Cloud Engineering (25%)

• Make solution-level design decisions across Azure Data Factory, Azure SQL, storage, Functions, Databricks, Synapse, Fabric, and related Microsoft data platform components.

• Support migration and modernization of legacy data processes and Microsoft BI infrastructure into scalable Azure-based architectures.

• Define technical solution architecture for data lakes, lakehouses, warehouses, data marts, integration layers, and foundational data services.

• Build solutions with attention to scalability, security, performance, and cost-conscious use of cloud and AI resources.

Data Modeling, Warehousing & Integration (20%)

• Maintain relational and dimensional data models, including star schemas, facts, dimensions, semantic structures, and warehouse structures.

• Design complex integrations across databases, APIs, files, applications, and streaming or semi-structured sources.

• Partner with BI Developers and data owners on grain, history, definitions, lineage, semantic needs, and service expectations.

Data Quality, DevOps & Operational Excellence (15%)

• Design automated validation, reconciliation, observability, lineage, and data-quality frameworks.

• Establish source control, code reviews, testing, CI/CD, release, monitoring, and incident-response practices.

• Lead root-cause analysis and resolution of complex pipeline, integration, and performance incidents.

Requirements, Documentation & Technical Collaboration (5%)

• Lead peer/design reviews, knowledge sharing, and technical guidance that improves consistency, maintainability, and supportability across the data environment.

• Maintain architecture decisions, technical specs, mappings, and support models.

This description is a summary of the general level of work and is not intended to be all-inclusive. Duties and responsibilities may evolve based on business need and the approved organizational design. We reserve the right to add or delete duties and responsibilities at the discretion of the supervisor and/or hiring authority.

Work Location:

Hybrid – this role is eligible for a hybrid schedule of three (3) days per week on campus and as needed for in-person meetings.

Why Join Us:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is a world-class medical destination at the forefront of transformative science, medicine, education and patient care. The campus encompasses the University of Colorado health professional schools, more than 60 centers and institutes, and two nationally ranked independent hospitals - UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and Children's Hospital Colorado - that treat more than two million adult and pediatric patients each year. For more information, visit www.cuanschutz.edu.

The School of Medicine (SOM) Office of the Dean Information Services team supports a wide range of digital, data, application, infrastructure, compliance, web, and end-user technology services across departments. This role is part of the Data team and focuses on the engineering, integration, and platform capabilities that support analytics and operational data solutions.

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation, and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package, including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options

• Dental: Multiple plan options

• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision

• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay

• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year

• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)

• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)

• Holiday Days: 15/year

• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses

• ECO Pass: Reduced-rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, data science, engineering, or a directly related field from an accredited institution.

  • Substitution: A combination of education and related technical/paraprofessional experience may be substituted for the bachelor’s degree on a year-for-year basis.

• At least two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in data engineering, data integration, database development, business intelligence engineering, data warehousing, or a closely related technical field.

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.