Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. GovCIO is seeking an experienced Senior Data Engineer to support the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Data Modernization initiative. This role focuses on enabling secure, scalable, and user-friendly data environments to ensure VA users can rapidly adopt and leverage modern data tools.
Responsibilities
- Lead migration efforts from on-premises infrastructure to cloud-based solutions
- Lead teams of data platform engineers, security teams, and analytics stakeholders to ensure compliant and efficient workspace operations
- Map new users to the appropriate workspace personas and configurations
- Build and configure workspaces in PreProd (with live data) or Prod environments, including setup of Service Principals, workgroup personas, access controls, and security configurations
- Create and manage linked services, mount points, and integrations between Databricks and the VHA Data Lake
- Develop and maintain Databricks catalogs to support streamlined data discovery and governed access
- Troubleshoot user issues related to data access, workspace configuration, pipelines, cataloging, or permissions, escalating to engineering teams when needed
- Ensure compliance with VA security, governance, and documentation standards while maintaining high system reliability
- Monitor operational performance, identify bottlenecks, and recommend improvements to workspace automation, data access flows, and user support operations
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives including automation enhancement, intake optimization, and workspace standardization
- Document processes, SOPs, access models, and configurations to support operational transparency and repeatability
- Provide white-glove support to new and existing users, ensuring strong adoption and high user satisfaction
Skills
- Bachelor's degree plus 12 years experience in Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field. (or commensurate experience)
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
- Expertise with Azure or other major cloud platforms
- Proficiency in data engineering fundamentals such as ETL/ELT pipeline development, data modeling, and managing structured and unstructured datasets
- Ability to automate provisioning workflows and infrastructure using scripting or infrastructure-as-code tools (Python, PowerShell, Bash, Terraform, ARM, or Bicep)
- Skilled in implementing secure identity and access management (IAM), RBAC models, and data governance practices within enterprise or federal environments
- Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities for diagnosing platform, data access, and pipeline issues and collaborating across teams for resolution
- Effective communication skills with the ability to document technical processes, create reusable templates, and support users through onboarding, office hours, and white-glove assistance
- Ability to collaborate with cross-functional engineering and business teams
- Strong documentation practices and experience building standard operating procedures
- Experience supporting public sector or healthcare data environments is a plus
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