Data Engineer (Philadelphia Public Library)

Company Description

A best-in-class city that attracts the best talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. Our vibrant arts scene, rich history, and culture filled with passion and resilience offer countless reasons to both live and work here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people across more than 1,000 job categories, the City of Philadelphia provides limitless opportunities for making a difference.
In terms of employment, the City of Philadelphia prizes inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above everything else. We provide a dynamic work atmosphere, comprehensive health care and benefits, along with the experiences you need to develop and excel. If you want to work with a passionate team people who care about Philadelphia's future, your journey starts here.
What We Offer:
• Impact - The work you do here has significance for millions.
• Growth - Philadelphia is thriving, why not grow with us?
• Diversity & Inclusion - Pursue a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We genuinely care about your wellbeing.

The Office of Innovation & Technology (OIT) is the City of Philadelphia's central IT agency, led by the Chief Information Officer (CIO). OIT oversees all significant information and communications technology initiatives, enhancing the efficacy of the IT infrastructure. We ensure the services offered are sophisticated, optimized, and responsive to the needs of the City of Philadelphia’s businesses, residents, and guests. OIT responsibilities include outlining the best approach for implementing new IT directions throughout city government, improving the value of the city's technology assets and technological investment returns and planning for continuing operations in case of IT or communications services disruptions among others.

The Free Library of Philadelphia (FLP) is one of the world's largest public library systems. FLP, a vital part of Philadelphia's community, strives to promote literacy, guide learning, and foster curiosity. Established over 100 years ago, FLP has advocated for education inside and outside the classroom, providing cost-free resources for literacy and learning.

Job Description

The Free Library of Philadelphia is seeking an experienced Data Engineer to join the Research & Data Analytics group. The Data Engineer will design, develop, and maintain data architecture and infrastructure to facilitate efficient data collection, storage, and analysis to support Performance Management goals. The Data Engineer will work with data scientists, analysts, and other team members ensuring data reliability and readiness for analysis. Expertise in data pipelines, ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes, and data warehousing is crucial for this role. The Data Engineer will also help develop and support Open Data initiatives for the Free Library’s data sharing goals by integrating suitable City, state, and federal datasets.

Essential Functions
• Design, build, and maintain data pipelines to automate data extraction, transformation, and loading from various sources.
• Develop and maintain data models to support Performance Management goals, including schema structures designing, data dictionaries formulation, and defining relationships.
• Integrate data from various sources, such as databases, APIs, logs, and third-party data providers, into a unified and accessible format.
• Develop and optimize ETL processes ensuring data quality, consistency, and availability. Handle data cleansing, enrichment, and transformation as required.
• Maintain and optimize data warehousing solutions (e.g., SQL databases, NoSQL databases) ensuring efficient data storage and availability.
• Monitor and fine-tune data pipelines and database systems for optimal performance, scalability, and reliability.
• Implement data security and privacy measures to safeguard sensitive information, comply with relevant data protection regulations, and establish the right access controls.
• Generate and maintain data engineering processes documentation, data models, and data flow diagrams to facilitate understanding and collaboration.
• Collaborate with data analysts, software developers, and FLP Leadership to comprehend data needs and provide support for data-driven decision making.
• Execute data governance practices, including data lineage, metadata management, and data cataloging.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:
• Proficiency in R, Python programming languages, and database query languages (SQL).
• Familiarity with ETL tools and data integration methodologies.
• Experience with data warehousing solutions.
• Familiarity with big data technologies (Hadoop, Spark) is desirable.
• Experience with Linux server administration.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
Preferred:
• Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
• Experience handling regulatory requirements related to PII.
• Knowledge of containerization and orchestration tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
• Understanding of data streaming technologies (e.g., Kafka, Apache Flink).
• Familiarity with data governance and data cataloging tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Science, or a related field.
• 3 years of experience as a Data Engineer or in a similar role.

Additional Information

Salary Range: $75,000 – $85,000

Starting salary will be determined based on experience and qualifications.

Important: Applicants must provide a cover letter and resume.

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their dependents
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are offered
• Pay off your student loans faster - City of Philadelphia employees can participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program if eligible. Join hundreds of employees who have benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Enjoy a Free Commute on SEPTA - Starting September 1, 2023, City employees won't need to pay for SEPTA public transportation. Whether you're a full-time, part-time, or provisional employee, you can sign up for the SEPTA Key Advantage Program and receive free Key cards for SEPTA buses, trains, trolleys, and regional rails.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses. In some cases, these offers extend to spouses and dependents.
Join the City of Philadelphia team today, and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial wellbeing and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must become a resident of the City of Philadelphia within six months of employment.

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations will no longer be a prerequisite for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency, or non-patient facing positions. As a result, only employees in medical care-related positions providing patient-facing services (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel) must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate against individuals based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information, or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you experienced discrimination, you can contact the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or via email at [email protected].