IT Software Engineer – Data

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Take ownership of the data infrastructure supporting Nelnet’s GenAI offerings for higher education and SLED clients.

• Design, construct, and oversee BigQuery and Dataflow or Cloud Composer/Apache Airflow data pipelines.

• Develop and maintain ELT/ETL processes for the batch ingestion of SIS, ERP, and casework-system data into Google Cloud analytics and RAG data repositories.

• Monitor the reliability, performance, and cost of pipelines, optimizing the use of BigQuery and Dataflow jobs.

• Classify and tag client data utilizing Dataplex and Cloud DLP.

• Define and implement data access controls and governance policies.

• Evaluate and document data readiness for AI applications.

• Create data models and schemas for current use cases and reusable patterns.

• Collaborate with client technical teams regarding source-system constraints, data access, and extraction methodologies.

• Keep documentation updated regarding data flows, schemas, and classification decisions.

• Execute the delivery backlog, provide technical estimates, and identify data-related risks.

• Ensure that pipelines deliver agentic solutions with the necessary structure and freshness.

• Conduct reviews and testing for data quality.

• Work in partnership with GCP/Gemini Enterprise Engineering, AgentOps, the Forward Deployed Engineer, and the Engagement Manager.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent professional experience.

• Proven experience in building data pipelines and ELT/ETL processes for analytics or GenAI applications on a major cloud data platform — required.

• Strong preference for direct experience with BigQuery and Dataflow or Cloud Composer/Apache Airflow.

• Familiarity with data governance and classification tools for sensitive or regulated data.

• Working knowledge of cloud storage, messaging, and access control concepts.

• Google Cloud certification is preferred.

• Proficient SQL skills.

• Experience with Python for developing pipelines and transforming data.

• Understanding of data privacy and compliance issues related to education or public sector data, such as FERPA.

• Experience collaborating with client or partner technical teams to extract and integrate data from legacy or third-party systems.

• Capability to work from a defined backlog and convert technical requirements into functional data pipelines.

• Skilled in SQL development and performance optimization.

• Strong understanding of the software development lifecycle with exposure to agile or iterative delivery methodologies.

• Proficient in ETL design and development using at least one tool, such as SSIS.

• Basic knowledge of C#.NET for SSIS scripting.

• Understanding of RDBMS principles.

• Familiarity with Agile methodologies.

• Preferred experience in database design and modeling.

• Experience with JIRA/TFS is preferred.

• Helpful experience with Netezza and PostgreSQL.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

• Ability to work effectively within a distributed virtual team.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to obtain a security clearance.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical insurance.

• Dental insurance.

• Vision insurance.

• HSA and FSA options.

• Generous earned time off.

• 401K/student loan repayment assistance.

• Life insurance and AD&D insurance.

• Employee assistance program.

• Employee stock purchase program.

• Tuition reimbursement.

• Performance-based incentive pay.

• Short- and long-term disability coverage.

• Wellness program.

• Reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.