Investment Systems Senior Data Engineer

Are you excited to help an organization modernize its data stack?  We are a growing data engineering and business analytics team in need of your passion, creativity, and innovative thinking to unlock our complex and multidisciplinary data to help Colorado PERA better serve its membership.

Unleash your potential by joining our team as a Senior Data Engineer. At PERA, you can support those who have supported you whether it’s a favorite teacher, the snowplow driver that cleared winter roads or the state trooper who let you off with a warning. Chances are these people who make a difference are PERA members and you can make a difference to those who have helped you.

JOB SUMMARY

This position is responsible for solutioning, designing and creating systems that collect, manage, and convert raw data into usable information for data scientists and business analysts to interpret for Colorado PERA’s investments systems.  This position plays a crucial role in implementing software and methodologies for data correction, reconciliation, and quality checking to drive data insights and innovations, leveraging a deep understanding of data governance and data quality principles. This position requires mastery in requirements analysis, solution design, development, modeling, and process improvement coupled with the ability to collaborate effectively across various IT and business functions. In addition to delivering new technology and enhancing/supporting existing systems and providing key insights, contributes relevant technical and functional expertise, negotiates, and drives alignment, and coaches/mentors less-experienced engineers.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Degree in technical (STEM) field and four years of experience in technical role preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Expert level experience as a Data Engineer or in a similar role that require complex data integrations, transformations, scripting, and analysis in a critical production environment
• Expert level SQL/Oracle/Data Cloud database application development experience
• Demonstrated ability to make independent decisions, lead simultaneous initiatives of varying complexities, and ensure the effective completion of projects
• Experience in working and communicating effectively as a part of a team and balancing needs across stakeholders and technology teams
• Extensive experience with change management, business process improvement, incident tracking, and source control
• Extensive experience with business intelligence and data analytics tools such as Power BI
• Experience with enterprise Service Orchestration and Automation Platforms
• Experience with machine learning knowledge

Things that will help you stand out

• Deep interest in Data Science and AI
• Experience with Snowflake Data Cloud
• Expertise using Python on data management and analysis projects
• Passionate collaborator and data evangelist

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Solutions, designs, implements and optimizes data pipelines to collect, process and store datasets
• Collaborates with Investments business teams and data scientists to improve data models that feed business intelligence tools, increasing data accessibility and helps foster data-driven decision making across the organization.
• Integrates complex new data sources and manages existing data streams
• Ensures data integrity and consistency across various data sources
• Supports data governance and data quality practices
• Monitors and troubleshoots data pipelines and infrastructure
• Develops and tests ELT (Extract, Load, Transform) processes
• Automates repetitive data processing tasks to ensure data quality and timeliness
• Owns large sized data projects by providing analysis, development, testing, and deployments and contributes to larger business initiatives, while effectively collaborating with IT, SMEs and vendors
• Develops system troubleshooting documentation and refines best practices guidelines
• Leads design and code reviews and participates in incident postmortem reviews
• Participates in design and code reviews and contributes to incident postmortem reviews
• Develops an in-depth understanding of PERA’s data systems and Investments business functions
• Develops an in-depth understanding of PERA system, database, cloud, data security, security, and network environments
• Participates in 24/7 On-Call rotation and can resolve critical data pipeline issues without escalation
• Frequently attends technical training relating to current and future data systems
• Carries out other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree in technical (STEM) field and four years of experience in technical role preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Expert level experience as a Data Engineer or in a similar role that require solutioning, complex data integrations, transformations, scripting, and analysis in a critical production environment
• Experience with cloud platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure
• Expert level SQL/Query data analysis experience
• Expert level Multi-Tiered SQL/Oracle database application development experience
• Experience analyzing complex hierarchical data
• Extensive ELT and reporting experience
• Strong scripting skills, PowerShell preferred
• Expert level Data Cloud application development experience
• Expertise using Python on data management and analysis projects
• Demonstrated ability to make independent decisions, lead simultaneous initiatives of varying complexities, and ensure the effective completion of projects
• Experience in working and communicating effectively as a part of a team and balancing needs across stakeholders and technology teams
• Extensive experience with change management, business process improvement, incident tracking, and version control
• Experience with business intelligence and data analytics tools such as PowerBI
• Experience with enterprise Service Orchestration and Automation Platforms

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Standard office environment with regular computer and telephone use

• All employees are expected to present themselves in a professional manner in alignment with the financial services industry

HYBRID WORK OPTION

• Opportunity to work from home up to three days per week. Eligibility dependent upon factors detailed in PERA's Work from Home Policy.

INTERESTED CANDIDATES

Complete the employment application online at https://www.copera.org/careers. Please have copies of your resume and cover letter available to upload. Please review the following questions. You will be asked for a response to these as part of your application:

1. Why are you interested in this position?  Why do you think your skills and/ or experiences would make you successful in this position?
2. Provide details on the most complex data pipeline you have developed, and the value it delivered to the business users.
3. Share details on a project that needed to be rearchitected due to performance/resource concerns.              
4. Describe a recent situation where you had to deliver bad news to management.
5. How do you stay current in your field?
6. What is your greatest career achievement?

JOB DESCRIPTION DISCLAIMER:

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of an employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or new ones may be assigned with or without notice.

Unfortunately, at this time, we cannot consider candidates that require sponsorship (now or in the future), or are located outside of the US.

ABOUT COLORADO PERA

Looking for a career where you can make a difference? Colorado PERA offers benefit services to public employees across Colorado, including teachers, state troopers, snowplow drivers, correctional officers and many others who provide valuable services. As Colorado’s largest pension plan, we serve and educate over 600,000 members who are former and current public employees. 

At PERA you will earn more than a paycheck. PERA is a culture where you can grow your potential and work in an inclusive environment, where diverse perspectives are valued. We hire exceptional employees and recognize that our people are our best asset. Not only do we make sound investments for our members, PERA invests in our employees’ growth through training and leadership opportunities.

To promote wellbeing, we offer hybrid or flexible working options for most roles and a total rewards and benefit program including health, dental and vision coverage - eligibility starts the first day of the month following the date of hire for most plans; generous paid time off and volunteer hours; pension and retirement plans, including PERA’s defined benefit plan, 457 defined contribution plan, and 401(k) employer match, as applicable; tuition assistance; free, convenient on-site parking or RTD subsidy; free on-site fitness center to stay active; employee assistance program; training, leadership and mentoring programs and more. PERA is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualifying employer.

To learn more about life at PERA, watch this video or visit www.copera.org/careers.

Position Title: Investment Systems Senior Data Engineer
Division: Information Technology
Reports to: Investments Technical Services Manager
Job Status: Full Time, Exempt
Salary: $125,000.00 - $145,000.00, Commensurate with Experience
Posting Dates: 06/06/2025 to 06/22/2025