Sr. Data Engineer

The City of Seattle is hiring a Senior Data Engineer to support the Seattle Police Department’s Data Analytics Platform (DAP) and related data systems.

Responsibilities

• Partner with data scientists, data architects, developers, business stakeholders, program managers, and external partners to convert requirements into well-engineered data products.
• Assess emerging tools and AWS services for feasibility, cost, and business value to inform long-term technology strategy.
• Coordinate Seattle IT resources to support and enhance the Seattle Police Data Analytics Platform (DAP) Data Mart/Warehouse.
• Lead production support, including operational monitoring and troubleshooting, stakeholder support, and infrastructure design through development, testing, and deployment.
• Support operations that may include work outside standard business hours.
• Plan, build, and implement improvements to AWS-based analytics systems, on-premises data stores, and analytical models.
• Evaluate requirements, feasibility, and resource needs, then deliver updated data products in collaboration with stakeholders and technical teams.
• Research future-state analytics approaches using emerging technologies and AWS services; evaluate feasibility, cost, business value, and resource impact.
• Participate in strategic discussions and presentations with leadership.
• Build and maintain scalable, secure, high-performance data pipelines and ETL/ELT processes.
• Ensure observability, testability, reliability, and workflow automation through CI/CD and monitoring.
• Provision, manage, and optimize AWS data resources.
• Develop and maintain clear documentation for pipelines, architecture, and data models.
• Review code, mentor teammates, and support skill development.
• Define and enforce standards for schema evolution, versioning, and overall data quality.
• Monitor and remediate security vulnerabilities identified by AWS Inspector.
• Collaborate with data scientists, architects, developers, and other technical teams to deliver data products.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, business information systems, database management, or related field (or equivalent combination of experience in lieu of a degree).
• 5+ years demonstrating proficiency with database technologies, SQL, scripting, performance optimization, scheduling, and integration tools such as Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL (plus ETL/ELT tools and scheduling/integration frameworks).
• 4+ years delivering data solutions that support business and operational needs, including developing data warehouses, operational data stores, and analytics models.
• 3+ years designing reliable, observable, and testable data pipelines, implementing automation, CI/CD practices, and workflow orchestration.
• 3+ years designing and recommending architectures for large-scale analytics initiatives, assessing resource requirements, and working extensively with AWS cloud services, including cloud-native analytics tools such as CloudFormation, S3, Glue, Python, Spark, Lambda, and Athena, plus the ability to design, build, and support cloud-based data warehouses, datamarts, and curated data stores, including data migrations, resource provisioning, and security, privacy, and cost management (text truncated).
• Demonstrated experience working in Agile environments using tools such as Jira, Confluence, SharePoint, and Teams.
• Strong written, verbal, and visual communication skills; ability to tailor technical information for diverse audiences.
• Ability to translate high-expectation customer discussions into clear, actionable business requirements and structured solution designs.
• Experience collaborating with technical and non-technical stakeholders, including business owners, program managers, data scientists, data architects, developers, and external partners.
• Ability to build confidence through transparent communication, follow-through, and a structured approach to aligning on priorities, timelines, and deliverables.
• Familiarity with analytics and reporting tools such as Tableau, plus a commitment to learning emerging data technologies for future-state planning.
• Experience supporting data science and machine learning workflows (for example, feature pipelines and model deployment) using SageMaker or similar platforms.

Technologies

• AWS
• SQL
• Oracle
• SQL Server
• PostgreSQL
• ETL/ELT
• CI/CD
• AWS Inspector
• CloudFormation
• S3
• Glue
• Python
• Spark
• Lambda
• Athena
• Jira
• Confluence
• SharePoint
• Teams
• Tableau
• SageMaker
• Agile
• workflow orchestration
• data warehouses
• operational data stores
• analytics models
• data pipelines
• ETL/ELT processes

Salary

• Full pay range: $62.26 - $93.41 per hour.
• Individual role salary based on experience, training, and internal equity.

Telework Expectations

• Hybrid work schedule flexibility.
• Minimum requirement of three days onsite per week (subject to change at any time at the mayor’s discretion).
• Schedules based on operational needs and agreement between the employee and their supervisor.

Benefits

• Vacation, holiday, and sick leave
• Medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents
• Free public transportation options

Application & Selection Process

• Complete online application with accurate contact information and relevant work history going back at least 10 years (or more if necessary), including all job duties, dates of employment, and reasons for leaving explained clearly.
• Complete supplemental questions.
• Provide a complete application.
• Attachments will not be reviewed.
• Applicants screened for competitiveness, completeness, and attention to detail.
• Most competitive candidates will be invited to interview.

Who May Apply

• Open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications.
• The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences.
• Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
• The City encourages applications from people of all backgrounds, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experience.

Why Join the City of Seattle

• The City recognizes that every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism.
• To cultivate an antiracist culture, employees are expected to engage in the Race and Social Justice Initiative by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures, unlearn established practices, and provide equitable processes and services.

Background Check

• Hiring process includes a background check of conviction and arrest records in compliance with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance (SMC14.17).
• Applicants will have an opportunity to explain or correct background information.

Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Certification

• Must pass a criminal background investigation and obtain CJIS certification for work on Seattle Police systems.
• Visit Qualifications - Police | seattle.gov for specific criteria.