Data Engineer

uConnect is on a mission to help more people realize their potential by improving access to career resources and services - early in their lives and throughout their careers. Initially focused on the post-secondary higher education market, uConnect's All-In-One Virtual Career Center is used by schools like UCLA, MIT, and Baton Rouge Community College to radically increase student and alumni engagement with career services, and integrate career planning into the student experience, before, during and after college.

We are committed to lowering barriers to opportunity for students and recent graduates from all backgrounds. Our customers are some of the most dedicated and capable career services professionals in the world and our software helps them be even more successful in their mission of helping students. 

We have created a working environment that is fun and collaborative and puts people first. We have a physical office in Cambridge, MA but operate as a remote-first organization, encouraging mobility for all employees, and to work from their chosen environment. uConnect is backed by leading education technology investors including Growth Street Partners, Strada Education and LearnLaunch.

Summary:

uConnect is dedicated to unleashing the full potential of data to drive innovation and impact in our industry. We are currently seeking a skilled Data Engineer to join our dynamic team and lead our data strategy to new heights. As a Data Engineer at uConnect, you'll be at the forefront, demonstrating the ROI of our products to both existing and prospective customers. You'll spearhead initiatives related to analytics tooling, guide scoping conversations, and contribute significantly to data programming. Your role is pivotal in ensuring seamless data flow between diverse teams and tools while upholding regulatory and ethical compliance in our data practices.

Why We Need You:

Data is at the core of our business strategy, and we require a dedicated owner. If you resonate with any of the following profiles, we want to hear from you:

● Experienced data engineer or analyst with programming skills.

● A startup enthusiast or someone seeking a cross-functional and self-directed role.

● Senior software or DevOps engineer with a passion for data engineering.

● Advanced data analyst with a knack for programming.

Primary Responsibilities:

In this role, you will have a direct impact on our data-driven journey by:

● Discussing business objectives with stakeholders.

● Collaborating with product managers to collect and prioritize data collection needs.

● Building data pipelines and an event-driven analytics model.

● Creating data visualizations and dashboards.

● Understanding and adhering to trust and safety constraints.

● Owning and iterating on our data systems in collaboration with the engineering team.

● Researching and evaluating potential vendors.

● Validating project outcomes across teams.

● Empowering teams across uConnect to meet their data needs.

● Managing and optimizing student product engagement data.

● Developing a strategic data roadmap aligning long-term plans with day-to-day decisions.

Secondary Responsibilities:

● Conducting code reviews for other engineers.

● Researching tools, techniques, and regulatory issues.

● Writing internal documentation about data availability, data modeling, and graph interpretation.

● Consulting API documentation from vendors to evaluate data flow possibilities.

● Testing new data workflows between first- and third-party tools and demonstrating proof-of-concept work.

● Ensuring data security and compliance by enforcing access controls, encryption, monitoring, and regulatory adherence.

A Typical Day:

Your daily routine will be diverse and engaging, involving:

● Active participation in daily engineering standup meetings.

● Collaborative discussions with stakeholders and peers to prioritize data needs.

● Hands-on programming for data pipelines and code reviews.

● In-depth research on data tools, techniques, and regulatory requirements.

● Documentation of critical insights on data availability, modeling, and visualization.

● Consultation of API documentation to evaluate data flow possibilities.

● Rigorous testing of new data workflows and showcasing proof-of-concept results.

● Crafting compelling data visualizations within dashboards.

Required Skills, Background & Experiences:

Required Skills:

● Proven experience in data engineering, including data pipeline development, ETL processes, and data warehousing. 

● Strong self-management and team leadership abilities.

● Proficiency in Python, Javascript, and/or PHP being ideal.

● Mid-to-advanced level SQL skills in any flavor.

● Sound statistical analysis skills for meaningful data interpretation.

● A knack for creating precise data visualizations.

● Strong communication skills

● Working remotely with a cross-functional team and collaborating with other engineers.

Preferred Skills, Background & Experiences:

● Familiarity with BigQuery or similar data tools.

● Exposure to Google Analytics.

● Strong aptitude for self-directed learning and growth.

● Experience in auditing application-level security with product engineers.

● Proficiency in code validation using test automation.

● Hands-on experience in DevOps/CI pipeline management.

● Familiarity with event-driven frameworks like WordPress.

● Knowledge of data collection policies and regulatory constraints.

Why You Should Join Us:

At uConnect, you will have the opportunity to:

● Contribute to our mission and make a meaningful impact.

● Lead and own data systems from discussions to delivery.

● Grow personally as an individual contributor.

● Shape the future of data collection and utilization in our organization.

How to Apply:

If you're ready to be part of a team that's transforming the way we use data and meet the requirements outlined above, we invite you to apply now. Help us shape the future of data at uConnect. Together, we'll achieve remarkable results!

EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity Employer

uConnect is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive work environment. All qualified applicants will receive considerations for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, veteran status, and any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local anti-discrimination laws. 

View The EEO is the Law poster and its supplement. 

uConnect participates in E-Verify. View the E-Verify posters here. 

Disability Accommodation

For individuals with disabilities that need additional assistance at any point in the application and interview process, please contact our Manager of People Operations, Karen Lewis at [email protected].