Senior Data Engineer

Uniting; City of Parramatta; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading community service organization is seeking a Senior Data Engineer to design, build, and maintain scalable data platforms. This hybrid role will involve collaborating with various stakeholders, providing technical leadership, and ensuring best practices in data management. Candidates should have over 10 years of experience in data engineering with strong skills in Python and SQL. The position promises a rewarding challenge in a supportive environment, emphasizing inclusivity and diversity.

Qualifications

• 10+ years’ experience in data engineering, analytics and ML solutions.
• Proven experience with ETL/ELT pipelines.
• Solid understanding of data modelling and governance.

Responsibilities

• Design, build and maintain scalable data platforms.
• Integrate diverse data sources to create trusted datasets.
• Monitor system performance and implement improvements.

Skills

Strong proficiency in Python

Strong proficiency in SQL

Problem-solving skills

Collaboration

Communication

Education

Tertiary qualification in Computer Science, IT, or related

Tools

Git

Microsoft Azure

Snowflake

Job description

Senior Data Engineer

Marsden Street, Parramatta (hybrid working available)

10‑month fixed‑term contract.

About Uniting

Our purpose: To inspire people, enliven communities and confront injustice. Our values: Imaginative, Respectful, Compassionate and Bold. At Uniting, we take real steps to make the world a better place. Our focus is always on the people we serve, wherever they are in life. We deliver services across aged care, disability, child and family services, community services and chaplaincy, alongside strong social justice and advocacy work. We celebrate diversity and welcome all people regardless of lifestyle choices, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation or gender identity. Uniting is the services and advocacy arm of the Uniting Church NSW & ACT. Our leaders understand, support and can articulate the mission and purpose of the Uniting Church.

About the role

As a Senior Data Engineer, you will design, build and maintain scalable, secure and high‑quality data platforms that enable analytics, reporting and advanced data use across Uniting. Working within the Data Engineering Chapter in the Data & Analytics team, you will collaborate closely with data analysts, data architects and business stakeholders. You will provide technical leadership, contribute to architectural decisions, and help uplift data engineering practices to support informed, data‑driven decision‑making across the organisation.

This role is a 10‑month fixed‑term contract and reports to the Chapter Lead – Data Engineering within the Property, Finance & IT directorate.

Key Accountabilities

• Integrate diverse data sources to create trusted, accessible datasets.
• Architect and implement solutions to support large‑scale data processing.
• Automate data ingestion, transformation and delivery workflows.
• Monitor system performance, identify bottlenecks and implement improvements.
• Apply best practice in data security, access controls and compliance.
• Provide technical leadership through code reviews, mentoring and design guidance.
• Evaluate and adopt new tools and frameworks to enhance data engineering capability.

About you

You are an experienced, hands‑on data engineer who thrives in complex environments and enjoys partnering with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders. You bring strong problem‑solving skills, a collaborative approach, and the confidence to guide technical outcomes while remaining pragmatic and delivery‑focused.

As a staff member at Uniting, you actively support diversity and inclusion and work in ways that reflect our values.

Your capabilities

Individual Leadership

• Takes ownership of outcomes and delivers with a proactive, “can‑do” mindset.
• Works collaboratively to improve performance and ways of working.
• Remains resilient and focused when navigating complexity.
• Plans and delivers work within agreed timeframes.

Business Acumen

• Understands Uniting’s objectives and how this role contributes to them.
• Applies organisational values to day‑to‑day decision‑making.
• Analyses problems, seeks input where appropriate and implements effective solutions.
• Builds strong relationships and influences outcomes without direct authority.

Qualifications and experience

Essential

• Tertiary qualification in Computer Science, Information Technology, Systems Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• 10+ years’ experience designing, developing and supporting data engineering, analytics and ML solutions.
• Strong proficiency in Python and SQL.
• Proven experience designing and managing ETL/ELT pipelines.
• Solid understanding of data modelling, governance, quality and security.
• Experience working with non‑technical stakeholders, demonstrating strong communication, empathy and insight.
• Proficiency with Git or similar source‑control tools.
• Ability to quickly learn and apply new tools and technologies.

Highly regarded

• Experience with cloud data platforms, particularly Microsoft Azure (e.g. Azure Data Factory).
• Experience with Snowflake, including schema design, performance tuning and secure data sharing.
• DevOps and automation experience (e.g. Python scripting, API integration, automated releases).
• Exposure to predictive analytics, machine learning or statistical techniques (Python/R).