Junior Data Engineer

Ripotek Technologies Inc.; Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision benefits

Professional development budget

Certification exam fees covered

RRSP matching

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

Ripotek Technologies Inc. seeks a Junior Data Engineer to support client projects by building data pipelines, writing SQL queries, and assisting with data platform implementations.

This entry-level role suits recent graduates or those with 0–2 years of experience, offering mentorship and real enterprise exposure. You will learn and contribute across data engineering, client support, and learning & development, with a clear path to Microsoft certifications and career progression within a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or completion of Ripotek training or equivalent self‑taught projects.
• 0–2 years in data engineering, analytics, or BI.
• Internships or co‑op experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain ELT pipelines using Azure Data Factory, Databricks, or Fabric.
• Write SQL queries for data transformations and validation.
• Develop Python or Scala scripts for data processing.
• Implement data quality checks and error handling.
• Assist with data modeling; document data flows and pipelines.
• Perform unit testing and monitor pipeline executions.

Skills

SQL

Python

Azure Basics

Data Concepts

Version Control

Tools (VS Code,ADS)

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IS or related field

Ripotek Azure Data Engineer or Databricks training program OR equivalent self-taught experience

0-2 years data engineering/analytics/BI

Tools

Azure Data Factory

Databricks

Synapse

Job description

Role Overview

As a Junior Data Engineer, you'll support client projects by building data pipelines, writing SQL queries, and assisting with data platform implementations. This is an entry-level role ideal for recent graduates of our training programs or candidates with 0-2 years of experience. You'll receive hands‑on mentorship and grow your skills on real enterprise projects.

Key Responsibilities

Data Engineering (60%)

• Build and maintain ELT pipelines using Azure Data Factory, Databricks, or Fabric
• Write SQL queries for data transformations and validation
• Develop Python or Scala scripts for data processing
• Implement data quality checks and error handling
• Assist with data modeling (dimension and fact tables)
• Document data flows, pipelines, and transformations
• Perform unit testing on data pipelines
• Monitor pipeline executions and troubleshoot failures

Client Support (20%)

• Participate in client meetings and standups
• Gather requirements from business users
• Create technical documentation (runbooks, data dictionaries)
• Provide status updates on assigned tasks
• Support user acceptance testing (UAT) activities

Learning & Development (20%)

• Shadow senior engineers on architecture and design discussions
• Complete assigned training modules and certifications
• Participate in code reviews and learn best practices
• Attend weekly learning sessions and knowledge shares
• Work toward Microsoft certifications (DP-203, DP-900, etc.)
• Ask questions and seek feedback on your work

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field OR Completion of Ripotek's Azure Data Engineer or Databricks Engineer training program OR Equivalent self-taught experience with demonstrable projects
• 0-2 years of professional experience in data engineering, analytics, or BI
• Internship or co‑op experience in data/tech is a plus
• Personal projects or GitHub portfolio demonstrating data skills

Technical Skills

• Sql - Proficiency in writing SELECT, JOIN, GROUP BY, window functions
• Python - Basic scripting (pandas, requests, file I/O)
• Azure Basics - Familiarity with Azure portal, resource groups, storage accounts
• Data Concepts - Understanding of ETL/ELT, data warehousing, data lakes
• Version Control - Basic Git (clone, commit, push, pull)
• Tools - Comfortable with VS Code, Azure Data Studio, or similar IDEs

Nice to Have

• Exposure to Azure Data Factory, Databricks, or Synapse
• Power BI for data visualization
• Spark or Scala basics
• Understanding of CI/CD concepts
• Experience with Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban)

Soft Skills

• Eagerness to learn and grow
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to follow instructions and ask clarifying questions
• Good time management and ability to meet deadlines
• Team player and collaborative mindset
• Receptive to feedback and coaching
• Good written and verbal communication

Preferred Qualifications

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900)
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate (DP-203) or actively pursuing
• Completion of Ripotek training program with strong performance
• Internship at a tech company or consulting firm
• Contributions to open‑source projects
• Personal blog or portfolio showcasing data projects

What We Offer

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive entry‑level salary: $65K-$80K
• Annual performance bonus (5-10% of salary)
• RRSP matching (3% of salary)
• Health, dental, and vision benefits
• Professional development budget ($2,500/year)
• Certification exam fees covered (DP-900, DP-203, etc.)

Work Environment

• Hybrid: 2 days/week in Calgary office for collaboration and mentorship
• Flexible hours (core hours 10am-3pm MT)
• MacBook Pro or Surface Laptop
• Home office setup allowance ($1,000)
• Modern downtown office

Growth & Development

• Structured onboarding and mentorship program (first 90 days)
• Pair programming with senior engineers
• Bi‑weekly 1-on-1s with your manager
• Clear career path: Junior - Intermediate - Senior Data Engineer
• Exposure to multiple clients and industries
• Encouraged to pursue Microsoft certifications
• Annual performance reviews with skill development plans

Culture

• Supportive, learning‑focused environment
• No expectation to know everything - asking questions is encouraged!
• Diverse team with varied backgrounds
• Work on meaningful projects for real clients
• Collaborative, low‑pressure culture
• Celebrates learning and growth

What Success Looks Like (First Year)

Months 1-3

Complete onboarding, shadow senior engineers, work on small pipeline tasks

Months 4-6

Independently build simple pipelines, participate in code reviews, earn DP-900 cert

Months 7-9

Lead small modules on projects, mentor newer juniors, start DP-203 prep

Months 10-12

Contribute to architecture discussions, earn DP-203 cert, take on more complex tasks

Interview Process

1. Phone Screen (30 min) - HR and hiring manager
2. Technical Assessment (take-home, 2-3 hours) - Build a simple data pipeline
3. Technical Interview (60 min) - SQL queries, Python coding, Azure basics
4. Behavioral Interview (30 min) - Learning agility, teamwork, problem-solving
5. Team Meet (30 min) - Casual conversation with your potential teammates

Timeline: 2 weeks from application to offer