Senior Associate Engineer - Data

Zs Associates; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A management consulting and technology firm is seeking a Senior Associate Engineer - Data in Toronto. The ideal candidate will design, build, and maintain data systems, enabling effective data processing and decision-making. Responsibilities include optimizing data pipelines and ensuring data quality. A bachelor's degree and strong technical skills in Python and big data technologies are required. The role supports a hybrid working model and offers competitive benefits.

Benefits

Health and well-being benefits

Financial planning support

Professional development programs

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in a data engineering role focused on building scalable data systems.
• Experience designing and implementing data pipelines and processing workflows.
• Strong communication skills and a client-first mentality.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain data systems and infrastructure.
• Build and optimize data pipelines for ETL processes.
• Implement data quality checks for accuracy and consistency.

Skills

Proficiency in Python

Proficiency in Java

Proficiency in Scala

Expertise in Hadoop

Expertise in Spark

Expertise in Kafka

Experience with AWS

Experience with Azure

Experience with Snowflake

Strong understanding of data modeling

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in computer science or related field

Tools

Talend

Informatica

Apache NiFi

Job description

Senior Associate Engineer - Data

ZS is a place where passion changes lives. As a management consulting and technology firm focused on improving life and how we live it, we transform ideas into impact by bringing together data, science, technology and human ingenuity to deliver better outcomes for all. Here you’ll work side by side with a powerful collective of thinkers and experts shaping life-changing solutions for patients, caregivers and consumers, worldwide. ZSers drive impact by bringing a client-first mentality to each and every engagement. We partner collaboratively with our clients to develop custom solutions and technology products that create value and deliver company results across critical areas of their business. Bring your curiosity for learning, bold ideas, courage and passion to drive life-changing impact to ZS.

Overview

The Senior Associate Data Engineer is a critical member of the engineering team, responsible for designing, building, and maintaining robust data systems and infrastructure. This role focuses on enabling efficient data processing, collection, storage, and analysis at scale to support data-driven decision-making and operational optimization.

What you’ll do:

Data Architecture and Engineering

• Build, Orchestrate and optimize data pipelines to extract, transform, and load (ETL) data from various sources into the organization's data warehouse or data lake.
• Integrate data from diverse sources such as databases APIs, streaming platforms, and file systems into cohesive data pipelines.
• Implement data integration solutions that support real-time, batch, and incremental data processing.
• Implement data quality checks and validation processes to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of data.
• Develop and maintain high-performance data pipelines that seamlessly integrate data from various sources into data warehouses, data lakes, and other storage solutions.
• Develop monitoring and alerting mechanisms to identify and address data quality issues proactively.
• Optimize ETL processes for efficiency, reliability, and data quality.
• Implement and manage data storage solutions, including relational databases, NoSQL databases, and distributed file systems.
• Manage the infrastructure and resources required to support data engineering workflows, including compute clusters, storage systems, and data processing frameworks.
• Implement security controls and data governance measures for an application to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements such as GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS. Implement encryption, access controls, and auditing mechanisms to safeguard data privacy and integrity.

Data Engineering Best Practices

• Write production-ready, testable code that adheres to engineering best practices and accounts for edge cases and error handling.
• Ensure high-quality deliverables through code reviews, design reviews, and adherence to architectural guidelines.
• Develop comprehensive unit tests and integration tests to validate data pipeline functionality and data integrity.
• Stay up to date with the latest data engineering tools, technologies, and methodologies, and evaluate their applicability to the team's needs.

Technical Leadership and Collaboration

• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers on the team.
• Collaborate with data scientists, business analysts, and other stakeholders to understand data requirements and translate them into robust engineering solutions.
• Work closely with other engineering teams to integrate data solutions seamlessly into the overall technology ecosystem.
• Participate actively in agile ceremonies, communicate progress, and manage dependencies effectively.

What you’ll bring:

Education

A relevant bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, Data Engineering, or a related technical field.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, or Scala.
• Extensive experience with big data technologies (e.g., Hadoop, Spark, Kafka) and cloud-based data platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Snowflake).
• Expertise in data integration and ETL tools (e.g., Talend, Informatica, Apache NiFi).
• Strong understanding of data modeling, data warehousing, and data lake concepts and best practices.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and application monitoring practices.
• Certifications in data engineering (e.g., Azure Data Engineer, AWS Certified Data Engineer) are a plus.

Experience

• 3+ years of experience in a data engineering role, with a focus on building scalable, reliable, and high-performance data systems with Snowflake.
• Proven track record of designing and implementing data pipelines, data storage solutions, and data processing workflows.
• Hands-on experience with distributed computing frameworks and cloud-based data services.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and communicate technical solutions effectively.
• Ability to travel to other offices or client locations as needed.
• Strong communication skills.
• Fluency in English.
• Client-first mentality.
• Intense work ethic.
• Collaborative spirit and problem-solving approach.

How you’ll grow:

• Cross-functional skills development & custom learning pathways.
• Milestone training programs aligned to career progression opportunities.
• Internal mobility paths that empower growth via s-curves, individual contribution and role expansions.

Hybrid working model:

ZS is committed to a Flexible and Connected way of working. ZSers are onsite at clients or ZS offices three days a week. Combined flexibility to work remotely two days a week is also available. The magic of ZS culture and innovation thrives in both planned and spontaneous face-to-face connections.

Perks & Benefits:

ZS offers a comprehensive total rewards package including health and well-being, financial planning, annual leave, personal growth and professional development. Our robust skills development programs, multiple career progression options and internal mobility paths, and collaborative culture empower you to thrive as an individual and global team member.

Travel:

Travel is a requirement at ZS for client-facing ZSers; the business needs of your project and client are the priority. While some projects may be local, all client-facing ZSers should be prepared to travel as needed. Travel provides opportunities to strengthen client relationships, gain diverse experiences, and enhance professional growth by working in different environments and cultures.

Considering applying?

At ZS, we honor the visible and invisible elements of our identities, personal experiences and belief systems—the ones that comprise us as individuals, shape who we are, and make us unique. We believe your personal interests, identities and desire to learn are integral to your success here. We are committed to building a team that reflects a broad variety of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences. Learn more about our inclusion and belonging efforts and the networks ZS supports to assist our ZSers in cultivating community spaces and obtaining the resources they need to thrive. If you’re eager to grow, contribute and bring your unique self to our work, we encourage you to apply.

ZS is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment and advancement opportunities without regard to any class protected by applicable law.

To complete your application:

Candidates must possess or be able to obtain work authorization for their intended country of employment. An online application, including a full set of transcripts (official or unofficial), is required to be considered.

NO AGENCY CALLS, PLEASE.

Find Out More At:

www.zs.com