Data Engineer

University of Wisconsin–Madison; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 61,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The MIDUS study at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is seeking a Data Engineer I to support data management for aging research. You will organize data pipelines, prepare datasets, and ensure quality across waves using SPSS, Python, and REDCap.

The role includes developing scalable architectures, collaborating with data scientists, and supervising student staff. Most work is onsite with potential limited remote work after the probation period.

Qualifications

• Experience with REDCap.
• One or more years’ work experience with research projects.
• Experience with data cleaning and quality assurance.
• Experience with longitudinal databases, especially survey data.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience with SPSS.
• Familiarity with Python and SQL.
• Good organizational skills to handle multiple priorities while remaining attentive to detail.
• Experience training and supervising undergraduate student staff.
• Ability to work well independently as well as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Organizes both data preparation and analysis steps into reproducible pipelines that can process similar data sets automatically
• Prepares data sets for current and future analysis including cleaning/quality assurance, transformations, restructuring, and integration of multiple data sources and may use technologies that support data at scale
• Develops, constructs, tests, and maintains architectures for large-scale data management and analysis
• Implements data analysis steps in collaboration with data scientists, statisticians, and/or other researchers and may use technologies that support data at scale
• Selects appropriate technologies and optimizes pipelines for performance
• May supervise the day-to-day activities of student staff including data entry

Skills

REDCap

SPSS

Data cleaning

Longitudinal databases

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Python

SQL

REDCap

SPSS

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Data Engineer I

Job Summary:

The MIDUS study (Midlife in the United States) is a multi-disciplinary longitudinal study of aging conducted by the University of Wisconsin Institute on Aging. The Data Engineer will assist MIDUS Biomarker project staff in managing electronic data and other materials collected in the current wave of longitudinal data collection as well as extant Biomarker and other data obtained during 3 prior waves of MIDUS using tools including SPSS, Python, and REDCap. Biomarker project data is collected by project staff during clinical visits at two study locations in a variety of digital and analog formats. The Data Engineer receives, organizes, and quality controls this data as it is delivered by project staff and participates in cleaning it for release once a wave of data collection has concluded. This position also provides technical support to the design team as new waves of data collection are designed and implemented. In addition, this position has a supervisory role related to data entry.

Additional Information:

• This position can be full-time or part-time, between 75-100% (between 30 hours a week and 40 hours a week. The final appointment percentage will be determined in collaboration between the selected candidate and the supervisor, taking into consideration departmental needs and the candidate’s preferences. Duties and responsibilities will be tailored to align with the selected candidate's appointment level. Salary will be pro-rated based on FTE.

• This position requires most work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. After a trial period, with supervisor approval, an arrangement of up to one day per week of remote work may be considered.

• This position is expected to have a work schedule from Monday to Friday within normal business hours.

• A cover letter and resume are required; incomplete applications will not be considered.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Organizes both data preparation and analysis steps into reproducible pipelines that can process similar data sets automatically

• Prepares data sets for current and future analysis including cleaning/quality assurance, transformations, restructuring, and integration of multiple data sources and may use technologies that support data at scale

• Develops, constructs, tests, and maintains architectures for large-scale data management and analysis

• Implements data analysis steps in collaboration with data scientists, statisticians, and/or other researchers and may use technologies that support data at scale

• Selects appropriate technologies and optimizes pipelines for performance

• May supervise the day-to-day activities of student staff including data entry

Department:

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR), Institute on Aging

Compensation:

The minimum annual salary for this position is $68,000, but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. For a summary of benefits, please see

https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/fasl.pdf

Required Qualifications:

• Experience with REDCap

• One or more years’ work experience with research projects

• Experience with data cleaning and quality assurance

• Experience with longitudinal databases, especially survey data

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Experience with SPSS

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with Python and SQL

• Good organizational skills to handle multiple priorities while remaining attentive to detail

• Experience training and supervising undergraduate student staff

• Ability to work well independently as well as part of a team

Education:

Bachelor's degree required. Graduate work or degree in epidemiology, population health, social sciences, or information science preferred.

Contact Information:

Angel Stampfli

[e-mail]

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal OpportunityEmployer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgroundsand encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.