Data Engineer (Chicago-Based - Onsite/Hybrid)

HNI Corporation; Muscatine (IA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

HNI Corporation in Muscatine, IA area seeks a Data Engineer I to develop and maintain data pipelines that enable analytics and reporting across the organization. You will move data from source systems into a cloud data environment, making it available to BI and analytics tools.

This early-career role emphasizes hands-on work with SQL, Python, ETL/ELT, and cloud data platforms, especially Azure and Snowflake, while following established architecture and security practices.

Qualifications

• Foundational professional experience in data engineering.
• Ability to develop, test, and maintain data pipelines.
• Familiarity with enterprise data sources and analytics use cases.
• Strong SQL and Python fundamentals.

Responsibilities

• Develop, test, deploy, and maintain data pipelines used for analytics and reporting.
• Build ETL/ELT processes using SQL, Python, cloud-native tech and established frameworks.
• Extract data from enterprise apps, databases, files, and APIs.
• Transform data into standardized structures for analytics and downstream apps.

Skills

SQL

Python

ETL/ELT

Cloud platforms

Azure

Snowflake

Tools

Azure

Snowflake

Databricks

Job description

Position at HNI Corporation

Description

HNI Corporation is a global family of brands for the workplace and home dedicated to enhancing the spaces where we live, work, and gather. We pride ourselves on fostering an environment where we make a positive impact on others; upholding our beliefs in integrity, inclusion and belonging.

Position Summary

The Data Engineer is an early-career technology professional responsible for developing, maintaining, and supporting the data pipelines and data structures that enable analytics, reporting, and data-driven decision-making across HNI Corporation.

Working as part of the Data Engineering and Decision Sciences organization, this position helps move data from enterprise applications and other source systems into HNI’s cloud-based data environment, where it can be organized, transformed, and made available to Business Intelligence, analytics, and other data consumers.

The Data Engineer I performs hands-on development using SQL, Python, ETL/ELT technologies, and cloud data platforms, with an emphasis on Microsoft Azure and Snowflake. The role works within established data architecture, engineering standards, security requirements, and development practices while gradually building the technical depth necessary to design increasingly complex data solutions.

This position is appropriate for someone with foundational professional experience in data engineering, database development, business intelligence, software development, or a related technical discipline who is ready to expand their experience working with enterprise-scale data. Success requires strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, attention to data quality, curiosity about how data is created and used, and a willingness to learn new technologies and engineering practices.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate has already moved beyond learning SQL and programming solely in an academic environment and has begun applying those skills to real business data and production technology environments.

They may currently be a junior Data Engineer, BI Developer, Database Developer, Analytics Engineer, Data Analyst with strong technical skills, or Software Developer whose work has increasingly focused on data.

They do not need to arrive as an expert in Azure, Snowflake, Databricks, data architecture, or large-scale cloud engineering. More important is a strong foundation in SQL, logical problem solving, data manipulation, and basic programming, combined with enough professional experience to understand concepts such as source systems, production data, testing, version control, documentation, and downstream dependencies.

The successful candidate is curious about what happens to data before it reaches a dashboard or analytical model. When a number appears wrong, they want to understand where it came from, how it was transformed, and where the discrepancy entered the process. When a pipeline fails, they can investigate the problem methodically rather than simply rerunning the job.

This role is intended to provide a strong foundation for continued development within Data Engineering. With experience, the Data Engineer I should progress from developing defined pipeline components and resolving straightforward technical issues toward independently designing integrations, building more complex data solutions, optimizing performance, and contributing more substantially to enterprise data architecture.

Worksite And Sponsorship

This is a full-time, direct-hire position that will work a minimum of two days per week from HNI's offices in downtown Chicago (near the Merchandise Mart). Candidates seeking fully remote work arrangements or who cannot commit to this level of onsite presence will not be considered. Employment based sponsorship IS NOT available for this position. Candidates requiring employment based sponsorship (now or in the future) to work at HNI will not be considered.

Essential Duties

Data Pipeline Development

• Develop, test, deploy, and maintain data pipelines used to ingest, transform, and deliver enterprise data.
• Build ETL/ELT processes using SQL, Python, cloud-native technologies, and established data engineering frameworks.
• Extract data from enterprise applications, databases, files, APIs, and other approved data sources.
• Transform source data into standardized structures appropriate for analytics, reporting, and downstream applications.
• Develop pipeline components according to established architecture, naming conventions,