Principal Data Engineer / ITS Operational Analytics

Hartford HealthCare; Farmington (CT); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Hartford HealthCare is seeking a Principal Data Engineer to lead the strategic design, development, and optimization of our advanced data infrastructure. You will architect data solutions to support analytics, AI initiatives, and digital health transformation, while ensuring governance, privacy, and security across systems.

You will mentor a team of engineers and collaborate with cross-functional partners to align data strategy with business priorities, enabling high-performance data integration

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, mathematics, or related quantitative field required.
• 8+ years of hands-on data software development experience, including cloud-native architectures (GCP preferred).
• 8+ years with Python, SQL, and Java.
• 8+ years with ETL design, data modeling, and building robust data pipelines.
• Advanced experience with cloud-based data engineering (GCP, AWS, or Azure).

Responsibilities

• Design scalable, secure data pipelines across cloud and on-premise environments.
• Lead enterprise data architecture, including data models, ETL, and data warehouses.
• Collaborate with data scientists, governance teams, and IT leadership to align architecture with goals.
• Define and drive long-term data strategy; mentor data engineers and promote best practices.

Skills

Python

SQL

Java

Data pipelines

GCP

AWS

Azure

ETL design

Data modeling

Data lake/lakehouse

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree (CS/Engineering)

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

FHIR/HL7

Job description

Location Detail

9 Farm Springs Rd Farmington (10566)

Work where every moment matters.

Every day, over 40,000 Hartford HealthCare colleagues come to work with one thing in common: Pride in what we do, knowing every moment matters here. We invite you to become part of Connecticut’s most comprehensive healthcare network.

The creation of the HHC System Support Office recognizes the work of a large and growing group of employees whose responsibilities are continually evolving so that we and our departments now work on behalf of the system as a whole, rather than a single member organization.

With the creation of our new umbrella organization we now have our own identity with a unique payroll, benefits, performance management system, service recognition programs and other common practices across the system.

Position Summary

The Principal Data Engineer will drive the strategic design, development, and optimization of Hartford Healthcare's (HHC) advanced data infrastructure. This role involves the architecture and development of data solutions that enable reliable, high-performance analytics, data science initiatives, and digital transformation across the organization. The Principal Data Engineer will work closely with cross-functional teams, lead the engineering team, and play a critical role in shaping HHC’s long-term data strategy while ensuring adherence to data governance, privacy, and security best practices.

Position Responsibilities

Key Areas of Responsibility

Strategic Leadership & Data Infrastructure Development

• Design and oversee the implementation of scalable, resilient, and secure cloud-based and on-premises data pipelines to handle complex and large-scale data sets from multiple sources.
• Drive strategic initiatives around data lakehouse, data mesh, and advanced architectures that meet the evolving needs of the organization.
• Ensure high-performance data integration to support enterprise-wide reporting, AI-driven analytics, and digital health innovation.

Architecture & Innovation

• Lead the design of enterprise-wide data architecture frameworks, including data models, ETL pipelines, and data warehouses, ensuring optimized processing and storage for diverse use cases.
• Implement next-generation data management solutions by researching and experimenting with new technologies (e.g., real-time streaming, serverless architectures, and machine learning integration).

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with key stakeholders, including data scientists, data governance teams, clinical informatics, and IT leadership, to align data architecture with organizational goals.
• Partner with leadership in defining long-term data strategies and ensuring technical alignment with business priorities.

Data Governance & Security

• Ensure all data engineering solutions adhere to HHC's data governance frameworks, complying with HIPAA, HITECH, and other healthcare regulations.
• Implement automated data security, privacy controls, and audit trails to protect sensitive healthcare information and comply with internal and external data protection standards.

Mentoring & Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and provide technical guidance to a team of junior and senior data engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and technical excellence.
• Promote best practices for agile development, DevOps, data version control, and automation across the data engineering team.

Innovation & Experimentation

• Lead experimentation with new data platforms, tools, and approaches to continuously enhance the organization's data capabilities.
• Create technical roadmaps for new data initiatives, anticipating future needs and driving proactive scaling of systems.

Working Relationships

This Job Reports To (Job Title): Director Data Engineering and Architecture

Qualifications

Requirements and Specifications:

Education

• Minimum:
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, mathematics, or related quantitative field required.
• 8+ years of hands‑on experience in data software development, including cloud-native architectures (GCP preferred).
• Extensive (8+ years) experience with programming languages such as Python, SQL, and Java.
• 8+ years of Experience with specialized data architecture (e.g., data lake, lake house, data fabric, data mesh)
• 8+ years of experience with ETL design, data modeling, and building robust data pipelines.
• Proactive and self‑motivated with a passion for continuous learning and staying updated with best practices, new features, and emerging technologies.
• Advanced experience with cloud‑based data engineering, GCP, AWS, or Azure.
• Proactive in driving strategy, aligning technical solutions with business needs, and managing day to day operations between cross‑functional teams.
• Preferred:
• Master’s degree in computer science, healthcare administration, or related field preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in data software development that includes building data and digital platforms
• 10+ years experience with programming languages such as Python, SQL, and Java.
• Experience with healthcare data standards (e.g., FHIR, HL7) and working with clinical systems.
• 10+ years of experience with ETL design, data modeling, and building robust data pipelines.
• 7+ years working with modern data governance, privacy frameworks, and healthcare compliance (HIPAA).

Knowledge, Skills And Ability Requirements

• Strong leadership, mentoring, and project management experience; time and project management skills; demonstrated skills in verbal and written expression of ideas; in person and virtual presentation skills; in-depth knowledge and familiarity with healthcare/healthcare system data.

We take great care of careers.

With locations around the state, Hartford HealthCare offers exciting opportunities for career development and growth. Here, you are part of an organization on the cutting edge - helping to bring new technologies, breakthrough treatments and community education to countless men, women and children. We know that a thriving organization starts with thriving employees-- we provide a competitive benefits program designed to ensure work/life balance. Every moment matters. And this is your moment.