How to Apply
A cover letter and resume are important submissions for the hiring team to get a sense of your experience. In the cover letter, in two pages or less, please let us know how this role aligns with your career aspirations and skill set. Submit both a cover letter and resume as one file (because of system limitations).
What You'll Do
The Center for Academic Innovation (CAI) at the University of Michigan is seeking a highly qualified Data Engineer Senior to join our growing Data and Business Intelligence team. As we expand our Data, BI, and AI/ML capabilities in support of innovative educational solutions, the Michigan Online platform, and other CAI initiatives, this newly created role will be instrumental in designing, implementing, and optimizing a world-class data infrastructure. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to translate complex business needs into robust data solutions. In addition to hands-on engineering, you will mentor colleagues and contribute to a culture of technical rigor, innovation, and continuous improvement, with ongoing opportunities to further grow and refine your technical leadership skills.
Who We Are
About the Center for Academic Innovation
Through curricular innovation, tools for student success, and educational research and analytics, the University of Michigan Center for Academic Innovation is building the future of education. Our vision is a future in which education connects and empowers learners everywhere to reach their full potential throughout their lives. To realize our vision, we make it our mission to collaborate across campus and around the world to create equitable, lifelong educational opportunities for learners everywhere.
About the Data and Business Intelligence Team
The Data and Business Intelligence Team within the Center for Academic Innovation (CAI) at the University of Michigan drives CAI's data strategy, ensuring that data is used responsibly, ethically, and securely. Our team of data engineers, scientists, and analysts powers internal operations and the Michigan Online platform by leveraging data as our universal language for analytics, insights and decision-making. We strive to democratize access to data while upholding strong standards for governance, security, and privacy. Through collaboration and communities of practice, we share innovations, learn from peers, and help foster a culture of data-informed decision-making across CAI and the broader campus.
For more information, please visit our website: Academic Innovation.
Responsibilities*
Data Architecture & Solution Design
- Architect and implement end-to-end data warehousing solutions that integrate diverse systems and enable actionable metrics, reporting, and AI/ML use cases.
- Design and build scalable, resilient, and maintainable data architectures across cloud platforms.
- Establish and enforce standards for data modeling, pipeline development, and documentation.
Advanced Data Modeling & Engineering
- Apply expert-level dimensional modeling techniques (e.g., Kimball methodology, Star and Snowflake schemas) to design robust logical and physical data models.
- Build and optimize complex ELT workflows and data pipelines across a large number of systems.
- Lead performance tuning and cost optimization efforts across Snowflake, Matillion, and related cloud technologies.
Data Governance, Security & Compliance
- Contribute to and help operationalize scalable data governance practices.
- Ensure compliance with data privacy and security standards (e.g., FERPA, GDPR) within a higher education context.
- Promote high standards of data quality, documentation, and operational reliability.
Strategic Partnership & Technical Leadership
- Partner with stakeholders across Engineering, Online Learning, XR, and other teams to translate complex business needs into resilient technical solutions.
- Mentor and support other data engineers, fostering a culture of rigor, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Evaluate and thoughtfully incorporate emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools, into engineering workflows.
Required Qualifications*
- Bachelor's degree required. Degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field preferred.
- 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in data engineering, data architecture, or related technical roles.
- Expert-level knowledge of dimensional modeling (Star and Snowflake schemas) and data warehousing best practices.
- Deep experience with modern ELT frameworks and cloud data platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Matillion).
- Proven ability to design, build and scale complex data pipelines across numerous systems.
- Strong problem-solving, collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Ability to independently lead technical initiatives from design through deployment and manage multiple projects using tools like Asana.
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Additional Information
Please Note: This is a 5 year term limited position with the possibility of renewal depending on funding.
Candidates must have legal authorization to work in the United States.
The mode of work for this position is Hybrid with a minimum of 4 days in the office per week, Monday through Thursday, with an option of remote work on Fridays. On occasion, you may be required and must be available to work onsite on Fridays if necessitated by our center's policy and domain leadership or by your job requirements.
The salary for this position will be based upon the selected candidate's education and experience.
Excellent benefits are available, for details, see http://benefits.umich.edu/
Salary Information
The general salary range for this position is $105,000 - $115,000. Candidates can expect to be paid a competitive and equitable salary. Factors used to determine salary include education level, experience, knowledge and skills for the position and salaries that are currently established within the unit. All candidates are encouraged to discuss salary questions to honor alignment and transparency throughout the recruiting process.
Organizational Statement on Harassment
We believe all individuals deserve to be treated with respect and dignity and have the right to work in a professional atmosphere that promotes mutual respect and a safe space for collaboration. Any concerns shared with any staff members and student employees in the Center for Academic Innovation will be reported to the Equity, Civil Rights, & Title IX Office to be reviewed and addressed, and the Center for Academic Innovation encourages reporting of any forms of harassment including sexual and gender-based harassment.
Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.
Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
Decision Making Process
Applications will be reviewed as received throughout the posting period and continue until the position is filled.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.