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).
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 Strategy & Architecture Ownership
- Evolve CAI's data architecture strategy to support reporting, analytics, AI/ML, and operational needs
- Architect and oversee implementation of end-to-end data warehousing solutions integrating diverse institutional and platform data sources
- Establish and enforce standards for dimensional modeling (e.g., Kimball methodology, Star and Snowflake schemas), pipeline design, documentation, and engineering best practices
- Ensure cloud data platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Databricks) are optimized for scalability, reliability, cost efficiency, and long-term sustainability
- Design and maintain complex ELT frameworks and scalable pipeline patterns
People Leadership & Team Development
- Directly manage and mentor Data Engineers and Senior Data Engineers, including performance management, coaching, hiring, and career development
- Foster a culture of shared ownership, technical excellence, and continuous learning
- Provide technical guidance and architectural oversight across projects, ensuring high-quality delivery and consistency
- Plan for team growth and capability development to support CAI's long-term data vision
Governance, Risk & Compliance
- Establish and operationalize scalable data governance practices, including standards for data quality, metadata, lineage, and access controls
- Ensure compliance with institutional and regulatory data privacy requirements (e.g., FERPA, GDPR) within a higher education environment
- Promote strong data stewardship and responsible use of institutional and learner data
Cross-Functional Leadership & Strategic Alignment
- Partner with Engineering, Online Learning, XR, and campus stakeholders to translate complex business and academic needs into cohesive data strategies and solutions
- Lead discovery sessions with stakeholders and communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences
- Align team priorities with CAI's strategic objectives and contribute to roadmap planning within the data domain
- Oversee service delivery and stakeholder engagement to ensure responsive, high-impact data support
Innovation & Community Engagement
- Evaluate and thoughtfully incorporate emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools, into engineering workflows and team practices
- Co-lead or sponsor initiatives such as the BI + AI Community of Practice and Data Hours to strengthen campus-wide data literacy and collaboration
What You'll Do
The Center for Academic Innovation (CAI) at the University of Michigan is seeking a Lead Data Engineer to guide and scale our Data and Business Intelligence function. As we expand our Data, BI, and AI/ML capabilities to support innovative educational solutions, the Michigan Online platform and CAI internal operations, you will step into this newly created leadership role and lead the design, governance, and evolution of our enterprise data ecosystem.
This role combines deep technical expertise with people leadership. You will establish architectural standards, design and build secure, scalable, high-performing data solutions, and ensure they advance CAI's priorities and mission. As the senior technical authority, you will also lead a team of data engineers and cultivate a collaborative, service-oriented, and innovative culture.
Required Qualifications*
- Bachelor's degree required. Degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Information Systems, or related field preferred
- 7+ years of progressive experience in data engineering, data architecture, or related technical roles
- 1+ year of direct supervision of professional staff experience with demonstrable servant leadership of technical teams
- Expert-level knowledge of dimensional modeling (Star and Snowflake schemas) and enterprise data warehousing best practices
- Deep experience with modern ELT frameworks and cloud-based data platforms like Snowflake
- Proven ability to design and scale complex data ecosystems integrating numerous source and target systems
- Demonstrated success leading and developing high-performing technical teams
- Experience aligning technical roadmaps with organizational strategy
- Ability to independently manage large, cross-functional initiatives from concept through delivery
- Strong project management discipline and experience using enterprise collaboration tools such as Asana
- Experience establishing data governance frameworks and ensuring regulatory compliance
- Proven ability to lead stakeholder discovery sessions and communicate effectively with non-technical audiences
- Strong collaboration skills in a matrixed, mission-driven organization
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
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 $115,000 - $125,000. 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. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time 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 Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.