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).
 

The Center for Academic Innovation (CAI) at the University of Michigan is seeking a talented Data Engineer 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 role will contribute to the design, implementation, and optimization of a scalable and reliable data infrastructure. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to translate business requirements into effective data solutions and support the development of data pipelines, models, and systems that enable analytics and reporting. This role emphasizes strong hands-on engineering, continuous learning, and active participation in a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and ongoing improvement, with opportunities to grow technical leadership skills over time.

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.

Data Engineering & Pipeline Development

• Build, test, and maintain reliable and scalable data pipelines that integrate data from diverse source systems into centralized data platforms.
• Implement and optimize ELT processes to deliver high-quality, analytics-ready data.
• Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize pipeline performance, reliability, and cost efficiency. 

Data Modeling & Warehousing

• Support the development of logical and physical data models using dimensional modeling techniques (e.g., Star and Snowflake schemas).
• Contribute to curated data layers that enable reporting, dashboards, and AI/ML applications.

Cloud Data Platform Operations

• Work within cloud-based data platforms like Snowflake to support performance tuning, cost management, and operational stability.
• Assist with managing structured and unstructured datasets across multiple systems and environments.

Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders (Engineering, Online Learning, XR, and others) to understand data requirements and translate them into technical solutions.
• Identify opportunities to improve data quality, reliability, documentation, and engineering processes.
• Participate in team knowledge sharing and contribute to community initiatives such as Data Hours or the BI+AI Community of Practice.

• Bachelor's degree required. Degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field preferred.
• 3+ years of experience in data engineering, data warehousing, ELT development, or related technical roles.
• Working knowledge of dimensional modeling concepts (Star and Snowflake schemas).
• Experience building and maintaining data pipelines across multiple source and target systems.
• Experience with ELT tools and cloud data platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Matillion).
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional environments.
• Proactive, results-oriented mindset and eagerness to learn new data technologies.

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.

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.

Candidates must have legal authorization to work in the United States.

Please Note: This is a 5 year term limited position with the possibility of renewal depending on funding.

Salary Information

The general salary range for this position is $96,000 - $105,000. 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.

Please Note:  This is a 5 year term limited position with the possibility of renewal depending on funding.

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/

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.

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.

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 anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

Applications will be reviewed as received throughout the posting period and continue until the position is filled.

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.