Data Engineer Jobs in Bluffton, SC (NOW HIRING)

Location: Beaufort County, SC
Work Arrangement: Hybrid
Compensation: $35.18-$41.97 per hour
Schedule: Full-time

We are recruiting on behalf of a mission-driven public-sector organization seeking an experienced Business Intelligence Developer - SQL & Data Integration to join its data team.

This role sits at the intersection of data, technology, business process improvement, reporting, and automation. It is ideal for someone who enjoys looking at a manual or inefficient process and asking, "How can we make this work better through data and technology?"

You will work with data from existing systems and use SQL, Power BI, data integration, scripting, and automation to make information more connected, accurate, accessible, and useful across the organization.

This is more technical than a traditional Data Analyst position, but it is not a traditional Database Administrator or Data Engineer role. Rather than building or administering the organization's core source systems, you will work with available data, integrate information across systems, automate repetitive workflows, and create solutions that make day-to-day operations more efficient.

In this role, you will:

• Develop, write, and optimize SQL queries, views, stored procedures, and parameterized scripts to improve data access and operational workflows.
• Work with existing database structures and available back-end data to develop reliable, scalable solutions for internal users.
• Develop a strong understanding of existing systems, data structures, relationships, and dependencies.
• Integrate data from systems that do not naturally communicate with one another.
• Build and maintain Power BI dashboards, reports, data models, and visualizations that provide meaningful, actionable insights.
• Use advanced DAX and Power Query capabilities to transform and model data.
• Automate repetitive processes and workflows using tools such as Python, PowerShell, SQL, Power Query, or similar technologies.
• Replace manual Excel-, Word-, and click-intensive processes with more efficient, technology-driven solutions.
• Structure and prepare data so end users receive information in a usable format with minimal manual manipulation required.
• Identify and resolve data discrepancies to maintain accuracy, reliability, and data integrity.
• Evaluate existing business processes and identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary steps, manual effort, and duplication.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to translate business needs into practical technical solutions.
• Coordinate with external vendors regarding data transfers, integrations, security requirements, and technical issues.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend improvements that support efficiency and scalability.
• Share best practices and technical knowledge with other members of the data team.

The organization is specifically looking for someone who can combine technical expertise with a strong understanding of how data supports real-world business operations.

Many of the organization's existing processes have historically required employees to export data, manipulate spreadsheets, sort information manually, or repeat the same steps each time a report or workflow is needed.

Your goal will be to reduce that manual effort.

Instead of simply creating another spreadsheet or macro, you may use SQL to organize and prepare the data earlier in the process, create an automated workflow, integrate data from multiple sources, or build a Power BI solution that gives users the information they need in a ready-to-use format.

The end goal is to allow employees to focus on the work that requires their expertise rather than spending time manually preparing data.

The successful candidate will bring real-world experience working with SQL, business intelligence, data integration, and automation.

Qualifications include:

• Approximately 5+ years of experience in database development, ETL, data integration, business intelligence, data engineering, or a related area.
• Intermediate-to-advanced SQL skills, including professional experience writing queries and working with relational databases.
• Experience developing complex queries and working with database tables, relationships, views, stored procedures, and data transformations.
• Strong Power BI experience, including data modeling, DAX, and Power Query.
• Experience with ETL and data integration processes.
• Experience using Python, PowerShell, or another scripting language for workflow or data automation.
• Strong understanding of data quality, accuracy, consistency, and integrity.
• Experience identifying inefficient processes and developing technical solutions to improve them.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills.
• Familiarity with version-control tools such as Git.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a changing environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to explain technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving skills, initiative, and personal accountability.

A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, or a related field is preferred. Equivalent professional experience may also be considered. The original role criteria call for a related bachelor's degree or eight years of equivalent experience, along with at least five years of database development, ETL, or data-engineering experience.

You are someone who understands that the best technical solution starts with understanding the business problem.

You enjoy asking questions such as:

• Why are employees doing this manually?
• Why are we moving the same information between systems over and over?
• Can SQL prepare this data before it ever reaches Excel?
• Can this workflow be automated?
• Can Power BI provide users with what they need without rebuilding the same report each month?

You are comfortable working in an environment where systems may not always connect seamlessly and where you may need to develop creative solutions using the data and technical access available to you.

You also enjoy working with both technical and non-technical colleagues and can translate a business need into a practical data solution.

This role is a hands-on technical position involving:

• SQL development
• Business intelligence
• Power BI
• Data integration
• Workflow automation
• ETL
• Data quality
• Business process improvement

This role is not primarily:

• IT help desk or technical support
• Database administration
• Software engineering
• Systems administration
• Traditional data analysis focused only on reporting
• Full-scale data engineering or database architecture

Instead, this person serves as the bridge between existing systems, available data, business processes, and the people who rely on that information.

This position is part of a collaborative data team and works with both internal stakeholders and external technology partners.

The role offers a hybrid work environment, but candidates should be located within reasonable proximity of Beaufort County, South Carolina. Candidates within the broader Beaufort, Charleston, Savannah, or Columbia region may be considered depending on their ability to meet in-person requirements.

This is not a fully remote, work-from-anywhere position.

The organization values people who demonstrate initiative, accountability, continuous learning, collaboration, and a willingness to find better ways of working. The successful candidate should be equally comfortable independently solving a technical problem and partnering with a colleague to understand why a current process is not working.

The anticipated compensation range for this position is:

$35.18-$41.97 per hour

Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and alignment with the requirements of the role.