Remote Lead Data Engineer Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

⚠️ RECRUITMENT FRAUD ALERT: Please be aware that fraudulent job offers are being sent from hr@heliocampuscareers.com. This domain is NOT affiliated with HelioCampus. All legitimate communication will come exclusively from @heliocampus.com.

Who We Are:
HelioCampus was founded with the purpose of helping college & university leaders navigate today’s growing pressures. As one of EdTech’s most steadily growing companies, our roots in higher ed ground us in the critical nature of this work.

What We Do:
We help our clients navigate today’s high stakes with data and Institutional Performance Management practices. Together with our clients, we chart a path to sustainability by borrowing practices from the most successful businesses.

How We Do It:
We approach our work with a “we’re on it” attitude that the higher ed community has come to know and expect from our team. We’re data geeks to our core, committed to simplifying the toughest challenges and operating with transparency. Our most successful team members are change agents who love a challenge.

How You'll Help:
As a Data Engineer II, you will be a key architect in building and maintaining our specialized higher education data warehouse. You will ensure that institutional data is reliable, high-performing, and delivered in a timely manner, directly enabling university leaders to make informed, strategic decisions.

What You Will Do:

• Develop: Design, build, and deploy robust ETL/ELT solutions using SQL and Python.

• Test & Deploy: Perform comprehensive unit testing and participate in code reviews to ensure data integrity and system reliability.

• Analyze: Monitor and evaluate pipeline performance trends to proactively prevent bottlenecks and system failures.

• Troubleshoot: Diagnose and resolve complex ETL issues in real-time, identifying root causes to prevent recurrence.

• Collaborate: Work closely with analysts and senior engineers to expand reporting models that meet evolving university goals.

You Will Be a Good Fit For This Role If You Have:

• Previous experience in the Higher Education or EdTech sector.

• 3+ years of professional experience specifically in ETL/SQL development and data engineering.

• Expertise in SQL: Strong proficiency in developing complex queries, analyzing data, and managing system integrations.

• Data Architecture Knowledge: A solid understanding of data warehouse concepts, structures, and dimensional modeling.

• Coding Proficiency: Experience with at least one object-oriented programming language (Python, Java, etc.).

• An Analytical Mindset: The ability to think on your fly and approach technical challenges with a solution-oriented focus.

• Autonomy: A drive to explore technical hurdles and find solutions with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Have’s Include:

• Experience with AWS tools (Redshift, S3, Glue) or other major Cloud Service Platforms.

• Exposure to NoSQL data transformation approaches.

• Proficiency in translating complex business requirements into technical SQL specifications.

Projects You Will Work On:

• Higher Ed Data Warehouse Expansion: Scaling our core warehouse to accommodate new data sources and institutional partners.

• KPI Modeling: Refining and expanding reporting models to track student learning outcomes and financial sustainability.

• Pipeline Modernization: Optimizing existing ETL processes to leverage modern cloud-native features for faster processing.

Location:
HelioCampus has two locations, Bethesda, MD and Chapel Hill, NC. This specific role is primarily remote, with occasional travel to an office or client site.

Compensation and Benefits:
HelioCampus offers employees a competitive salary along with paid time off, healthcare, vision, dental, 401(k) w/ company match, parental leave, remote work flexibility, home office perks, and a fun, collaborative work environment.

What Sets Us Apart:

1. Commitment to Higher Education: We believe that serving higher ed makes the world a better place. This drives our desire to deliver high-quality products and services to help higher education institutions serve their students and communities.

2. Flexibility to Fit Your Life: HelioCampus employees enjoy the autonomy, freedom, and trust of a remote-first working environment. We embrace an “on it” mentality both in and out of the workplace, and employees are supported in pursuing personal and professional passions.

3. A Community of Bright Minds with Big Hearts: HelioCampus hires curious and talented practitioners who bring a diversity of thought and genuine care for one another and our clients to work every day. Our team members are more than a job description and are encouraged to show up as their full and authentic selves.

What We Believe:
HelioCampus is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

Disclaimer:
The list of responsibilities described above is not comprehensive. Other tasks not mentioned here may be required. Changing business conditions may trigger changes to job responsibilities. This job description is not an employment contract.

Physical Qualifications:

This position requires the following physical qualifications to support a productive remote work environment. We are dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role. If you require accommodations, please discuss this during the application process.

Vision: Sufficient visual acuity to read documents, view computer screens, and engage in tasks that require attention to detail.

Hearing: Ability to communicate effectively in person (as applicable) and via phone or video conferencing, ensuring clear understanding of verbal instructions.

Fine Motor Skills: Proficient use of hands for typing, using a mouse, and managing office equipment such as printers and scanners.

Lifting: Occasional lifting of up to 10 pounds (e.g., office supplies or equipment).