Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. CalOptima is a mission-driven community-based organization focused on serving member health with excellence and dignity. They are seeking a Data Engineer, Platform Modernization to help modernize their data systems, transitioning from legacy databases to a cloud-native data ecosystem while collaborating with various teams to ensure consistency and efficiency in data management.
Responsibilities
- Assists the team in carrying out department responsibilities and collaborates with others to support short and long-term goals/priorities for the department
- Participates in a mission driven culture of high-quality performance, with a member focus on customer service, consistency, dignity and accountability
- Responsible for the modernization and decommissioning of the Microsoft Access database estate, applying technical judgment to inventory and centralization work performed in partnership with Data Governance and Information Security to recommend retire, migrate or replace paths
- Designs and delivers modern replacements for legacy Access databases and departmental applications using Power BI, Power Platform with Dataverse, SQL Server stored procedures and the enterprise cloud data platform
- Ports SQL Server stored procedures and legacy database logic to the modern cloud data platform (e.g., Databricks, Microsoft Fabric, Snowflake) and to the medallion (Bronze, Silver, Gold) architecture using transformation frameworks such as dbt
- Partners with Data Governance to surface, document and validate business rules embedded in legacy stored procedures and Access databases during migration
- Collaborates with business owners across the enterprise to understand legacy data workflows, negotiate retire and migrate decisions and ensure continuity of business-critical reporting and operational processes
- Contributes to the Silver and Gold layers of the medallion architecture, developing transformation models, reporting structures and data quality tests as platform capacity grows
- Develops parameterized SQL Server Management Studio templates and scheduled jobs to replace ad-hoc query and reporting patterns from retired Access databases
- Works within established CI/CD pipelines and platform change management practices (e.g., GitHub, Azure DevOps), operating through governed development, test and production environments
- Documents legacy systems, migration decisions and reusable modernization patterns to support future platform modernization work
- Queries and analyzes large-scale health care datasets and business logic (e.g., claims, eligibility, provider, member data) using SQL and other tools to support migration analysis and validation
- Reports modernization progress, risks and decisions to leadership on a regular cadence to ensure visibility and alignment with the enterprise data strategy
- Stays informed on emerging modernization patterns, low-code platforms and cloud data tools, and proactively recommends enhancements to the organization's modernization approach
- Manages multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with stakeholder expectations
- Completes other projects and duties as assigned
Skills
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, health informatics, data analytics or a related field PLUS 5 years of professional experience in data engineering, data warehousing, database development or legacy systems modernization required; an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the position such as those listed above may also be qualifying
- 2 years of hands-on experience working with Microsoft Access and VBA programming required
- 4 years of hands-on experience working with health care data, including administrative and clinical datasets, and familiarity with HIPAA compliance required
- Master's degree in computer science, health informatics, data analytics or a related field
- Relevant certifications
- Demonstrated experience leading legacy data platform modernization or decommissioning initiatives at enterprise scale
- Hands-on experience porting SQL Server stored procedures and other legacy database logic to a modern cloud data platform (e.g., Snowflake, Microsoft Fabric, Databricks)
- Production experience with dbt and medallion (Bronze, Silver, Gold) data architecture
- Experience with Power Platform solution design, including Power Apps, Power Automate and Dataverse, as replacements for legacy departmental applications
- Experience with at least one other programming language (e.g., Python, Scala) for automation and analysis
- Experience with CI/CD tools and practices (e.g., GitHub, Azure DevOps) for data workflows
- In-depth experience with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) for legacy ETL analysis and modernization
- Experience working in a healthcare payer environment supporting multiple lines of business, including Medicaid, Medicare, commercial, and dual-eligible populations
- Familiarity with data governance practices and tools (e.g., Collibra, Purview)
- Experience in regulated industries (e.g., government)
Benefits
- Full Telework (If the position is Telework, it is eligible in California only)
- A comprehensive benefits package
- CalPERS pension program and additional retirement packages.
- A generous PTO program
- A quality work life balance
- Various wellness programs
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Professional development opportunities
- Career development opportunities
- Flexible scheduling
- And the satisfaction of knowing your work directly impacts and improves healthcare access for thousands of individuals and families.
Company Overview
CalOptima is a county organized health system that provides health insurance programs. It was founded in 1993, and is headquartered in Orange, California, USA, with a workforce of 1001-5000 employees. Its website is https://www.caloptima.org/.