Data Engineer

The Data Engineer will play a crucial role in advancing the CDC Foundation’s mission by supporting a cloud-based SPARK data repository for a public health organization. This role is aligned to the Workforce Acceleration Initiative (WAI). WAI is a federally funded CDC Foundation program with the goal of helping the nation’s public health agencies by providing them with the technology and data experts they need to accelerate their information system improvements.

Working within the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH), the Data Engineer will support a cloud-based SPARK Data Repository by preparing curated data for FHIR-enabled interoperability and enterprise analytics. This role focuses on developing data models, transformations, and refresh strategies that enable SPARK to serve as a single, authoritative source for interoperable data exchange. As part of the Workforce Acceleration Initiative, the position strengthens TDH’s core data infrastructure by ensuring high-quality, standardized data is available to support FHIR services and downstream public health use cases.

The Data Engineer will be hired by the CDC Foundation and assigned to the Tennessee Department of Health. This position is eligible for a fully remote work arrangement for U.S. based candidates.

Responsibilities Develop FHIR-aligned curated data models within the SPARK data lakehouse. Implement data transformations to prepare prioritized datasets for ingestion into FHIR services. Support entity resolution alignment and use of golden record identifiers. Collaborate with the SPARK team to establish data refresh and extension strategies. Participate in ongoing SPARK team meetings and support curated data requests. Assist with connectivity between SPARK, Rhapsody, and FHIR services Up to 10% domestic travel may be required., This role is involved in a dynamic public health program. As such, roles and responsibilities are subject to change as situations evolve. Roles and responsibilities listed above may be expanded upon or updated to match priorities and needs, once written approval is received by the CDC Foundation, in order to best support the public health programming.

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Information Systems, or related field. Minimum of 5 years of experience in data engineering or analytics engineering roles. Experience with cloud data platforms, data lakehouses, and SQL-based modeling. Strong understanding of data transformation, ETL/ELT processes, and data quality practices. Familiarity with health data standards and interoperability concepts preferred. Ability to collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical partners. Familiarity with agile development methodologies, software design patterns, and best practices. Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to convey technical concepts to non-technical partners effectively. Flexibility to adapt to evolving project requirements and priorities. Outstanding interpersonal and teamwork skills; and the ability to develop productive working relationships with colleagues and partners. Experience working in a virtual environment with remote partners and teams Proficiency in Microsoft Office.