Data Engineer
Boston VA Research Institute, Inc. (BVARI)
We are a Boston-based epidemiology and biomedical research organization. We are actively engaged in several clinical trials, pharmacoepidemiology, chronic disease epidemiology, genetic epidemiology, biostatistical and genomics research. Our research team oversees study data related activities and Quality improvement activities to improve the way translational research is conducted and clinical care is delivered. The multi-disciplinary center consists of a highly talented group of biomedical researchers, clinicians, epidemiologists, biostatisticians, data analysts/programmers, project coordinators, and informatics team with academic affiliations to Harvard Medical School and Boston University. We are looking for candidates with a service-oriented mentality, high sense of ownership of the assigned tasks and ability to solve problems presented by data.
Project Background:
Our research group has a full-time Data Engineer opening for individuals who love working with data and want to use their data engineering skills to help researchers conduct high-impact research that expands our understanding of human health and improves healthcare outcomes for Veterans. You will work with a strong, collegial, diverse, and talented team of computer scientists, statisticians, and clinicians at BVARI, the VA Boston Healthcare System, Harvard Medical School, and the Boston University School of Medicine.
Why should a Data Engineer work at a VA-associated research institute? The VA has the largest integrated medical records database in the United States, with comprehensive clinical information on over 22 million patients (2 trillion+ rows, 22,000+ columns of data), including large amounts of both structured and unstructured data. The VA also has large databases of genomic and imaging data. Working with our group offers the opportunity to execute high-impact projects with large-scale real-world healthcare data that is unavailable at most other institutions.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develop complex, dynamic queries (CTEs, subqueries, window functions, etc.)
- Query optimization and performance tuning
- Implement views, stored procedures, and functions
- Planning, creating, and optimizing indexes (RDBMS theory B-Tree, index, Column Stored index)
- Data modeling (ERD) and ensuring data integrity
- Administrating and securing a multi-terabyte (medical) data warehouse
- Manage version control - Github
- Use of SQL Server System Catalog
- Manage SQL SSIS
Qualifications and Entrance Requirements:
- Expert-level SQL Server programming and administration skills, experience working with relational databases using SQL or willingness to learn
- Knowledge of Python and/or R is a plus
- SQL FTI and Free-Text Search is a plus
- Knowledge of VB and/or C# is a plus
- Experience with healthcare data is a plus
- Data analysis experience is a plus
Please note we are unable to provide work authorization and/or visa sponsorship.
Work Environment
This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. The candidate must reside in Massachusetts.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described in this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands; and reach with hands and arms.
Selective Service
If you are male application born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law.
This position requires the ability to occasionally lift office products and supplies, up to 20 pounds.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time position, and hours of work and days are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Travel
No travel is required for this position. Optional travel to scientific meetings may occur from time to time.
Work Authorization/Security Clearance
An employee in this position must complete all appropriate background checks at the time of hire and periodic reappointment.
Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Boston VA Research Institute provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absences, compensation, and training.
