AWS Data Engineer

About the role

Syms Strategic Group (SSG) is seeking a talented Senior Systems Engineer (Amazon Web Services (AWS) Data Engineer) to lead the next phase of a healthcare data platform modernization for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This is a full-time, 100% U.S.-based remote position.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Lead the next phase of the healthcare data platform modernization
• Implement the evolution from a Microsoft SQL eXtensible Markup Language (MSSQL XML) object store toward a scalable, cloud-native AWS data architecture that enables business stakeholders and analysts to run performant, SQL-based reports and queries against healthcare data seamlessly
• Evaluate and decide the right AWS data strategy for the platform
• Evaluate and recommend the optimal AWS-native data storage and query architecture for the XML object store data, assessing options such as S3 + Athena, Aurora, DynamoDB, Redshift, and OpenSearch based on query patterns, reporting needs, cost, and scalability
• Design and build the reporting and query layer that allows business stakeholders and non-technical users to run relational SQL queries against healthcare data using familiar tooling
• Architect the migration path for XML object store data from MSSQL into the target AWS platform, defining storage formats, partitioning strategies, and data organization for optimal query performance
• Build and maintain AWS data catalog, schemas, and metadata management so that object store data is discoverable and queryable by business users
• Optimize query performance and cost across chosen AWS services – partitioning, compression, file formats, and query pattern tuning
• Work directly with business stakeholders and analysts to understand reporting requirements and translate them into durable, performant data models and query patterns
• Collaborate with back-end C#/.Net engineer to ensure data flows cleanly from Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) processing pipelines into the new data layer
• Implement and maintain CI/CD pipelines for data infrastructure using AWS-native tooling (CodePipeline, CodeBuild, and CodeDeploy)
• Apply Infrastructure as Code (IaC) practices using AWS Cloud Development Kit (CDK), CloudFormation, or Terraform
• Document architecture decisions, data flows, and data dictionaries clearly for both technical and non-technical audiences

Required Skills and Experience

• 8+ years’ experience in software or data engineering with a strong AWS focus
• Proven experience architecting and executing cloud data platform migrations in production enterprise or healthcare environments
• Track record of evaluating and selecting AWS data services to meet business reporting and query requirements
• Experience delivering reporting or analytics solutions that serve non-technical business users
• Deep hands-on AWS experience across data-oriented services – S3, Athena, Glue, Aurora, DynamoDB, Redshift, OpenSearch, Lambda, IAM, and Cloudwatch
• Strong SQL skills with the ability to design relational query layers over semi-structured or non-relational data (XML, JSON)
• Experience working with XML-heavy data stores – parsing, querying, and transforming XML at scale
• An ability to evaluate trade-offs across AWS data services and make architecture recommendations based on cost, performance, and business requirements
• Familiarity with AWS analytics and reporting services, including Athena, QuickSight, RedShift, or equivalent Business Intelligence (BI) tooling
• Proficiency with Git and GitHub - branching strategies, pull requests, and collaborative workflows
• Familiarity with CI/CD practices and AWS-native tooling (CodePipeline, CodeBuild, and CodeDeploy)
• IaC experience (AWS CDK, CloudFormation, or Terraform)
• Strong ability to communicate technical architecture decisions and trade-offs to non-technical stakeholders
• Experience gathering and translating business reporting requirements into technical data models
• Comfort driving ambiguous architecture decisions to resolutions with limited direction
• Experience with Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and JIRA
• Strong documentation habits – architecture diagrams, data dictionaries, migration runbooks

Professional Certifications

None required, but AWS certifications are a bonus.

Desired experience

• Electronic Data Interchange X.12 (EDI) Medical Claims X.12, Medical Claims (837, 835, 277CA, etc), Health Level (HL7), Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR)
• Familiarity with C#/.Net back-end services for integration touchpoints
• Experience with Entity Framework migration or deprecation projects
• Experience with healthcare payer/Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) systems, clearinghouses, or pharmacy operations
• Knowledge of HIPAA compliance requirements in cloud data architecture

Formal Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical discipline; equivalent practical experience considered.

Citizenship Requirement

U.S. Citizenship required for this specific opportunity.

Security Clearance Requirements

Must possess or qualify for a Public Trust (MBI).

Pay

$85,389 - $116,975

Schedule

This is a 100% U.S. based remote position. However, candidates from CA, CO, IL, MN, NJ, NY, OR, or WA will not be considered. This is a W-2 position.