Principal Data Engineer, Operations Manager II (NCS) - Mayor's Office of Performance and Innovation

Job Summary

The Mayor's Office of Performance and Innovation (OPI) is seeking a mission-driven Data Engineer and Architect to help design and develop Baltimore's next-generation data infrastructure.

Essential Functions

• Develop data models, data Lakehouse-style tiered layers, orchestration frameworks that make sense for both efficient computation, fellow engineers, and data consumers.
• Develop, and maintain ETL/ELT pipelines using Python, PostgreSQL, and modern orchestration frameworks while implementing data quality, monitoring, alerting, and logging mechanisms to ensure pipeline reliability, performance, and transparency.
• Automate data ingestion from multiple data sources (e.g., APIs, flat files, databases) into centralized data models for reporting and analysis.
• Work with agency stakeholders, analysts, and data scientists to get them the data and context that they need.
• Broadly support ad hoc data curation, visualization, and statistical needs in City Hall.
• Translate business questions into technical solutions and data products that surface insights and guide action.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Data Science, Information Systems, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
• Experience: 7+ years of professional experience in data engineering or related technical role.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Technical Expertise: Proficiency in Python for data engineering (Pandas, Polars, SQLAlchemy, Object-relational mapping, requests), strong SQL skills and experience working with PostgreSQL or other relational databases with an emphasis on geospatial data, experience building and maintaining data pipelines (ETL/ELT) using modern tools, understanding of cloud data workflows, APIs, and modern DevOps tools for CI/CD, logging, and monitoring.
• Data Product & Collaboration Mindset: Ability to work collaboratively on GitHub and contribute to shared codebases, ability to interact with people from a variety of backgrounds and skillsets, strong documentation and communication skills, including the ability to explain complex data structures to non-technical audiences, commitment to privacy, accessibility, and ethical use of data.
• Values & Impact: Passion for public service, equity, and improving government through better data, curiosity, problem-solving mindset, and a desire to take ownership of complex technical challenges, experience working on civic tech, open data, or public-sector digital products is a plus.

Administrative Management and Operations Knowledge

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public and business administration, including the process of planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling.
• Knowledge of methods and procedures for the collection or organization, interpretation and presentation of information.
• Knowledge of the basic principles of accounting, budgeting, fiscal controls and statistics.
• Knowledge of management practices and methods.
• Ability to adapt and apply the concepts and techniques of administrative analysis to the needs of specific projects.
• Ability to identify problem areas and recommend appropriate solutions based on logical consideration of alternatives.
• Ability to interpret and apply a variety of laws, rules, regulations, standards and procedures.
• Ability to prepare and present reports or recommendations clearly and concisely.
• Ability to compile financial and operational data and to analyze charts reports and statistical and budgetary statements.
• Ability to coordinate the activities of various organizational units.
• Ability to plan, organize and direct the work of others.
• Ability to research and write complex narrative and statistical reports.
• Ability to speak and testify effectively before governmental and legal bodies and commissions, the media and community and business groups.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with city officials, community and business groups.