Senior Data Solution Engineer

Job Description and Duties

The CalSTRS  Enterprise IT Solutions & Innovation Division is seeking an experienced individual to work as a Senior Data Solution Engineer on the Data Solutions Services Team.

The Enterprise IT Solutions and Innovation Division provides solutions development and related support services aimed at delivering and optimizing the CalSTRS enterprise-wide, technology-based solutions to the business. This division works in collaboration with the Project Management, Infrastructure and Operations, Enterprise IT Governance and CalSTRS business areas in the delivery of quality solutions that meet or exceed the business needs of CalSTRS. This division manages and provides oversights to Data Solution Services, Web Solution Development, Solution Services, START Solutions Development, and System and Production Services.

Under the general direction of the Manager of Data Solution Services (IT Manager I), the Information Technology Specialist II, in collaboration with Business Intelligence & Data Analytics team, operates as the Senior Data Solution Engineer. This position is pivotal for the administration and operation of databases and data warehouses. The incumbent performs a wide variety of tasks requiring innovative problem-solving where guidance is not readily available, such as data transformation, designing and developing data warehousing solutions, executing data science tasks, developing cloud applications, implementing DevOps practices, and integrating systems within the CalSTRS cloud ecosystem. The incumbent will collaborate closely with architects, business analysts, developers, testers, infrastructure engineers, and other IT personnel to ensure seamless operation and innovation.

The ideal candidate will possess the following skills:

• 5+ years of experience in data warehouse design, development, and administration, managing environments such as SQL Server, Amazon Redshift, or Snowflake. 
• Expert in performance tuning, backup and recovery, disaster recovery planning, and security measures (data masking, row-level security, encryption).
• 4+ years of experience in cloud architecture and ETL development, designing and deploying solutions on AWS/Azure clouds. 
• Advanced skills in implementing ETL/ELT pipelines (AWS Glue, Azure Data Factory) and managing CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices.
• 3+ years of experience in data analytics, writing and optimizing SQL queries, building dashboards with Power BI, and using Python (pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn) for data preprocessing, feature engineering, and predictive modeling.
• 1+ years of experience in AI/ML and prompt engineering, working with large language models (LLMs), designing prompts, integrating AI/ML solutions into data pipelines, and applying responsible AI practices (bias monitoring, ethical compliance).
• 3+ years of experience in technical leadership and problem-solving, leading complex projects, mentoring technical team members, translating business requirements into scalable technical solutions, and communicating effectively with stakeholders.

Every 12 months, based on performance evaluation, employees may receive a 5% salary increase until they reach the maximum salary for the position.

In July 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025. This program reduces employees’ monthly base pay in exchange for paid leave credits. This position is subject to PLP 2025 and will have a monthly base pay reduction of 3% in exchange for 5 hours of leave credits for the duration of the program. The salary ranges shown on this job posting do not reflect the reduced amounts.

Does this opportunity seem right for you? If so, see the Application Instructions section below and apply now.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

CalSTRS offers a hybrid approach including in-office and remote work solutions based on business needs.

All staff of CalSTRS are employees of the State of California and subject to California employment taxes and withholdings. Upon appointment, staff are required to provide a current California address to CalSTRS Human Resources to be used as a remote work location.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment with CalSTRS.

Special Requirements

Statement of Qualifications:
(SOQ) is REQUIRED and MUST be submitted with your application to be considered for this position. The SOQ serves as documentation of each applicant’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. Each question must be numbered and addressed in the same order as the questions below. The SOQ must be typed, no more than two pages in length, and 12-point Arial font.

1.) Describe your hands on experience designing and administering a large scale data warehouse using Snowflake or Microsoft SQL Server, including key design decisions, security measures, the number of tables, data volumes, and measurable results.

2. Describe a large scale project where you independently designed and built advanced data analytics solutions, including the ETL processes, and clearly outlining your role, direct contributions, and quantifiable impact.

Exam

This position requires a current Information Technology Specialist II Exam . If you need to take the exam or if your score has expired, click here to gain list eligibility.

Background Investigation

Prior to employment with CalSTRS, a background investigation (BI) will be conducted. The BI consists of a Personal History Statement and fingerprinting through the Department of Justice. The BI will check criminal and civil records and, if applicable, verify education and check driving records.

CalSTRS Disclosure Requirements

This position may be subject to disclosure and disqualification requirements concerning economic conflict of interest in government work, including the Conflict of Interest Code that applies to CalSTRS team members and the Political Reform Act , which require disclosure of certain investment information and use of a designated trading platform for securities transactions, as well as filing a Statement of Economic Interest (Form 700) .

Benefits

CalSTRS offers a competitive pay schedule and a work-life-balance for all its employees. The State of California provides comprehensive benefits packages determined by the employee’s bargaining unit and conditions of employment. Some benefits include:

• Alternative work schedules
• Flexible work hours
• Remote work options
• Medical benefits, including health, dental and vision insurance
• Paid holidays and a defined benefit retirement program
• More than four weeks of vacation/sick leave for leaders
• More than three weeks of vacation/sick leave for staff
• Health insurance in retirement
• Employee Assistance Program
• Loan forgiveness under the federal 

For the latest information on the benefits offered by the state of California, explore the Health Benefits Summary provided by CalHR .

Additional Application Instructions

• Electronic applications through your CalCareer account are highly recommended. If you are unable to apply electronically through your CalCareer account, please mail or drop off a hard copy of your application packet. Please provide the following information on your application: 815-626-1414-901, RPA:0459, JC-531934
• If education is being used to meet the minimum qualifications, please submit a copy of your transcripts/degree.
• Training and development (T&D) assignments may be considered for this position. If you are applying as a T&D, please indicate this in the eligibility section of your application.
• Candidate may be selected by application packet review only.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this recruitment.
• Submission of an incomplete STD 678 may result in disqualification. 

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications -

  A Statement of Qualifications is required. Please see the Special Requirements section of the job posting for detailed instructions.