Data Engineer

About Our Mission

When you join Sallie Mae, you become a champion for all students. We’re on a mission to power confidence as students begin their unique journey, help them plan higher education, finish successful, and prepare for life after school. We empower them to start smart, learn big, and navigate important moments with guidance. We’re changing the student support landscape by bringing diverse perspectives and authenticity to the workplace, with benefits that cover the whole you—physical, mental, financial, and professional.

We value impact, relationships, continuous learning, and helping students and each other progress. Join us to change the future of education.

An Data Engineer will be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining robust data pipelines and integration solutions to support enterprise data platforms and analytics initiatives. This role focuses on ensuring data accuracy, reliability, and efficiency across various systems by leveraging modern ETL tools, cloud technologies, and data engineering best practices.

• Design, develop, and optimize ETL/ELT pipelines to extract, transform, and load data from multiple source systems into data lakes/data warehouses.
• Implement data ingestion frameworks for batch and real‑time data processing.
• Collaborate with data architects, analysts, and stakeholders to translate data requirements into scalable solutions.
• Develop data quality, reconciliation, and error‑handling frameworks to ensure data integrity.
• Build and maintain metadata‑driven and parameterized pipelines for automation and reusability.
• Work with cloud data platforms such as Snowflake and AWS for data storage and processing.
• Implement ETL processes using tools like Snowflake Open Flow, dbt/Snowpark, Informatica.
• Optimize SQL and data transformation logic for performance and scalability.
• Participate in code reviews, design sessions, and production support for ETL jobs.
• Document data flows, transformations, and dependencies.
• Help shape technical decisions and ensure alignment with business needs.
• Take end‑to‑end ownership of projects or features, from planning to deployment and monitoring.
• Drive best practices in coding, testing, and CI/CD. Identify opportunities to improve engineering processes and system reliability.

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Experience with SQL, Python, and data modeling concepts such as star schema and normalization.
• Proficiency with at least one ETL tool (Informatica, AWS Glue, Data Stage, Talend, dbt, or equivalent).
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Strong problem‑solving and analytical thinking skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Detail‑oriented with a focus on quality and accuracy.

• 0–1 year(s) of experience in software engineering or a related technical role.

• Competitive base salaries
• Bonus incentives
• Generous PTO, floating holidays, and 12 federal holidays observed
• Support for financial well‑being and retirement with 401(k) employer match
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance, and more
• Employer‑paid short‑term/long‑term disability and basic life insurance
• Flexible hybrid working arrangements
• Paid parental leave and adoption reimbursement programs
• Free access to on‑site staffed fitness centers (Delaware) and gym subsidies (locations outside Delaware)
• Confidential counseling support (EAP), health advocacy services, and wellness program with financial incentives
• Tuition reimbursement and family scholarship programs
• Career development and training opportunities

Sallie Mae is proud to be an equal opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation please call and choose option 9. All information you provide will be kept confidential and used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.

Entry level

Full‑time

Information Technology

Software Development