Data Engineer

JOB TITLE: Data Engineer

Location: North Fort Myers, FL

Work Hours: M-F 8:00am - 5:00pm

Our benefits include:

• Company-wide annual incentive plan
• Medical, vision and dental insurance
• 401(k) plan with a generous 6% company match
• Company funded Pension Plan
• On-site wellness/medical facility
• Company paid Short & Long-Term Disability insurance
• Health Savings Account with an employer contribution
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Wellness program with financial rewards
• Tuition reimbursement
• Group life insurance
• Critical Illness and Accident Insurance

LCEC provides reliable, cost-competitive electricity to more than 250,000 members throughout a five-county service territory located in Southwest Florida. We employ approximately 460 skilled employees and are one of more than 900 electric distribution cooperatives located throughout the United States. LCEC has been recognized locally and statewide as an industry leader and continually receives acknowledgment for the work that our employees do in the community along with other civic, environmental and professional honors.

Position Summary: The Data Engineer is responsible for building and maintaining data pipelines, streaming systems, and transformation layers that power LCEC's new Microsoft-centered analytics ecosystem. This role is essential in modernizing our data platform that integrates Apache Kafka, Apache Spark, Python, MongoDB, SQL Server, Data Frames, Rapids, Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Copilot, and Purview.

Position Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain scalable batch and streaming data pipelines that support LCEC's Microsoft Fabric-based analytics ecosystem.
• Develop reliable data ingestion and transformation processes across layered architectures (e.g., Bronze/Silver/Gold) to enable operational analytics, BI, and advanced use cases.
• Engineer high-performance, fault-tolerant solutions for both real-time and batch data processing.
• Design and implement logical and physical data models that align with enterprise analytics, semantic layers, and Power BI consumption.
• Collaborate closely with BI analysts, data consumers, and platform teams to ensure data products are well-modeled, discoverable, and trusted.
• Work in a managed data environment that maintains lineage, metadata, and thorough documentation.
• Apply engineering best practices, including code reviews, monitoring, optimization, and cost-aware design.
• Contribute to emerging analytics capabilities, including AI-assisted and Copilot-enabled data experiences.
• Maintain effective working relationships with employees and customers at all levels within LCEC. Ensure smooth operations, productive communications, and effective understanding during all interpersonal contacts. Provide current and accurate information to all requesters, courteously and in a timely manner.
• Support Storm Restoration efforts when needed. Work in emergency storm situations (i.e. hurricanes) and work long hours (>12 hours per day) for many continuous days/weeks as needed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, Engineering, or a related field. (Required)

Experience

Minimum six (6) years' professional experience in data engineering (or related role) to include experience with:

• Apache Kafka, including producers, consumers, topic design, and retention concepts. (Required)
• Integrating data from MongoDB, SQL Server, APIs, and operational systems. (Required)
• Dimensional modeling, including star schemas, fact tables, and slowly changing dimensions. (Required)
• Apache Spark / PySpark for scalable batch and streaming workloads. (Required)
• Microsoft Fabric, including Lakehouse, Warehouse, OneLake, notebooks, and pipelines. (Required)
• Demonstrated experience with Power Platform tools, including Power Apps and Power Automate. (Required)
• Designing and operating ETL/ELT pipelines in production environment. (Required)
• Operating in governed environments using Microsoft Purview. (Required)
• Experience integrating data pipelines with machine learning or MLOps workflows. (Required)
• Experience implementing real-time monitoring, alerting, and observability. (Required)
• Experience optimizing data platforms for cost, performance, and scalability. (Required)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced proficiency in Python for data processing, ETL/ELT, and automation. (Required)
• Expertise in SQL for complex transformations and performance tuning. (Required)
• Familiarity with Data Vault (or equivalent structured modeling approaches). (Required)
• Ability to design data models that support semantic layers and BI tools. (Required)
• Familiarity with Power BI and semantic modeling (DAX is a plus). (Required)
• Awareness of Copilot / AI-assisted analytics capabilities. (Required)
• Proficiency with Git/GitHub, CI/CD pipelines, and environment management. (Required)
• Strong documentation, communication, and collaboration skills. (Required)
• Strong skills in conceptual, logical, and physical data modeling. (Required)
• Ability to partner effectively with analysts, BI developers, and business stakeholders. (Required)
• Familiarity with Kafka schema registries and event schema governance (Preferred)
• Exposure to Microsoft Fabric Data Science Workloads. (Preferred)

Physical Demands and Working Environment: The physical demands and working environment characteristics described here must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical Demands: Standing Occasionally,
  Walking Occasionally,
  Sitting Constantly,
  Lifting Rarely,
  Carrying Rarely,
  Pushing Rarely,
  Pulling Rarely,
  Climbing Rarely,
  Balancing Rarely,
  Stooping Rarely,
  Kneeling Rarely,
  Crouching Rarely,
  Crawling Rarely,
  Reaching Rarely,
  Handling Occasionally,
  Grasping Occasionally,
  Feeling Rarely,
  Talking Constantly,
  Hearing Constantly,
  Repetitive Motions Frequently,
  Eye/Hand/Foot Coordination Frequently.

• Working Environment: Constantly Air-conditioned office environment, Rarely Extreme cold, Rarely Extreme heat, Rarely Humidity, Rarely Wet, Occasionally Noise, Rarely Hazards, Rarely Temperature Change, Rarely Atmospheric Conditions, Rarely Vibration.

STORM DUTY REQUIREMENTS.... Responding to storms may be considered a condition of employment: LCEC provides critical services to our community during an emergency. Employees may be required to participate in the response/recovery activities related to emergencies/disasters to maintain service to our LCEC members. Employees are required to work in their normal job duties or other assigned activities. Proper compensation will be made in accordance with the company's guidelines and procedures.

Please note that at the time a candidate is made a job offer, the candidate will be subject to a background check and a drug screening.