Data Engineer 1

What if the work you did every day could impact the lives of people you know? Or all of humanity? At Illumina, we are expanding access to genomic technology to realize health equity for billions of people around the world. Our efforts enable life-changing discoveries that are transforming human health through the early detection and diagnosis of diseases and new treatment options for patients. Working at Illumina means being part of something bigger than yourself. Every person, in every role, has the opportunity to make a difference. Surrounded by extraordinary people, inspiring leaders, and world changing projects, you will do more and become more than you ever thought possible. Illumina — Enterprise Data Engineering

Data Engineer 1 Job Description

Role Overview We are seeking a motivated, detail-oriented, and enthusiastic

Data Engineer to join our Enterprise Data Engineering team. In this role, you will contribute to building, enhancing, and maintaining modern data pipelines, data models, and data products that support analytics, reporting, AI, and business decision-making. Working closely with senior data engineers, architects, product owners, and business stakeholders, you will gain hands-on experience with modern cloud data platforms, data engineering frameworks, and AI-assisted development practices while building a strong technical foundation. This role is ideal for recent graduates or early-career professionals who are passionate about data, cloud technologies, AI, and continuous learning, and are looking to grow into a well-rounded Data Engineering professional.

Position Responsibilities

• Develop, enhance, and maintain data ingestion, transformation, and ELT/ETL pipelines using SQL, Python, dbt, Snowflake, Databricks, and established Data Engineering frameworks under the guidance of senior engineers.
• Support the ingestion of structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data from enterprise applications, APIs, databases, cloud platforms, and file-based sources.
• Assist in developing and maintaining reusable dbt models, macros, snapshots, and tests following engineering standards and best practices.
• Perform data validation, reconciliation, and quality checks to ensure data accuracy, completeness, and consistency.
• Monitor data pipelines, investigate failures, troubleshoot issues, and support production incidents with guidance from senior team members.
• Participate in SQL query optimization and performance tuning of data pipelines and cloud-based data solutions.
• Participate in code reviews, unit testing, deployment activities, and documentation following established engineering standards.
• Collaborate with Data Engineers, Architects, Analysts, Product Owners, and Business SMEs to understand business requirements and deliver reliable data solutions.

Position Requirements

• 0–2 years of experience (including internships, academic projects, or professional experience) in Data Engineering, Data Analytics, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• Basic proficiency in SQL for querying, data transformation, and analysis.
• Working knowledge of Python for data processing, scripting, or automation.
• Understanding of relational databases and basic data modeling concepts.
• Familiarity with ETL/ELT concepts and exposure to tools such as dbt, Spark, or similar technologies is preferred.
• Exposure to cloud data platforms such as Snowflake, Databricks, or cloud services (Azure, AWS, or GCP) through projects, coursework, or internships is desirable.
• Basic understanding of file formats such as Parquet, CSV, JSON, and exposure to Delta Lake or similar technologies is an advantage.
• Exposure to AI-assisted development tools (GitHub Copilot, Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, or similar) for improving development productivity is desirable.
• Good analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively within Agile teams.
• Passion for learning modern Data Engineering technologies, cloud platforms, AI, and engineering best practices.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, Data Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related discipline.

Competencies We Value

• Analytical Thinking & Problem Solving - Analyzes issues, identifies root causes, and delivers practical solutions.
• Learning Agility & Continuous Improvement - Quickly learns new technologies and continuously enhances skills and processes.
• Ownership & Accountability - Takes responsibility for deliverables and follows through with high-quality outcomes.
• Adaptability & Resilience - Adjusts effectively to changing priorities, technologies and business needs.
• Innovation & Automation Mindset - Identifies opportunities to automate tasks and improve engineering efficiency.
• Curiosity & Continuous Learning - Demonstrates a passion for learning and staying current with emerging technologies, AI, and best practices. We are a company deeply rooted in belonging, promoting an inclusive environment where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute to our mission. Built on a strong foundation, Illumina has always prioritized openness, collaboration, and seeking alternative perspectives to propel innovation in genomics. We are proud to confirm a zero-net gap in pay, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or race. We also have several Employee Resource Groups (ERG) that deliver career development experiences, increase cultural awareness, and offer opportunities to engage in social responsibility. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, creed, color, gender, religion, marital status, domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, citizenship status, and genetic information. Illumina conducts background checks on applicants for whom a conditional offer of employment has been made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws. Background check results may potentially result in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. The background check process and any decisions made as a result shall be made in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws. Illumina prohibits the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the application and interview process. If you require accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact accommodations@illumina.com. To learn more, visit: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf. The position will be posted until a final candidate is selected or the requisition has a sufficient number of qualified applicants. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.