Data Analytics and Systems Engineer (Systems Engineer II) - 61167545

Job Responsibilities The mission of the South Carolina Department of Education is to serve students, support teachers, empower parents, and engage the community so that every student graduates prepared to reach their full potential. About the RoleYou’ll turn complex education data and business needs into reports, dashboards, and working data systems that people can use. The work spans data analysis and systems development. You’ll query and transform data, investigate discrepancies, translate business requirements into technical solutions, and build tools that replace manual spreadsheets and email workflows. Applications may include data validation tools, searchable registries, workflow interfaces, and self-service reporting tools. AI-assisted development is a core part of the role. You’ll use approved AI coding tools to accelerate development while taking responsibility for understanding, reviewing, testing, debugging, and improving the resulting code. We are not looking for someone who simply generates code and assumes it works. We want someone who can determine whether a solution is accurate, secure, maintainable, and ready for others to use. What You’ll Do

• Build dashboards, reports, and interactive analytical data products. Develop practical tools that support data analysis, validation, reporting, and agency workflows.
• Use AI tools responsibly throughout development. Translate requirements into clear development tasks, guide AI-generated implementations, inspect the code, and refine solutions through testing and user feedback.
• Read, test, and debug code. Understand how code components interact, identify defects, verify calculations and business rules, and test normal use, edge cases, and failure conditions.
• Work with enterprise data. Write and maintain SQL queries against data warehouses and source systems. Use scripts and APIs to retrieve, transform, validate, and connect data.
• Investigate data quality issues. Trace discrepancies across systems, determine appropriate sources, document root causes, and coordinate resolution.
• Replace manual processes with maintainable solutions. Turn recurring spreadsheet, email, and data-processing tasks into reusable scripts, automated workflows, or applications.
• Translate business needs into technical requirements. Work with SCDE staff, districts, and technical partners to clarify the problem, define expected behavior, and validate the finished solution.
• Maintain and support what you build. Use version control, document dependencies and business rules, and coordinate deployment and changes with appropriate technical teams.
• Protect sensitive information. Apply appropriate access controls and follow agency security, privacy, and data-handling requirements, including requirements governing approved AI tools.
• Communicate findings clearly, track assigned deliverables, and perform other duties as assigned.

This position is located in the Office of Information Technology. Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of SQL and experience analyzing or transforming data.
• Familiarity with Python, JavaScript, JSON, .
• Enough software development knowledge to read and explain code, test its behavior, identify problems, and debug AI-generated implementations.
• Understanding of basic application concepts, including user interfaces, databases, APIs, authentication, authorization, and error handling.
• Ability to build a working solution from a business need and validate it against defined requirements.
• Strong analytical judgment, clear communication, and the ability to learn unfamiliar systems independently.
• Experience may be demonstrated through professional work, academic projects, or substantive personal projects.
• Experience with Snowflake, SQL Server, or similar database platforms.
• Experience with Power BI, Preset/Apache Superset, or comparable visualization tools.
• Experience building usable data products with AI-assisted coding tools.
• Experience integrating applications with APIs and managing configuration and credentials securely.
• Experience documenting data definitions, mappings, business rules, and analytical methods.
• Familiarity with K–12 education data, PowerSchool, Ed-Fi, or education reporting.
• Familiarity with React, Streamlit, or comparable frameworks.
• Familiarity with Git, automated testing, application deployment, and ongoing maintenance.

You do not need to know every tool listed. We are looking for strong fundamentals, sound judgment, and the ability to build and support solutions people will actually use.

Additional Comments How We WorkWe value practical solutions over unnecessary complexity. AI can accelerate development, but it does not replace understanding the problem, checking the data, reviewing the code, or testing the result. The goal is not simply to produce a prototype. It is to deliver a useful, tested, documented solution that can be maintained after its initial release. Application PromptDescribe an application, analytical tool, or automation you built. Explain the problem it solved, your contribution, how you tested it, and how you used AI tools, if applicable. A sanitized example or project description is welcome; do not submit confidential data or proprietary code. As a part of a generous compensation package, we offer comprehensive benefits that include generous paid time off, preeminent health care benefits, professional development opportunities, pension, a 401(k), and a hybrid work schedule with opportunity for remote work. The South Carolina Department of Education offers an exceptional benefits package that includes:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Children.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year.
• 15 days sick leave per year.
• 13 paid holidays.
• State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Programs.

ONLY THOSE APPLICANTS CHOSEN FOR AN INTERVIEW WILL BE NOTIFIED BY LETTER THAT THE POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED. http://www.ed.sc.gov/jobs/human-resources/title-ix-nondiscrimination/

Benefits

Benefits for State Employees

The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies.

Insurance Benefits Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.

Retirement Benefits State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.

Workplace Benefits State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.

Note: The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.